Rail Trail e-Newsletter November 2022 #72
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Hello all,
In this issue we have a few notable stories. The Mass DCR's Watershed Protection team recently held a presentation about Public Access in the Wachusett Reservoir area. They are looking for public comment. We have a link below that will get you to the place to leave comments. The most critical thing here is to get public access to the top of the dam in Clinton. That way a high-profile gap in the MCRT can be easily filled--without having to build a 600' bridge quickly.
Also, our survey for the report about the MCRT is nearing 2,000 responses. If you haven't submitted yet, please do so. We'll be keeping it live for a couple of more weeks anyway. Link here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCRTSurvey
Enjoy the good news below. Oh, and by the way, the Eversource construction project has begun in Sudbury. Finally.
best,
Craig Della Penna, Exec. Director
Norwottuck Network
62 Chestnut St. Northampton, MA 01062
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In the GREEN area, we have news about the
Mass Central Rail Trail
and/or its connecting paths
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****Mass DCR is updating their Public Access Plan for the Wachusett Reservoir--and the iconic dam near where the MCRT passes over the Nashua River in Clinton****
COMMENT DEADLINE is 11-25-22!
Please weigh-in quickly!
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CLICK HERE to read the one-pager where you can see a link to DCR's presentation from late October. (still not up as of 10-30 though.)
LINK HERE to leave your comments.We want the top of the dam to be opened for bikes and peds--just like Quabbin Reservoir.
You have until 11-25-2022 Don't delay.
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Norwottuck Network seeks input on rail trail expansion Reminder Newspaper Oct. 25, 2022 Ryan Feyre
NORTHAMPTON – For years, an effort has been underway to connect rail trails and bike paths from Northampton to Boston into one continuous 104-mile trail called the “Mass. Central Rail Trail” (MCRT).
The survey is part of a five-task process put together by Kittelson & Associates and Cambridge Econometrics that will help develop a methodology for gathering, analyzing and extrapolating business and trail user survey data for use in projecting the impacts of bridging the gaps in the MCRT. Read More.
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Friends of the Belchertown Greenway get grant to look at the bent timber trestle bridge Reminder Newspaper Oct. 26, 2022 Tyler Garnet BELCHERTOWN – The Belchertown trestle bridge will be evaluated for repair/replacement thanks to Norwottuck Network Inc. and Friends of the Belchertown Greenway.
In 2019, Conservation Works did a preliminary assessment that inspected the 3.2 miles of railroad right-of-way between Springfield Road and Route 181 as a part of the MCRT. This included the ex-railroad bridge that carries the trail over Jabish Brook. Read more.
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$45M mixed-use building for 55 and older planned for King Street in Northampton
By BRIAN STEELE Daily Hampshire Gazette
10/12/2022 NORTHAMPTON — A $45 million, five-story commercial and 70 unit residential building planned for 79 King St. will seek tenants 55 and older who are looking for a home where they can age in place — and perhaps give up their gas guzzlers in the process.
The prefabricated mass timber structure will be assembled on site, saving several months on construction and, according to the developers, promoting reforestation.
Live Give Play wants its properties to push “participatory philanthropy,” according to founder and CEO David Fox, so tenants will be expected to volunteer their time in the community.
“We believe that a full life involves service, as well, and we’re going to facilitate that among our tenants,” Fox said. “Our tenants can be mentors to the people in the community.”
While not a requirement, the hope is that tenants will be open to ditching their non-electric cars in exchange for easy access to the Mass Central Rail Trail at the back of the property and the close proximity to businesses and other important services.
The property will offer a fleet of six electric cars for tenants to rent and planners are interested in attracting a retail bicycle shop. Read More.
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Eversource begins construction of their underground utility corridor under the future Mass Central Rail Trail. Read more.
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The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission recently held a community meeting in New Braintree to discuss what the town would like to see at the site of the Tanner Hiller Airport.
Of course we'd like to see the MCRT safely built alongside the runway.
There will be more meetings and as additional ideas for the property come forward we'll keep you all posted. The image above goes to some examples of trails near active airports that I quickly put together. No need for us to invent the wheel so to speak.
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Communities on the
on the MCRT and their websites
Did you know that many communities (or groups like land trusts) on the MCRT alignment are working on their section of the trail?
Here are links to websites where you can learn who the contact person is, when these groups meet, when hearings are being planned and how to sign up to get notices sent to you directly.
Belmont: Link here to the town appointed committee.
Belmont: Link here to the Belmont Citizens Forum.
Belmont: Link here to the Friends of the Community Path Facebook group.
Somerville: Link here to the Friends of the Community Path Facebook group.
Waltham: Link here to the Waltham Land Trust's site.
Walham: Link here to the Waltham Bike Committee.
Waltham: Link here to the City's page about the MCRT.
Weston: Link here to the town's page about the MCRT
Weston: Link here to the history of both the RR and the advocacy to create the trail. Over 25 years of advocacy. It is now open.
Sudbury: Link here for the N-S intersecting trail--Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Hudson: Link here for the NE-SW intersecting trail--Assabet River Rail Trail.
Berlin-Hudson: Link here to the new FaceBook group.
