Public Hearing Notice  Easthampton and Northampton Shared-Use Path Installation

A Live Virtual Design Public Hearing will be hosted on the MassDOT website below to present the design for the proposed Installation of a Shared-Use Path along Mount Tom Road project in Easthampton and Northampton, MA.

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Installation of a Shared-Use Path along Mount Tom Road project. All views and comments submitted in response to the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

The proposed project consists of construction of a proposed shared use path on the west side of Mount Tom Road from the Manhan Rail Trailhead in Easthampton and extend northerly to the Exit 18, I-91 NB on and off ramps. The proposed design will accommodate two shared use bicycle/pedestrian travel lanes and will include a new parking area at the Manhan Rail Trailhead. At the Manhan River Bridge, the existing concrete sidewalk will be widened to 10 feet for the entire length of the bridge. At the northerly project limit the I-91 at Route 5 south off ramp will include new signage and updated traffic signals providing a safer crossing for bicycles and pedestrians before connecting to the proposed bike lanes on Route 5 north of the project limit.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be presented in the hearing.

Project inquiries, written statements and other exhibits regarding the proposed undertaking may be submitted to Carrie E. Lavallee, P.E., Chief Engineer, via e-mail to MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us or via US Mail to Suite 7550, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Project Management, Project File No. 609440. Statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be emailed or postmarked no later than ten (10) business days (14 calendar days) after the hearing is hosted on the MassDOT website listed below.

This hearing is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (e.g interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, live captioning, videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), TTD/TTY at (857) 266-0603, fax (857) 368-0602 or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible and prior to the hearing, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the hearing.

This hearing will be hosted, or a cancellation announcement posted, on this website.