PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015 AT ACTON TOWN HALL FAULKNER ROOM 472 MAIN STREET ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS 7:00 PM FOR THE PROPOSED ASSABET RIVER RAIL TRAIL (ARRT) IN THE TOWNS OF ACTON & MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS PROJECT FILE NUMBER 604531 PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECTION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY DIVISION THOMAS TINLIN ACTING HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E. CHIEF ENGINEER
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY DIVISION NOTICE OF A PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING Project File No. 604531 A Design Public Informational Meeting will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Assabet River Rail Trail project in the Towns of Acton and Maynard, MA. WHERE: WHEN: PURPOSE: Acton Town Hall, Faulkner Room 472 Main Street Acton, MA Thursday, April 30, 2015 @ 7:00 PM The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed rail trail project. All views and comments made at the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible. PROPOSAL: The proposed rail trail project consists of linking the Assabet River National Wildlife refuge with the downtown Maynard Business District and the South Acton Commuter Rail Station. The limits of work are from the Stow/Maynard Town line to the MBTA station in Acton, a distance of 3.4 miles. The work will include replacement of the existing Bridges at Tobin Park in Maynard and Mill Pond in Acton, and approximately 530 of new boardwalk in Acton. This multi-use trail will be constructed in accordance with applicable design guides. A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The towns are responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this meeting. Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the meeting begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below. Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Informational Meeting regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 604531. Such submissions will also be accepted at the meeting. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public informational meeting transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Informational Meeting. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting. In case of inclement weather, meeting cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/ THOMAS TINLIN ACTING HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E. CHIEF ENGINEER
ACTON-MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS ASSABET RIVER RAIL TRAIL The proposed project displayed for public viewing and comment will be presented in detail to provide the residents of Maynard and Acton a full understanding of the project improvements. Public comments are encouraged and will be recorded and used to assist the Towns and MassDOT during the next and final stage of the rail trail design. Project Description The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division (MassDOT), in conjunction with the Towns of Maynard and Acton, proposes to construct approximately 3.4 miles of the Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT) through Maynard and Acton. The ARRT is a proposed multi-use recreational trail and alternative transportation corridor along the B&M Railroad s Marlborough branch line. This project begins at the Stow/Maynard town line at White Pond Road and runs 3.4 miles east and north through Maynard, ultimately ending in South Acton at the South Acton Commuter Rail Station. The project also includes the rehabilitation of the existing railroad trestle over Mill Pond with a prefabricated steel truss bridge, the replacement of the existing pedestrian bridge over the Assabet River in Tobin Park in Maynard with a prefabricated steel truss bridge and a proposed boardwalk over two stormwater basins and a vegetated wetland in Acton. Purpose The municipalities of Maynard, Stow, Hudson, Marlborough, and Acton have been working to develop the Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT), a 12.5- mile long rail trail on a former rail line. The ARRT will connect downtowns in Marlborough, Hudson, and Maynard with the South Acton Commuter Rail Station and will connect in-town parks in Marlborough, Hudson, and Maynard with wooded areas, riverfront, and the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The portion of the work in Marlborough and Hudson has been constructed and is being used extensively. The town of Stow is currently working on acquiring the rights to the privately owned land along the proposed trail location. This portion of the ARRT through Acton and Maynard will provide a safer alternative to bicyclists and pedestrians than shared roadway use with motorized vehicles. Existing Conditions The existing location is an former railroad right-of-way that extends from the Stow/Maynard town line, through wooded sections before reaching downtown Maynard, then turning north through mostly wooded sections to the Maynard/Acton town line, then continuing north through Acton until crossing Mill Pond before reaching its terminus at the South Acton MBTA Commuter Rail station. The corridor is lined with thick vegetation and includes significant cut and fill slopes, drainage swales, culverts, wetlands and other obstructions. The Assabet River, Taylor Brook, Pratt Brook, Mill Pond and bordering vegetated wetlands align much of the right-of-way. The segments of right-of-way running parallel to Route 62 and Route 27 are bordered primarily by commercial and residential uses. The remainder of the right-of-way is primarily located adjacent to conservation and wetland areas. Proposed Scope of Work The proposed ARRT section begins at the Stow/Maynard town line at White Pond Road and runs 3.4 miles east and north through Maynard, ultimately ending in South Acton MBTA commuter rail station. Existing conditions of the ARRT vary along the proposed route. The trail begins at White Pond Road/Stow town line and continues easterly along the Marlborough branch railroad right-of-way more or less parallel to the Assabet River, past Ice House Landing and the Maynard DPW garage to Winter Street. The trail in this location follows a gravel road with wooded areas to the right and residential properties to the left. The trail runs along Winter Street for a short distance, crosses Great Road and the mill canal before continuing along the railroad right-of-
