What is the Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail Study?

The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC) is evaluating the feasibility of constructing a 13-mile multi-use rail trail along the MTA’s Beacon Line.

The Beacon Line runs between the Hudson River in the City of Beacon and the hamlet of Hopewell Junction in the Town of East Fishkill. The study area (see map below) includes portions of the City of Beacon, Village of Fishkill, and Towns of Fishkill and East Fishkill. It also connects to trails such as the Riverfront Trail and future Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail in Beacon, and the William R Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail and Empire State Trail in Hopewell Junction (East Fishkill).

The study will document the challenges and opportunities of constructing a rail trail, and then present several design concepts to stakeholders and the public for review and feedback. The study will ultimately produce a recommended trail concept with cost estimates – though as a feasibility study, it does not imply any commitment to fund or build a trail by New York State, Dutchess County, or any local municipality in the study area. 

Click on map to enlarge

Key Tasks

The Beacon Hopewell Rail Trail Study includes three key tasks:

  1. Inventorying & assessing existing conditions (including natural resources, road crossings, and structures)

  2. Preparing & evaluating preliminary design concepts

  3. Preparing a final concept plan with cost estimates.

Visit our Get Involved page to learn how you can share feedback and stay up to date with the study!

What is a Rail Trail?

A rail trail is a multi-use path built within or adjacent to a rail corridor. Rail trails are typically flat or gently graded, making them accessible to people of various fitness levels and abilities.

They are great for walking, bicycling, running, and other activities. In some cases, the rail corridor’s functionality can be maintained with the space next to the railroad tracks used as a path (i.e., Rail-with-Trail).

Rail trails have many benefits:

Connectivity

Rail trails provide a non-motorized transportation connection between communities.

Safety

Rail trails provide a safer environment for walking and bicycling, typically away from busy roads.

Economic

Rail trails boost local economies, attracting visitors who spend money on food, lodging, and experiences.

Environmental

Rail trails promote local conservation efforts, preserving green spaces and local habitats.

Scenic

Rail trails offer new perspectives to a community, connecting residents and visitors to the surrounding landscape at a personal level.

Cultural & Educational

Rail trails can include interpretive signs and displays that provide information about the area's history, ecology, and culture.

Rail Trails in Dutchess County

Our county is already home to a robust system of rail trails that serve both recreational and transportation needs:

  • The William R Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail runs 13 miles from Hopewell Junction northwest to Poughkeepsie, where it connects with the Walkway Over the Hudson.

  • The Maybrook Trail, constructed from Hopewell Junction south through Beekman and into Putnam County, is part of the statewide Empire State Trail. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail, in the county’s northeast, extends more than 19 miles from the Wassaic hamlet into Columbia County.

  • And in 2023, the first section of the Northside Line opened in Poughkeepsie’s northside area, providing a new trail connection to the Dutchess Rail Trail.

Study Goals

We’ve identified the following goals for the Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail Study:

  • Inventory existing conditions along the rail corridor and assess the challenges with constructing a potential rail trail

  • Understand the community’s concerns, desires, and needs for a rail trail

  • Determine the current and future needs of the MTA and the rail corridor

  • Identify and document existing natural resources and assess potential environmental impacts of a potential rail trail

  • Identify ways to protect and restore natural resources along the rail corridor

  • Identify any historic structures or elements along the rail corridor

  • Determine logical connection points and trailhead locations

  • Develop conceptual plans and details for a potential rail trail

  • Estimate the cost of designing and constructing a rail trail

  • Identify possible funding sources and opportunities

What is the DCTC?

The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Dutchess County.

MPOs serve Census identified Urban Areas to ensure that federal transportation funds are committed through a locally driven, comprehensive planning process. We provide a forum for state and local officials to address transportation issues and reach consensus on transportation plans and projects.

In our most recent long-range transportation plan, Moving Dutchess Forward, we recommended several Transformative Projects to remove barriers to transportation and expand transportation access, including the construction of the Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail.

To learn more about the DCTC, visit our website.