Needham CPC Oct 2012
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Transcript of Needham CPC Oct 2012
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A Rail-Trail is a Linear Park
A rail-trail is the conversion ofa inactive railway into a
shared-use recreational path.
Rail-trails offer a safe place forwalking, jogging, cycling,cross-country skiing, or
horseback riding.
Rail-trails can be paved,crushed stone, recycled
asphalt, or just plain dirt.
In Massachusetts, there are: More than a hundred rail-trail
projects
Dozens of completed rail-trails
ManhanRailTrail,Easthampton,MA
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The entire length is 7 miles:
Needham: 2 miles fromNeedham Junction to theCharles River.
Dover: 3.5 miles from theCharles River to HuntDrive.
Medeld: 1.5 miles toHarding Street.
BCRT Overview
The Bay Colony Rail Trail project is focusedon the inactive rail corridor betweenMedeld and Needham:
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The Bay Colony Rail Trail Associationis a non-prot (501c3) organization.
Sole mission of the BCRTA:work with residents, officials,
businesses, and organizations to
evaluate, create and sustain the trail.
Speci
c focus:
Raise awareness Raise funds Coordinate development Develop community sponsorship,
ownership and engagement Once built: ongoing maintenance
and support
www.baycolonyrailtrail.org www.facebook.com/BayColonyRailTrail
Stewards of the Project and Trail
Needham Junction, looking west
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AbandonedtrackslookingwestunderHighRockSt.
The MBTA owns the abandoned railcorridor from Needham Junction to
Medeld and beyond.
The current operator (Bay ColonyRailroad) no longer uses that line.
MBTA has no plans to re-instate railcommuter service not on their
transportation plan through 2035.
The MBTA is interested in leasing thecorridor to the towns through whichit travels for $1.
All three towns interested in leasingtheir portion of the corridor.
State of the Corridor
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2012 Lease approved by MBTA
Public hearings with residents Work with town departments Initial fundraising to cover design Begin design work
2013 - 14 Seek approval at town meetings Sign lease with MBTA More fundraising for actual project Remove rails and ties, complete initial
passable surface
Enable access points and crossings
2014 - 16 Rehabilitate the bridge Add top surface layer Add amenities (benches, kiosks, etc.) Ongoing maintenance & stewardship
Prospective Timeline
Looking east, toward High Rock St. & Needham Junction
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The proposed feasibility study wouldaddress the following critical issues:
The timber pile bridge crossingthe Charles River
Roadway crossings Surfacing options Current trail alignment and
conditions
Environmental matters andwetland resource areas,
vegetation
Opportunities for linkage to otheropen space assets
Trail access, trail heads Parking considerations Priorities and phasing strategies
for implementation of
improvements
Open Questions
LookingacrossthetrestlebridgetoDover
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