Beaver Brook Bridge CPA Application
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Beaver Brook Bridge Restoration
Project Summary: Restoration of the Norwottuck/Mass Central Rail Trail arch bridge
over Beaver Brook. The bridge was constructed in the early 1900’s, and has not
been maintained since the 1970’s. It is in need of repair and rehabilitation to
maintain its integrity and ensure that it is safe for pedestrians and bicycles and
ensure that this historic structure remains for future generations.
Estimated start date: March 2012 Estimated completion date: March 2013
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
� Open Space x Historic Preservation
� Community Housing x Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden
Property Owner (if applicable): City of Northampton
Organization (if applicable): Northampton Office of Planning and Development
In cooperation with the Northampton Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee
Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, Room 11
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address & Website: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
www.northamptonma.gov/opd
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $111,000
CPA funding request: $104,000
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 93%
Applicant’s Signature:
Date Submitted: September 6, 2011
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Narrative:
Funds are being sought to restore and rehabilitate the arch bridge that carries the
Norwottuck/Mass Central Rail Trail over Beaver Brook. A 2006 bridge inspection report
(attached) recommended several repairs to the bridge, including significant mortar
replacement and repointing, wingwall stabilization, seepage correction, and bank
stabilization. The recent tropical storm has underscored the need for rehabilitation of
historic infrastructure, and this work will help ensure that the arch bridge can be used
for pedestrian and bicycle travel, while maintaining its historic character. CPA funds
contributed to the purchase of the bridge and ROW.
Project location
Please see attached locus map for exact location.
What Community Preservation criteria – both general and program-area
specific – does this project meet?
The project meets several general CPC criteria:
Serves more than one CPA program area
Serves both recreation and historic preservation.
Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of
the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents
Northampton is renowned for its multi-use trails. The path over the arch bridge is
simple cinder trail, and already sees a great deal of use from joggers, dog-walkers,
and bicyclists.
Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive
plan and/or the Northampton Open Space and Recreation Plan 2005-2010, Open Space,
Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan 2011-2017 or is consistent with other city-wide
planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny and input and can
demonstrate wide community support
Development of multi-use paths for public access is one if the main goals of the
Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan (the bridge is on the cover). The
north section of the Norwottuck/Mass Central trail is a simple cinder trailand
addresses the need to expand Northampton’s trail network to the north and provide
additional access. The bridge is critical in providing both the current access to the
cinder trail, and to future trap rock gravel access, as the trail is developed into the
hilltowns.
Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened
Without this needed rehabilitation, the bridge will become increasingly at risk.
Tropical Storm Irene caused devastation to historic bridges in Massachusetts and
Vermont (possibly including the state Norwottuck Rail Trail across the Connecticut
River, which is still being evaluated at this point). Fatal damage, caused by a
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catastrophic event or by slow decay, is inevitable at some point if the repairs are not
completed.
Places high value on sustainable, ecologically responsible, energy-conserving structures,
locations, and materials; demonstrates that the project minimizes the ecological
footprint
Reuse of an existing bridge to provide safe alternative travel is an excellent example
of this criteria.
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments
The project is proposed by the Office of Planning and Development, and has the
support of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. Additional support letters
will be provided as they are received.
Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding
sources are not readily available or sufficient
Rehabilitation for pedestrian bridges is not readily available, as demonstrated by the
Leeds Hotel Bridge CPA application. OPD commits to donation of all the staff time
needed to oversee the project.
Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget
The project can be completed within one year of funding.
The project also meets the historic preservation criteria and recreation
criteria:
Protect, preserve, enhance, restore and/or rehabilitate properties, features or resources
of historical significance
The project will rehabilitate the historic bridge in a manner consistent with its
historic character, including appropriate mortar and stonework.
Include a focus on the historical function of a property or site
The bridge was constructed as a train crossing, and its use as part of a trail
corridor is consistent with this function.
Demonstrate eligibility for a local, State or National Historic Register listing, and support
of the local Historic Commission
The Commission expressed initial support for the project in the summer, and will
be formally presented the application in September.
Provide assurance of the ability to maintain the historic resource over the long term.
The bridge was extremely well built and originally capable of withstanding heavy
trains. Simple on-going maintenance, which the City can commit to, is sufficient
to maintain the bridge once this initial extensive rehabilitation is made. The
problems stem from the fact that from the 1960s, when freight declined, and
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especially from the 1970s, when the railroad was no longer used, until 2010,
there was absolutely no maintenance on the structure. Last summer the city,
immediately upon taking ownership of the structure, with Smith Vocational
School assistance, removed all of the trees that were growing on and through
the bridge. Making up for fifty years of neglect, however, requires a significant
investment. Once completed, on-going maintenance will be adequate for many
years to come.