way alongside High Street to Sudbury Street. This area is residential and wooded. From there, the trail turns left onto Sudbury Street and then immediately right onto Main Street into the commercial downtown. It runs along the Clock Tower Place parking lot, crosses Main Street to Railroad Street, crosses Florida Road and the Assabet River and travels through the municipal parking lot behind the downtown stores to Summer Street. Once the trail crosses Summer Street, it follows the railroad right-of-way through residential neighborhoods to Haynes Square; crosses Concord Street and continues through some forested areas and open land, crosses Acton Street and continues through some forested land to the Acton Town Line. From the Acton town line, the trail follows the railroad right-of-way, detours around the front of the 20 Main Street facility and reconnects with the former Marlborough branch line to the town-owned farm land south of Maple Street, crosses Maple Street and terminates at the south side of the commuter rail station in South Acton. The majority of the trail in Acton traverses forested land. South of Maple Street the trail passes adjacent to crop land before entering a residential neighborhood. This project will provide important links both locally and regionally. Development of the rail trail will be a strong addition to the communities transportation network and will support future bicycle path connections to adjacent communities. The trail will be used by residents of the communities and visitors of the ARRT and the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge and provide a vital connection to the MBTA commuter rail station in Acton. Improvement activities will include the following: Paved 8 to 12 foot wide multi-use recreational trail with one or two foot graded shoulders on either side Trail pavement markings and signing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at trail-roadway crossings Roadway pavement markings and signing at trail crossings Traffic calming features Repair / maintenance of existing culverts Construction of two parking areas/additional spaces at Winter and Florida Streets, Maynard Construction of two parking areas/additional spaces at Sylvia and Maple Streets, Acton Earthwork and landscaping Informational kiosks and trail signage Parking lot and safety lighting Other items incidental to the construction of the trail Replacement of the bridge over the Assabet River in Tobin Park Rehabilitation of the existing railroad trestle over Mill Pond Construction of a boardwalk In addition to the two existing superstructures, there are nine proposed road crossings. The ARRT crosses: Great Road (Route 117) at Mill Street and Winter Street (Maynard), Sudbury Street at Main Street (Route 62) (Maynard), Main Street (Route 62) at Clock Tower Place Driveway (Maynard), Florida Road (Maynard), Summer Street at Maple Street (Maynard), Acton Street (south) at Haynes Street (Route 27) (Maynard), Concord Street at Haynes Street/Brown Street (Route 27) (Maynard), Acton Street (north) at Brown Street (Route 27)/Conant Street (Maynard), Maple Street at Stow Street (Acton). Improvements are proposed at each of the crossings to maintain vehicular capacity while providing a safe and reasonable means of crossing trail users including pavement markings, signing and rectangular rapid flashing beacon installations. Existing drainage patterns are being maintained and runoff from the trail is to be directed to existing or new grass swales. There are several existing cross culverts at various locations along the project which will be cleaned and maintained. Some new cross culverts have been proposed.
As part of this project, several areas of project work are expected to impact vegetated wetlands areas in Maynard and Acton. Permanent wetland impacts total 263 square feet. Temporary wetland impacts total 9,502 square feet. Permanent land under water impacts total 6,038 square feet and temporary land under water impacts total 3,344 square feet. The project also proposes impacts to 1,641 linear feet of bank and 1,330 SF of bordering land subject to flooding resulting in 358 CF of impact to floodplain. A Certified Vernal Pool is located in the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Stow, approximately 350 feet southwest of the beginning of the trail in Maynard and is separated from the project limits by the presence of White Pond Road. A potential vernal pool has been mapped in Acton approximately 1,200 feet south of the Mill Pond Bridge, 75 feet west of the trail. Best management practices for erosion and sedimentation control will be adhered to for all phases of construction to minimize impacts to these pools and the adjacent vernal pool habitat. Minimal utility impacts are anticipated as much effort has been undertaken to avoid impacts to utility structures. Two utility poles will require relocations and two fire hydrants will require adjustment in addition to some drainage improvements/modifications. Right-of-Way Impacts Within the project limits, the right-of-way varies between 40 feet and 70 feet which is now owned by the Towns of Acton and Maynard, public right-of-way in the Towns of Acton and Maynard and previously acquired easements. Temporary and permanent easements will be needed from private property owners for work outside these areas. Both Acton and Maynard are currently working with impacted property owners. Project Status / Schedule The Plans on display this evening are 75% complete and currently under review at MassDOT. Comments from the public presentation will be reviewed and addressed in the final design stage. The process will continue to the final Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E), and the award of construction contract. Construction is anticipated to be complete within two construction seasons (2 years). Currently the project is listed on the 2015 MassDOT Traffic Improvement Program (TIP). With this planned funding being set, construction is anticipated to begin in 2016. Project Cost At this time the estimated participating cost of construction is approximately $6.7 million dollars
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY DIVISION FEDERAL AID Acton & Maynard, MA Assabet River Rail Trail Project File No. 604531 This sheet is provided for your comments. Your input is solicited and appreciated. Please return your sheet, with comments, to a staff member at the meeting, or mail to: Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer MassDOT Highway Division 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116-3973 The final date for receipt of written statements and exhibits for inclusion into the official meeting transcript will be ten (10) days after the Informational Meeting. PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY. Name: Title: Organization: Address:
Please Fold and Tape Please Place Appropriate Postage Here Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E. Chief Engineer MassDOT Highway Division 10 Park Plaza Boston, MA 02116-3973 RE: Public Informational Meeting ASSABET RIVER RAIL TRAIL IN THE TOWNS OF ACTON & MAYNARD Project File No. 604531 Project Management Section