Plainville and Southington trail segments delayed by lawsuits and right‑of‑way disputes, presenter warns

Presenter reported that Southington’s multi‑year delay stems from a lawsuit tied to the yard‑metals corridor and that Plainville faces a separate federal‑court lawsuit brought by a business (an RV manufacturer). He said the town requested $3 million for a short right‑of‑way from the railroad (as reported in the session) and that, for the first time in several years, an Attorney General letter appears to allow municipalities to acquire rights‑of‑way for bike trails in these circumstances.

The presenter described two timelines of concern: (1) legal processes that may require eminent domain or court resolution, and (2) federal Transportation Alternatives/RAISE grant programming windows. He cautioned that some TA/RAISE program funds must be programmed by September or risk reallocation, creating a short‑term funding and scheduling constraint for Plainville and Southington projects.

On Plainville specifically, the presenter said the project team revised the alignment (the meeting referenced a 'red line' as the updated design) and that homeowners raised concerns about proximity to their property and adjacent wetlands. He noted wetlands permitting staff attended the public meeting and indicated permitting might be possible but could extend the timeline. The presenter also said DOT has designed a section that includes a 300‑foot boardwalk element that has not yet started construction because of remaining legal issues.

The presenter invited a representative of the Plainville Greenway Alliance to weigh in; an audience member confirmed the meeting’s discussion focused public attention on a single alignment question, rather than the broader project scope.

No formal vote or municipal decision was recorded in the session. The presenter framed the current status as contingent on legal outcomes, possible DOT use of eminent domain, and timely federal grant programming.