Washington Secondary Rail Trail
Encyclopedia
The Washington Secondary Rail Trail (also known as the Washington Secondary Bike Path) is a rail trail
located in Rhode Island
.
The trail measures 14 miles (22.5 km) and has sections which are paved and unpaved. It runs along an abandoned rail corridor of the former Providence, Hartford, & Fishkill Railroad.
The trail serves the communities of Coventry
, West Warwick
, Warwick
, and Cranston
. Sections of this path are sometimes referred to in relation to Narragansett Bay
, such as the "West Bay Bike Path" and "East Bay Bike Path."
Long term plans envision the Washington Secondary Rail Trail connecting with the Blackstone River Bikeway
and the East Bay Bike Path
. The Washington Secondary Rail Trail is a designated section of the East Coast Greenway
.
The designation of the Washington Secondary Bike Path starts at the south/western paved end of the Coventry segment. West of this point, the trail is known as the Trestle Trail to the Ct state line. The pavement continues for 4 miles (6.4 km) north/east until the town line with West Warwick. Over the duration of the 4.0 paved miles, the Coventry greenway passes alongside the Flat River Reservoir, Knotty Oak Cemetery , the Merrill S. Whipple Conservation Area, Tiogue lake, and the upper branch of the Pawtuxtet river over 4 bridges (3 water, 1 road, 1 of them a truss
design). The path follows the direction of RI 117.
The trail is paved from the Coventry section to the Warwick leg. The right of way passes by the commercial district of Arctic. Along the trail are two mills, one commercial/industry, and one Residential (Royal Mills, Ace Dying Mill complex; conversion in progress). Bradford Soap Works straddles the greenway not far after.
It provides an almost direct connection to Bald Hill road and the Malls; (RI
and Warwick
). Another truss bridge is on the path nearby the West Warwick sewer treatment facility (the township line is nearby the greenway).
The longest paved section, the greenway passes though Oaklawn, Knightsville and the Gladstone sections of Cranston. The northern terminus at the moment ends at the northern end of Garfield avenue, at the Cranston Police department. The right of way, accessible almost up to the tracks continues north for .33 miles until it merges with Amtrak
's Northeast Corridor
.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
located in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
The trail measures 14 miles (22.5 km) and has sections which are paved and unpaved. It runs along an abandoned rail corridor of the former Providence, Hartford, & Fishkill Railroad.
The trail serves the communities of Coventry
Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water...
, West Warwick
West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and...
, Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, and Cranston
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
. Sections of this path are sometimes referred to in relation to Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
, such as the "West Bay Bike Path" and "East Bay Bike Path."
Long term plans envision the Washington Secondary Rail Trail connecting with the Blackstone River Bikeway
Blackstone River Bikeway
right|thumb|400px|The Blackstone River Bikeway in October 2006, approximately one mile south of the Martin St. BridgeThe Blackstone River Bikeway is a planned paved rail trail defining the course of the East Coast Greenway through the Blackstone Valley from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence,...
and the East Bay Bike Path
East Bay Bike Path
right|thumb|400px|The East Bay Bike Path in July 2009, facing south near the southern terminus of the bike path in Bristol.The East Bay Bike Path is a paved rail trail in Rhode Island....
. The Washington Secondary Rail Trail is a designated section of the East Coast Greenway
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
.
Coventry section
- CoventryCoventry, Rhode IslandCoventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water...
- distance 4.07 miles (6.6 km)
The designation of the Washington Secondary Bike Path starts at the south/western paved end of the Coventry segment. West of this point, the trail is known as the Trestle Trail to the Ct state line. The pavement continues for 4 miles (6.4 km) north/east until the town line with West Warwick. Over the duration of the 4.0 paved miles, the Coventry greenway passes alongside the Flat River Reservoir, Knotty Oak Cemetery , the Merrill S. Whipple Conservation Area, Tiogue lake, and the upper branch of the Pawtuxtet river over 4 bridges (3 water, 1 road, 1 of them a truss
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
design). The path follows the direction of RI 117.
West Warwick section
- West WarwickWest Warwick, Rhode IslandWest Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and...
- distance 2.7 miles (4.3 km)
The trail is paved from the Coventry section to the Warwick leg. The right of way passes by the commercial district of Arctic. Along the trail are two mills, one commercial/industry, and one Residential (Royal Mills, Ace Dying Mill complex; conversion in progress). Bradford Soap Works straddles the greenway not far after.
Warwick section
- WarwickWarwick, Rhode IslandWarwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
- distance 1.57 miles (2.5 km)
It provides an almost direct connection to Bald Hill road and the Malls; (RI
Rhode Island Mall
Rhode Island Mall is a two-story, enclosed shopping mall located in the city of Warwick, Rhode Island, USA. It opened in October 1967 as the Midland Mall, as the first two-level mall in New England. In 1972, Warwick Mall was opened approximately a mile North of the Midland Mall. Although the...
and Warwick
Warwick Mall
Warwick Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Warwick, Rhode Island, on the north side of Interstate 295 near the junction with Interstate 95. Composed of more than of retail space, it features more than 80 stores and a food court...
). Another truss bridge is on the path nearby the West Warwick sewer treatment facility (the township line is nearby the greenway).
Cranston section
- CranstonCranston, Rhode IslandCranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
- distance 5.88 miles (9.5 km)
The longest paved section, the greenway passes though Oaklawn, Knightsville and the Gladstone sections of Cranston. The northern terminus at the moment ends at the northern end of Garfield avenue, at the Cranston Police department. The right of way, accessible almost up to the tracks continues north for .33 miles until it merges with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
.
See also
- Blackstone River BikewayBlackstone River Bikewayright|thumb|400px|The Blackstone River Bikeway in October 2006, approximately one mile south of the Martin St. BridgeThe Blackstone River Bikeway is a planned paved rail trail defining the course of the East Coast Greenway through the Blackstone Valley from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence,...
- East Bay Bike PathEast Bay Bike Pathright|thumb|400px|The East Bay Bike Path in July 2009, facing south near the southern terminus of the bike path in Bristol.The East Bay Bike Path is a paved rail trail in Rhode Island....
- Greenways Alliance of Rhode IslandGreenways Alliance of Rhode IslandThe was a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy for Rhode Island's bike paths, trails and greenspaces. It also served as the state committee of the East Coast Greenway...