As the Town of Madison investigates possibly building a new section of the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT) just over the border, the process has raised questions in Guilford about what future the trail might have here after the most recent section was voted down after many long and heated debates. Despite whatever people may be hearing, First Selectman Joe Mazza said there is no plan for the SGT right now.

The SGT is a planned, 25-mile continuous path designed for cyclists, walkers, and hikers. It is envisioned to, once completed, span five towns, with New Haven marking one end and Hammonasset State Park in Madison marking the other. The Hammonasset section of trail in town is already complete.

At a public information session on June 13 in Madison, Madison town officials provided more information on the next proposed section, which would stretch from Nathan’s Lane to the East River Bridge and would have ideally connected with the heavily disputed and recently voted-down proposed section in Guilford. The first section of the trail proposed in Guilford was 0.7 miles long and would have linked the East River Bridge to the junction of Boston Street and Route 1. The project was estimated to cost $840,055, and $875,000 had been secured in the form of state and federal grants to fund the project.

The Guilford Board of Selectmen (BOS) officially voted “No” on the proposed section of trail on Jan. 17.

Residents at the Madison meeting pointed out that Guilford turned down that section earlier this year, theoretically eliminating the hope of connecting the trails, but both Madison First Selectman Tom Banisch and Director of Engineering Mike Ott said Guilford officials had shared some different news.

Guilford First Selectman Joe Mazza and Town Engineer Jim Portley “have told us as recently as yesterday that they are still considering their section of the overall trail in Guilford beginning at the East River and making its way west into Guilford,” said Ott on June 13. “I can’t speak for them, but that is my understanding. There is some logic in looking at this section in Madison.”

The comments sparked concern among some Guilford residents who attended the Madison meeting to speak against the trail proposal.

“I met with at least one of those residents and told her and then followed up with a letter or an email saying that...we are doing nothing,” said Mazza.

While the issue won’t be taken up anytime soon, in the interest of possibly preserving some of the grant dollars and still improving pedestrian and bike safety in town, Mazza said there will be future SGT discussions.

“We will take up the issue again in the fall and then before we embark on any design, we will have a public meeting for input,” he said.