Town of Dover Shares Information on Proposed Rail Trail Construction Project

DOVER — The Town of Dover is pleased to share information about the proposed Rail Trail Construction Project.

As announced earlier this summer, the Town of Dover received a $184,760 grant to design, engineer and permit a recreational trail and shared-use pathway project. The project aims to improve community connectivity and encourage healthier lifestyles by promoting outdoor recreation.

Many town departments and committees have worked diligently to define the project’s scope, objectives and goals.

The Town would like to share details of the project timeline:

The Rail Trail Construction Project is comprised of several comprehensive planning steps, the first of which is the project’s planning and design. This stage will include assembling a working group to identify project plans for the rail trail design. The next phase will consist of developing a design with a preliminary trail layout. The project’s planning and design are projected to begin in October and finish in April 2025. Once the final design is achieved, it will be presented to the community for feedback.

With the final design, the second phase will develop a detailed total cost estimate of the project, including construction, materials, labor and future maintenance costs. The town will then identify key funding sources, such as exploring federal, state and local grants and public-private partnerships. A finalized budget will be prepared to include the entire project costs. This phase will begin in the spring of 2025.

The final planning phase will provide a clear outline of the complete construction project plans to be presented to town meeting. The project’s overall design and funding must be approved at the town meeting before construction can begin. The working group aims to present the proposed project to the community for approval in the fall of 2025.

Throughout this process, the town will provide the community with opportunities for feedback and suggestions before the project proceeds further.

Residents may view updates, progress reports and any essential information related to the project here.

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