Goffstown 2010 Warrant -- Article 23 reads:

To see if the Town will vote to direct the Board of Selectmen to put in place an ordinance to allow the use of snowmobiles on the Goffstown Rail Trail in accordance with the Trail Enhancement Grant received by the Town of Goffstown by the Federal Government and in accordance with state trail management guideline starting at the intersection of Danis Park Rd. to the end of the trail at the center of town.

You are urged to vote “NO” to article 23 for the following reasons:

• The residential and suburban nature of Goffstown’s Rail Trail is not a north country or wilderness recreational area where snowmobile use is expected.
• There will be noise and speeding vehicles near residential backyards.
• Snowmobile operators commonly expect to be able to ride after dark, vs. established rail trail hours of dawn to dusk.
• The safety of walkers, skiers and local children is at risk due to fast-moving snowmobiles.
• Snowmobile operators might be tempted to illegally travel beyond the permitted end points, such as onto Main Street or into Morgan Estates, or off the trail along neighborhood streets.
• There is a 0.3 mile gap in the trail where it runs on East Union Street, through the middle of school bus company operations.
• There is no legal parking for snowmobile trailers and vehicles at the designated end points. There are no designated parking areas for snowmobiles on or near the trail.
• The state prison has significant security concerns with motor vehicles operating close to their fence line.
• Snowmobiles will be crossing busy Mast Road, at bad angles with poor visibility.
• Some potential funding and grant sources would no longer be available, and others would be more difficult to obtain, for a trail that allows snowmobiles.
• Snowmobile funding sources would be used on the regular snowmobile trails, and would not provide significant benefit to the rail trail.
• There would be negligible economic benefit because snowmobile users will be mostly local. Users from the north would be unlikely to travel south where conditions are not as good, while those from the south would keep going further north where conditions are better.
• If the door is opened with this Article for the western most 3.8 miles, the next request might be for access to the remaining 1.7 miles.
• Article 16, also on the warrant, provides, at minimal intrusion, legal snowmobile access from the existing Corridor 11 to the Tatro Drive gas station (1/2 mile).

As a general rule, the federal law (Title 23 U.S.C. §217(h)) behind the Transportation Enhancement Grant (which was used to purchase the rail trail parcels in 2004) does not allow motorized vehicles on such trails; however, as an exception, snowmobiles are allowable under proper winter conditions if such operations are permitted by local regulations; therefore, snowmobile access on the Goffstown Rail Trail is not an automatic condition as access must be granted by town ordinance.

Download a printable information sheet here.