CONNECTICUT FASTRAK TRAIL:
NEW BRITAIN-NEWINGTON, CONNECTICUT
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: May 17, 2015
Length: CT Fastrak Trail; 4.5 miles
On-road detour to connect to the Trout Brook Trail; 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Mostly flat paved trail. No Shade.
Directions:
To Start from the New Britain Station; From I-84 westbound take exit 39A to Route 9 south. Take exit 28A to E Main St and turn right. Take your second left on Main St. The Fastrak Station and start of the trail is on your left. From I-84 eastbound take exit 35 to Route 72 east. Take exit 8 to Columbus Blvd and follow to Main St. Left brings you to the Fastrak Station.
Note; No parking available at this station so you can either park on-street or in one of the nearby shopping plazas or the Szczesny Municipal Parking Garage located at 35 Bank St. Fee. For directions to other Fastrak Stations See; CT FASTRAK; WHERE TO PARK .
The CT Fastrak Trail is a paved multiuse trail that parallels the CT Fastrak busway from the New Britain Station in downtown New Britain to the Newington Station in Newington. The CT Fastrak busway continues on to Hartford, however, the trail stops in Newington because there was no room to continue the trail along the busway towards Hartford. From Newington Junction a short on-road detour will connect you to the Trout Brook Trail . For more information visit; CT FASTRAK TRAIL .
Starting from the New Britain Station; The paved trail starts from Main St and travels alongside the station. The trail then follows alongside the busway traveling underneath Route 71 and over Route 9 before a cross light takes you over Stanley St at 0.5 miles. Travel along an urban corridor crossing E Main St at 0.9 miles. East Main Street Station located here. Cross Smalley St where the trail travels through Fairview Cemetery. At 1.5 miles the trail leaves the busway to detour around Route 9. Cross East St and head left underneath Route 9, over Piper Brook and up a slight hill before turning right into the East Street Station where you'll rejoin the trail alongside the busway at 2.2 miles. This section is more isolated with all woodland along your right and industrial on your left separated by forest. Travel underneath Route 9 followed by Cedar St before passing by the Cedar Street Station at 2.9 miles. The Hartford/New Haven RR Line merges alongside the busway as you approach Route 173 (Willard Ave). This is where the trail leaves the busway and takes you up to W Hill Rd. Head right to a cross-light over Willard Ave and you'll come to the Newington Junction Station at 4.5 miles.
This is the end of the trail. The rail corridor becomes too narrow for a separate trail into Hartford.
Note; You can connect to the Trout Brook Trail via an on-road detour. High traffic. Not recommended for kids on bikes. Travel north past the station alongside Willard Ave (narrow shoulder) and you'll cross into W Hartford after 0.4 miles (narrow sidewalk available/shoulder becomes wider). Come to Prescott St at 0.8 miles and take a right along this residential street. Follow to the end and head left on Woodlawn St (residential). Come to New Britain Ave at 1.3 miles and turn right (wide sidewalk). You'll come to a cross-light over New Britain Ave that will take you over to New Park Ave. Use the sidewalk along the left side of New Park Ave as their is no cross-walk further along to get you over to this side of the street. You'll pass by the Elmwood Station before reaching the Trout Brook Trail on your left just before the road crosses Trout Brook at 1.6 miles.
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT