Vote coming on Southampton greenway

SOUTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Southampton voters decide Tuesday whether to expand a major bike trail in town.

This will be the fourth time since 1996 that Southampton voters have a say on whether to build the four-mile greenway.

Greenway supporters say it will connect Southampton to the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton and ultimately, to the Northampton Bikeway.

Town Clerk Eileen Couture told 22News that money, security and maintenance have been concerns in the past. The $340,000 project will need a 2/3 majority vote.

Ted Pinkos of Southampton said, “Sure I certainly understand those concerns. I think it's like anything else, a public park or any other public facility. It's incumbent upon the community to find ways to make it great for all of us.”

Sandy Duncan of Southampton said, “It's a broken link in a chain, it goes from Belchertown all the way down to New Haven. I think it's a good thing, it's good for the town; it keeps families together.”

The vote will not seal the deal. A greenway committee, appointed by the town's Select Board, recently applied for a land grant.  The project cannot move forward unless the grant is approved.

The meeting takes place Tuesday night at 7PM at the William Norris School.