VHB assisted the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments with a feasibility study to determine how best to close a critical 23-mile gap in the Central Connecticut Loop Trail (CCLT), a 111-mile greenway trail that runs through over 20 Connecticut communities, including Hartford, Manchester, and Middletown. The study aimed to determine ways to link the Air Line Trail (ALT) in Portland with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) in Cheshire, part of the East Coast Greenway route. A key portion of the study focused on an 11.5-mile segment between Middletown and Portland, which established a Preferred Alignment to link this segment with the west end of the ALT.
VHB conducted an analysis that included environmental due diligence, permitting, and potential economic development opportunities. The Preferred Alignment accommodates the greenway trail through a mix of private land, City of Middletown-owned open space parcels, rail-adjacent corridors, and side paths within state roadway rights-of-way. VHB’s graphic design team also developed a unique logo and branding for the Central Connecticut Loop and the segment focused on Middletown and Portland.
