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2017 | Doing Business in Connecticut 85 O ne of the most scenic ways to travel in Connecticut is via an expansive network of rail trails, and state of- ficials are placing a growing emphasis — and millions of dollars — on making them easier to enjoy. A more relaxed alternative to busy highways or crowded trains and buses, rail trails are out-of-use railways that have been converted into paths for walking, bicycling or horseback riding. Statewide, they cover 88 miles and pass through 22 towns, offering unique views of some of Connecticut's prettiest landscapes. ere are four state park rail trails: the Air Line, Hop River, Moosup Valley and Larkin. Many parts of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail also are part of the state park system. Various improvements and upgrades have been made to the trails in recent years, with more in the works. e Air Line and the Hop River trails, for instance, were recon- nected in May 2016 by a restored bridge over the Willimantic River in Windham, according to state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). State officials have made improving and connecting more parts of the trail system a priority, says Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's "Let's Go CT!" transportation initiative will invest $10 million per year over a five-year period to reduce gaps in the trail network. Most of the money previously invested in the trails came from federal grants, but the state is investing more heavily now and working on a program to help complete a fully interconnected statewide system of trails. Malloy and Redeker also have created a Trail Gap Closure Program in which the DOT will complete the most technically difficult and expensive portions of the trail network that otherwise wouldn't have been done, according to Redeker. Statewide, 18 projects have been identified, of which four have been completed and three are slated to be done this year. Planned projects will close gaps in the network and improve connectivity, particu- larly in Tarrifville, Bloomfield and along the Quinebaug River in Eastern Connecticut, says Redeker. e work is important, he notes, because the trails are more than just scenic — they provide various benefits to near- Biking in Connecticut continues to get easier and more accessible as the state invests in more rail-to-trail projects. PHOTO/DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE & TOURISM Continued on page 86 > Bikes Offer a Great Way to Travel in CT Scenic rail trails are expanding across the state By Cara Rosner