July 24 2011 rail trail news
1 view
Skip to first unread message
Tom Connors
Jul 24, 2011, 1:33:49 PM7/24/11
to mass-rail-...@googlegroups.com
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission expanding Merrimack River trail
The Essex National Heritage Commission and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission are working together to further develop the Merrimack River Trail, a long envisioned 50-mile multimodal recreational trail along the Merrimack River. The strategic planning project entails the engagement of trail advocates and municipal officials in the 17 Massachusetts communities that line the Merrimack River, including Andover.
"With the goal of promoting increased use of the Merrimack River Trail, the project seeks to build upon prior efforts by improving connections between existing sections," according to a release. "Tracing the river's route, the trail will ultimately connect six cities and 11 towns from Tyngsborough to Newbury, effectively creating the backbone of a continuous, non-motorized, on- and off-road trail system."
Topsfield Stone dust to be purchased
It is estimated that approximately 1,154 tons of stone dust is necessary to finish the Topsfield Linear Common segment of the rail trail project, extending to the Wenham town line. On Monday the Board of Selectmen approved the purchase of stone dust for Phase III of the Topsfield Linear Common trail from Torromeo Industries of Methuen at $13 per ton, not to exceed $15,000. The Iron House Preservation Society is doing the trail work at no cost to the town.
This recommendation was unanimously approved at the July 6 meeting of the Topsfield Rail Trail Committee.
Topsfield’s application to be a Green Community has been approved by the state, Topsfield Selectman Martha Morrison was proud to announce Monday night.
Illegal parking has Westford worried
Article 22 at last fall's Special Town Meeting would have authorized the purchase of a 1.48-acre parcel on Acton Road that would have eventually been used to create a parking area for trail users. That article -- which drew criticism among neighborhood residents, including Major, for fears a parking lot would increase crime, litter, congestion, and noise -- was dismissed.
Methuen Rail Trail Project Gets Conservation Commission Approval
Downtown Northampton traffic improvements suggested by study
In their report, the consultants deem the downtown areas inhospitable to bicyclists. They call for more bike racks and connections to the Norwottuck Rail Trail. It report also suggests the creation of “cycletrack” on upper King Street, path dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists that are separated from traffic by a ten-foot vegetated buffer.
State releases draft long-term funding list for bike and transit projects
The Community Path (not funded) is already being extended to Lowell Street from its current terminus at Cedar Street. In addition, the state has agreed to design the path down to the Somerville line. However, there is currently no money allocated to build beyond Lowell Street or to design a connector to Storrow Drive. As for other rail-to-trail projects, the Assabet River Rail Trail from Hudson to Acton is in the draft plan for 2016-2020, eligible for $23.8 million of funding. However, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Acton and Concord got pushed back to 2021-2025.
State And Cities Receive Bike Friendly Awards
As a part of their Bicycle Friendly America program, the League of American Bicyclists has released the 2011 rankings for all 50 states and issued awards to those that chose to apply for further recognition. Due to the hard work of MassDOT, MassBike, and other advocates, Massachusetts has moved up from 16th place to 9th, and been awarded Bronze status. We congratulate the Patrick Administration and Transportation Secretary Jeff Mullan for their commitment to bicycling.
Three Massachusetts cities have also been recognized as Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) by the League: Boston (Silver), Northampton (Bronze) and Somerville (Bronze). The mayors of all three cities, Thomas Menino, Clare Higgins, and Joseph Curtatone, are all good friends to bicyclists and see bicycling as part of the solution to many issues faced by their communities. These are the first cities in Massachusetts to be recognized by the League’s current BFC program. Cambridge was recognized in 1998 under an earlier version of the program, and continues its tradition of innovation to support bicycling. As more Massachusetts communities continue improving their bike facilities and programs we expect to see this list grow.
Supporters cite progress on bike trail
Originally known as Bike to the Sea, the proposed path about five years ago was renamed the Northern Strand Community Trail
Keene pedestrian bridge still on radar
Along with the North Bridge, scheduled to be up and running next year, this bridge will complete a 42-mile stretch of uninterrupted trail, according to a draft of a letter the city’s bicycle/pedestrian path advisory committee has prepared and will ask the council to send to the state, encouraging officials to go through with the project.
Manhan Rail Trail Moves Closer to Southampton
The completion of these projects puts much closer the ability of travelers to go from the Belchertown line in Western Massachusetts, all the way into Connecticut completely on scenic, off-road rail trails along the Columbia River Greenway, the Farmington River Greenway and the Mass Central Rail Trail [all the same path, but with different names in different towns]. Without the two missing links, Southampton and Westfield, there will be about 26 miles of continuous trail from the Amherst/Belchertown line at Station Road to South Street at Easthampton/Southampton.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages