DCR Norwottuck Rail Trail Rehabilitation Project


NORWOTTUCK RAIL TRAIL REHABILITATION PROJECT

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Highway Division are working together to rehabilitate of the oldest sections of the 10.6 mile Norwottuck Rail Trail, which extends from Northampton to Belchertown, MA. Design funding has been provided through a state and federal partnership between DCR, MassDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration. Funding for the planned $4 million construction phase will come from federal and state funds set aside by Congressman John Olver in a federal transportation bill and by MassDOT. The design phase is currently scheduled for completion in 2012.

The scope of work for upgrades and safety improvements includes:

Assessment of existing conditions and natural resources.
Replacement of existing trail surface.
Trail widening up to 10-feet where possible
Evaluation of beaver impacts to the trail and a plan to manage the effects.
Public safety and Universal Access improvements.
Identification and resolution of drainage and erosion problems.
Upgrades to trail signage.
Improvements to bridge decks and parking lots.

Project Status

August, 2011

At the request of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DCR and MassDOT agreed to complete the design and permitting of the Norwottuck Rail Trail Reconstruction Project “in-house” with MassDOT and DCR resources rather than fund an additional consultant design agreement.

This decision is intended to:

Preserve as much as possible of the balance of the current earmark ($4,449,450 including state match) for construction as additional non-earmark federal funds expected to be available from FFY 2010 for a successor consultant design agreement are not available
Expedite the restart of the design and permitting effort by eliminating the time required to negotiate and execute the successor consultant design agreement(s)
Ensure that the design meets both DCR and MassDOT guidelines for the trail, and addresses community concerns

MassDOT District 2, in cooperation with DCR, will prepare full Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) for advertising and prepare the remaining environmental permit applications and MEPA documents for filing needed to move the project towards construction in 2013. Generally the scope includes:

Reclamation and paving at 10' width from Damon Road to Spruce Hill Road in Hadley
Reclamation and paving, or patching and overlay re-paving, at current width from Spruce Hill Road to Station Road. Opportunities to gaining additional width up to 10’ will be explored provided that this does not result in additional wetland impacts or substantive tree removals. The extent of reclamation versus patching and overlay re-paving will be dependent on costs and constraints.
No work west of Damon Road or east of Station Road
Re-deck of bridges. The Snell Street bridge and the Connecticut River bridge are anticipated to be re-decked / repaired under DCRs Accelerated Bridge Program.
Accessible ramps as needed at Route 116
Expansion of Damon Road parking lot
Road crossing treatments, turn-arounds, pull-outs, tree removal and tree planting depending on budget
Does not include the creation of a spillway or dam at the beaver impacted area in Amherst
Does not include realignment at the Route 9 tunnel.

We anticipate that this revised scope will reduce wetland impacts below 5,000 square feet. MassDOT and DCR anticipate submitting a Notice of Project Change to MEPA that will eliminate the requirement for an EIR. MassDOT and DCR will submit NOI’s to the community Conservation Commissions.

DCR and MassDOT will also work collaboratively to address community concerns including:

Wetland impacts
Use of gabion baskets
Tree removal
Trail alignment and width near East Street
Connections to the Swift Connector and malls
Impoundment and erosion near the Amherst Farmers Supply

DCR and MassDOT believe that this represents a positive development for the Norwottuck Reconstruction Project that will allow us to most effectively improve the trail and address community concerns making the most of limited resource.

Winter, 2011

Following the scoping of the project for an EIR, and in response to community concerns and budget constraints, DCR and MassDOT decided to revise the project to reduce the scope, eliminate widening in some sensitive areas, reduce wetland impacts and tree removals, eliminate the proposal to create a dam in the beaver impacted area, and leave the Route 9 tunnel alignment as it currently is.

DCR and MassDOT then requested additional federal funds for designing and permitting this revised project.

July, 2010

In June of 2010 DCR submitted an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office. Following this review and based in large part on public comments concerning environmental impacts to wetland resources and tree removal, the project was scoped by MEPA for a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

January, 2010

During the fall of 2009, the project team developed pre-25% design plans, completed revisions to the Rare Species Habitat Assessment for the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, continued work on the vegetation management plan and wetlands analysis and began preparing an Expanded Environmental Notification Form for the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) filing.

Project Summary Poster