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 The Eastern Trail
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Imagine walking - or biking - mostly through off-road woodland trails from Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Bug Light Park on Casco Bay in South Portland. This is the vision of the Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA).
For more details on this vision, click here. |
Eastern Trail Alliance members are working together to reopen the first railroad corridor into Maine as a recreational greenway. Join us in this effort - we'll all benefit! |
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April 2008 News
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 The Eastern Trail Alliance hosts its fifth annual Maine Lighthouse Ride on September 13, 2008. Four bicycling options are offered – a 10-mile family ride (see 2 lighthouses) on the South Portland Greenbelt, a 25-mile loop (see 7 lighthouses), a 40-mile intermediate loop through Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth (see 8 lighthouses), and our 100-mile 9-Lighthouse century ride that takes riders through Kennebunkport. This ride has become established as a major cycling event in Southern Maine, and thus we will build it up even more in 2008! Click here for more information, and to register for the ride.
The Maine Lighthouse Ride benefits the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 60-mile greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Spectacular Maine coastline – see up to 9 lighthouses!
- Fully supported rides with rest stops
- Hot showers (bring your own towel)
- Food and conversation after the ride
- Free admission to Portland Harbor Museum
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WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
* Chance to tour a lighthouse!
* Colorful, collectible lighthouse T-shirt
.............(free to all who register by Sept. 1) |
- ET Contract awarded to Extend ET South from Scarborough Marsh -
Work on a new 1.6-mile section of the Eastern Trail in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach will begin in April, with completion scheduled by July 1, 2008, according to Larry Cilley, Executive Director of the Eastern Trail Management District. A.H. Grover, Inc., of Yarmouth, will perform trail construction as the successful bidder in a field of 15 companies. Funding for the project was awarded through the Maine Department of Transportation?s Transportation Enhancement program.
- ETA's New & Enhanced Annual Maine Ride Lighthouse Saturday 13 September -
For 2008 Before rides - Indoor registration & restrooms. After rides - Hot showers & a Cookout. Facilities Coordinator for Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Sharon Bernier, is helping ETA make this year's ride the best ever Maine Lighthouse Ride (formerly the 8 Lighthouse Ride.)
- US rejects N.H. bid to let ATVs use federal rail trails - Associated Press March 5, 2008
- An important Eastern Trail route update - Vines Street Bridge in South Berwick has been closed permanently (this started Oct. 2007).
The Town of S. Berwick's Public Works moved the ET signs to the new route. This new route requires users to travel busy Rt. 236 for about 200 feet. This is a heavily traveled road with fast traffic and many trucks. Use caution crossing ... Go here for Map....... Here for Detailed Map
- Saco PASSES its Eastern Trail Bond -
Saco PASSED its $500,000 Eastern Trail bond to help fund ET construction from downtown Saco at Thornton Academy to Cascade Road. Bond conditions require at least $1,000,000 from MaineDOT before any Saco Bond funds can be spent. The bond passed with over 64% voting YES. ETA owes thanks to Mayor Johnston, Councilor Eric Cote, ETMD President Bob Hamblen, Saco Bay Trails, ETA members, but most of all Saco's voters. The Trust For Public Land added its prestigious voice late in the campaign with its surprising placement of large newspaper ads supporting the bond.
- We had a GREAT turnout for the fourth annual Eastern Trail 8-Lighthouse Bike Ride on September 15, 2007. Did you come out and ride? We had more than 122 cyclists brave the elements - 40
Century Riders; 60 doing the 40 Mile ride, and 4 10-milers. All in all -- we had 187
registered - 30 more than last year - and raised about $7,000 for the organization. Click
here to read a great article that appeared in the Scarborough Leader after the ride. NEW - additional pictures of the ride by Cliff White as well as even more pictures from the ride.
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- Pocket size with spiral wire binding for easy on-trail use. 17 newly redrawn maps Shows historic Eastern Railroad corridor, the proposed Greenway from South Portland to Kittery Maps show optional scenic byways Maps include two 50-mile loop rides: Amtrak-Eastern Trail loop trip, Portland to Wells by Amtrak. Bike back 50 miles on Eastern Trail
- Bike Wells to Saco River on ET. Bike back to Wells along shore. A 50-mile loop ride.
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- Two important route updates included in the 2nd edition of the Trail Guide are available for download if you have the 1st Edition of the Guide. These are:
- Have you yet seen our ET Spot-ME on-line
form to report issues, problems, and other trail features that
need attention? Click here to
visit this new form!
Past News/Articles about the Eastern Trail
Check Out these Other Web Pages for Eastern Trail
News and Developments:
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The "Eastern Trail Special
Issues and Topics Page" provides access to much
information on special issues facing the Eastern Trail, including
working with utility company partners, ATVs using the trail, special
ET promotion events, and more. Check
this page out!
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Read about the On-Road Eastern Trail Signs that
guide your way along the Trail!
Click here
for more information
on these great signs!
Not an ETA member yet, or ready to renew? - Use
our secure on-line form to pay your membership dues using a credit card! -
click
here to use this form
NOTE: Please note that this is a proposed
trail. Few sections are open yet, and most are privately owned.
Please do
not go on any section of the trail without landowner permission. We will post
information on access to all open sections as they open. Thanks!
Contact the ETA office:
- by phone: (207.284.9260)
- or e-mail
- or regular postal mail
(P.O. Box 250, Saco, Maine 04072)
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This web site won the 2003 American Trails award for best local
trail association or club web site |
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