Include the granting of a permanent historic preservation restriction or other
preservation guarantee
The bridge is already permanently protected as open space by virtue of Article
97 of the Amendments to the State Constitution. The city is in the process of
negotiating a conservation restriction (probably with the Kestrel Land Trust or
possibly with Leeds Civic) which will guarantee permanent protection of the
property AND the bridge.
Support multiple active and passive recreation uses
The bridge serves multiple uses, including bicycling, walking, jogging, horseback
riding.
Serve a significant number of residents
Although not yet finished with its final surface, the trail already sees considerable
use. The bridge’s integral role in the trail to Williamsburg provides connections
to Look Park and the downtown area.
Expand the range of recreational opportunities available to Northampton residents of all
ages
The bridge is a critical part of the extension of the rail trail that will eventually go
to Haydenville (probably to the extension of River Road once it enters
Haydenville) and eventually all the way to Albany as part of the MassCentral
branch of the Bay State Greenway.
Enhance the appreciation of the natural world and its conservation
The bridge provides excellent views of Beaver Brook and the Mill River, to which
direct access is somewhat limited.
Contribute to the positive health status of its citizens
The bridge and the trail system to which it is part encourages healthy living and
increases the rate of walking, jogging, and bicycling of Northampton residents.
Benefit conservation and recreation initiatives
The bridge, although part of the Norwottuck/Mass Central Rail Trail is also a key
element in the Mill River Greenway and provides key access to residents using the rail
trail and those accessing the river.
Maximize the utility of land already owned by Northampton (e.g. school property)
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The property is already owned by Northampton, through its Conservation
Commission, but access to some of the Mill River Greenway is threatened if the
bridge is no longer safe to cross
Promote the creative use of former railway, waterways and other corridors, including
connecting corridors, to create safe and healthful non-motorized transportation and
exercise opportunities
What specific guarantees will assure the long-term preservation of the project?
The city has committed to maintaining the bridge if the 50 year backlog of
capital investment is completed. We have already done the first step, cutting all
trees on the bridge, and will inspect yearly and do on-going work as part of our
work plan.
What community support does the project have? Explain the nature and level of the
support.
City Council voted to acquire the property by eminent domain because it is so
critical to the rail trail’s future. (The City later acquired all interests in the
property in friendly agreements with both Massachusetts Electric and the Roman
Catholic Bishop.) The citizen Conservation Commission, Bicycle and Pedestrian
Committee, and Transportation and Parking Commission, as well as Leeds Civic
and its citizen members, have fought for the entire rail trail project, including the
bridge. Preservation of the bridge was part of the City’s open space, recreation,
and multiuse trail plan, which was discussed in great detail at over a dozen
public meetings and three formal public hearings last year, with huge community
support.
How will the success of this project be measured?
The success of the project will be indicated by a historically appropriate
rehabilitation of the bridge.
Is ongoing maintenance and upkeep required? If yes, please explain how this will be
accomplished.
The city will inspect the bridge annually and perform on-going maintenance as
necessary. The most critical part of the maintenance, which was neglected for
50 years, is preventing woody vegetation from growing through the bridge. This
will be done yearly.
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Project Budget:
A subcontractor will be selected to complete work on the project, with oversight and
project management by OPD staff.
OPD Oversight $7,000 donated
Bridge Rehabilitation $104,000 CPA funds
Specialist
Total Cost: $111,000
Project Timeline:
Consultant selection can be started as soon as CPA funds are awarded, and repairs to
the bridge begun as soon as a contract is signed.
Feasibility: List and explain all further actions or steps that will be required for
completion of the project, such as environmental assessments, zoning or other permits
and approvals, agreement on terms of any required conservation, affordability or
historic preservation agreements, subordination agreements, and any known or
potential barriers or impediments to project implementation.
The project is below MEPA and zoning thresholds. The only permit it will require is a
wetlands permit, which will be easy to obtain since the footprint of the bridge is not
training and the only requirement is to ensure construction methods do not impact
the resource area. The only other approval is the Conservation Restriction, which is
already in the works and will be complete within the 2011 calendar year. Design
itself will be done by an engineer qualified in historic preservation, possibly with
peer review from Mass Historic.
Attachments:
Bridge Inspection Report
Letters of Support will be provided as received
Photos
Map
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