I currently ride my horse along the right of way. Why does the Greenway propose to prohibit equestrian use? Can this issue be reconsidered?

The HRVG has entered into a License Agreement with National Grid authorizing creation of the AHET Trail. The agreement limits public recreational use of the trail to pedestrian and bicycle use only, including ADA accessibility. The agreement explicitly prohibits public equestrian use of the AHET Trail, and also prohibits snowmobiles and other motorized recreational uses.

The HRVG and National Grid have reviewed public comments requesting that horses be allowed on the AHET Trail. We have jointly concluded that equestrian use is not appropriate due to safety concerns. The AHET will be a unique recreational trail due to its close proximity to electrical facilities including utility poles, guy wires, and related infrastructure. These are present along the trail for the entire length of the National Grid corridor to support a 34,500V transmission line, plus a second parallel electrical distribution line located along the majority of the ROW that provides local electrical service to National Grid customers. In many places, the distance between the edge of the trail to utility poles will be as little as two feet, and the distance to guy wires will be as little as five feet. In rural areas, the trail will be ten feet wide, with some sections reduced to eight feet wide to provide required buffers to utility poles, or to accommodate safety fencing that will be installed linearly along the trail where drop-offs present safety hazards.

Given the AHET Trail’s proximity to suburban areas, villages, and hamlets, the HRVG anticipates significant use of the trail by pedestrian and bicycle users. The HRVG and National Grid have concluded that, due to anticipated high levels of trail use, close proximity to poles and guy wires, and constrained trail width in some locations, allowing horses to share the trail with pedestrians and bicyclists would create unacceptable safety concerns and potential conflicts between user groups.

The HRVG explored the option of creating a separate bridle path along the National Grid ROW, paralleling the bicycle/pedestrian trail – but concluded this option is not feasible due to the existence of utility poles and guy wires, along with physical constraints such as drop-offs and wetlands adjacent to the historic trolley bed. The HRVG also researched equestrian use on other rail-trails in the Hudson Valley and the Capital District. Generally speaking, horses are not allowed (with limited exceptions).

Note: Where established horse trails cross the AHET corridor and have the consent of the adjacent landowner, horses will continue to be allowed to cross perpendicularly across the AHET Trail.