Berlin: Link here goes to the town's Rail Trail Committee. They also have a pretty nice website with pictures of the existing dead RR corridor along other maps and images of a future trail. Link here.
Wayside segment of the MCRT: Link here to a regularly updated history of DCR's efforts on building out this complicated trail.
Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust: Link here. updated info.
Clinton Tunnel: Link here to a story on WBZ Boston TV about the tunnel.
Wachusett Greenways: Link here.
Wachusett Greenways Facebook page with a link to their E-newsletter: Link here.
East Quabbin Land Trust: Link here.
Palmer coming soon
Ware: Link here to the Facebook group about this segment of the MCRT'.
Belchertown: Link for the site for Friends of the Belchertown Greenway.
Amherst, Hadley on DCR's Norwottuck section of the MCRT: Link here.
Northampton area: Link here to the Friends of Northampton Trails website.
Northampton area: Link here to the Friends of Northampton Trails Facebook.
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AND IN THE WHITE AREA,
OTHER NEWS AROUND THE REGION
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MASSTRAILS CONFERENCE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12th in FITCHBURG, MA
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR DETAILS! |
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**I will be presenting about the 40+ year history of a 100+ miles long trail--and we are going to move it forward.**
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Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Completion of Multi-Community Northern Strand Trail
10+ Mile Route from West Street in Everett to Western Avenue in Lynn. “Projects like the Northern Strand Trail serve as critical assets that link communities and residents across the Commonwealth together,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through the MassTrails team, our Administration has been proud to collaborate across state government and with municipal partners and trail advocacy groups to advance these projects that bring numerous environmental, recreational and transportation benefits to communities in Massachusetts.” Read more.
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Most People Have No Idea Just How Unique This Village In Massachusetts Truly Is Only in Your State, October 01, 2022 by Melissa Mahoney.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to dozens of charming small towns and quaint villages, each providing a wonderful escape to those who want to slow down for a bit. Set in the Berkshires along the Mohawk Trail scenic drive, Shelburne Falls is a village filled with beauty, natural wonders, and a thriving downtown filled with locally-owned businesses. (and SF's Bridge of Flowers was created from a former Trolley Bridge. It is an an early Rail Trail. CDP) Read more.
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New greenway path in Lowell to the Concord River By PAIGE IMPINK News Correspondent
The greenway is a 1.75 mile paved path that runs along the east bank of the Concord River to its confluence with the Merrimack. The trail is part of the Bay Circuit Trail, and the hope is to one day connect to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Read more.
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Framingham & CSX Negotiate $5 Million Price For Bruce Freeman Trail October 25, 2022 Framingham Source
FRAMINGHAM – City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky said the City has negotiated a $5 million price with CSX to purchase a parcel of land which would complete the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in this community. “It was a monumental exercise,” said Mayor Sisitsky. Read more. ( And Mayor Sisitsky, I know how monumental this was. It was 20 years ago that CSX met in my office with reps from 7 communities to begin to talk about selling dead RR corridor in those communities. We had no idea that day that it was going to take a generation. CDP)
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New engineering firm hired for rail trail project
Oct 19, 2022 Lynnfield News
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The town has hired a new engineering firm for Lynnfield’s portion of the rail trail.
Wakefield previously hired Woburn-based WorldTech Engineering to create the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail’s design and oversee the permitting component of the project for both towns. The shared-use path will connect both towns via the abandoned MBTA rail bed. Read more.
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Lawrence kicks off Manchester Street rail trail cleanup
Eagle Tribune By Jill Harmacinski Oct 9, 2022
LAWRENCE — The city is ready to start cleaning up and revamping its portion of the Lawrence-Manchester Rail Trail.
The trail is part of a 30-mile abandoned rail corridor linking Lawrence and Manchester, New Hampshire. Read more. |
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AND IN THE ORANGE AREA
Interesting, "High-Altitude" Stories From Around the Country and Sometimes Beyond.
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Inside the Bicycle’s Conquest of Amsterdam
Bloomberg CityLab By David Dudley October 14, 2022
To make way for pedal-powered mobility, the Dutch capital embarked on a decades-long campaign to design streets around the needs of cyclists, not drivers. Read more.
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Indeed, nearly all mainstream media stories about protected bike lanes and merchant districts seem to skip over the actual studies of receipts and the known business impacts of installing them.
Sales increased in a business district in New York by 12 percent when protected lanes were installed. Read more
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The new Norwottuck Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation specifically set up to help get the longest rail trail in New England--the Mass Central Rail Trail --built-out, operational and notable.
We can help do that by making small, mini-grants available to local groups and communities that will bring restore/renovate/replace historic mile-markers on the corridor. Or help fund kiosks that will call out forgotten railroad or industrial history of that locale.
We will want to work with the state park agency Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on standardized kiosk designs.
We will keep you all posted as to developments as we go. We have made it easy to DONATE through the Network for Good.
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I was recently invited
to be on a Podcast. click below. Caution! 1.5 hours
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Amazingly, Constant Contact alerted us that this newsletter is in the top 10% of all of Constant Contact's newsletters, worldwide, in terms of readership engagement.
Imagine that!
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