CT River Greenway
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Connecticut River Greenway
Project Summary: CPA Funding is sought to advance the design of the Hatfield –
Northampton Connecticut River Greenway Trail. CPA funds will be used to complete
design of the trail from the Damon Road through the future boathouse site and on to
the River Run roadway, creating a loop trail that can be used now.
Funds will also be used to bring trail design from the boathouse site to the Hatfield
town line through the feasibility design phase; the completion level needed to enter
the queue for federal funding.
Estimated start date: August 2012 Estimated completion date: February, 2014 (for
this phase)
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
Open Space � Historic Preservation
� Community Housing Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden
Property Owner (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission, Lane
Construction, Pan Am Railways
Organization (if applicable): Office of Planning and Development
Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, City Hall, Northampton MA 01060
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $8,225,000
CPA funding request: $200,000
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 2.5
Applicant’s Signature: __________
Date Submitted: February 8, 2012________________
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 1
CONNECTICUT RIVER GREENWAY CPA APPLICATION
Narrative:
CPA Funding is sought to advance the design and feasibility of the Connecticut River
Greenway Trail connecting Northampton to Hatfield. There is currently no safe bicycle
or pedestrian connection between Northampton and its multi-use trail network, and
Hatfield’s network of bike-friendly roads. Damon Road is an especially treacherous
route for bicyclists and those on foot, and the project will create a safe and attractive
connection that will later connect to the Norwottuck trail. CPA funds will be used to
bring design of the trail from Damon Road to Lane Construction (future boathouse site),
the Connecticut River, and to the River Run roadway site to the 100% design stage.
This section will create a safe loop trail that can be used as soon as it is complete.
Design north of that point presents more design challenges due to the proximity of the
railroad, and the portion from the boathouse to the Hatfield line will be brought to the
feasibility design phase (25% design).
“Design phase” is a term used by MassDOT to indicate different levels of project
planning and engineering. 100 percent design indicates that a project is shovel-ready.
25% design is the level at which a project has met the requirements to be entered into
the funding queue.
The project to connect the Lane/boathouse loop to Hatfield contains design challenges,
including proximity to the railroad right of way and wetlands. This application focuses
on the aspects of the project that do not include those challenges. The Damon Road to
River Run Road loop and the trail north of that to dramatic river overlook have
much easier permitting (complicated but without the unknowns) and allow a much
greater separation from high speed rail. This part of the project is expensive and
complicated, but ultimately the engineering and permitting issues are known quantities
and eminently doable. The last leg, the piece with the unknowns, will only include a
feasibility analysis at this point, so that the City can determine what is necessary to
make that project work at some point in the future.
Work on the overall project has already begun, and is continuing. The City of
Northampton and the Town of Hatfield, along with volunteers and committee members,
have identified the approximate route for the trail, including scenic views, worked with
abutters, kept local boards and commissions informed about progress, and have closed
on the first parcel involved with the trail. A survey has been completed with help from
a small grant, and a recordable land survey has been completed that identified all
property owner information for the northern segment of the trail; from Damon Road to
the Hatfield town line. This allowed for a preliminary trail route to be determined. In
late 2011 the Planning Department commissioned a conceptual design for the
boathouse and surrounding area, that also included a potential route for the path. This
plan is included as an attachment.
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 2
CPA funding will allow for an engineering consultant to be obtained to bring the
southern portion of the trail to 100% design. Once this is complete it is hoped that
construction of this portion will begin within a couple of years. This portion of the trail
is a logical first step, as it will provide access through the future boathouse site to
Damon Road, where safe access along the roadway will then be considered in future
upgrades for Damon Road. The northern trail segment will be brought to 25% design.
Once the segment meets this step, the project can enter the funding queue, and it is
hoped the trail will be constructed in five to six years from this point. Obtaining funding
for engineering was difficult for several other trail projects, since initial planning does
not receive federal or state support. The biggest challenge to development of multi-use
trails is obtaining funds for initial design and layout. CPA funds will bridge that gap,
and will leverage state and federal funding for construction.
‐
This is the top proposed bicycle and pedestrian trail priority in the City that does not
have funding. The Edwards Square offramp and the MassCentral tunnel are higher
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priority but are funded. The westerly expansion of the Manhan Rail Trail Spur to West
Farms is a lower priority and needs more preliminary prefunding work before costs and
project scope can be defined.
Community Preservation Criteria
The project meets several Community Preservation general criteria:
Serves more than one CPA program area
The project serves both Open Space and Recreation.
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 known for its network of multi-use trails, and this trail will be a
valuable addition to this resource. The trail will connect the Norwottuck Rail Trail
with the Town of Hatfield, which will greatly expand the amount of trails and
bicycle-friendly roads available to Northampton residents and visitors.
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
Multi-use paths were identified as a primary objective in the Open Space,
Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan, so much so that the Plan’s name was
changed to include them. The Plan noted that “opportunities for new or
expanded connections to existing trail networks for alternative transportation,
walking, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and other recreational opportunities”
are priorities when considering sites for recreation. The Connecticut River
Greenway Trail was called out as a specific goal as well: “Extending a trail 1.5
miles from Damon Road or 1.3 miles from River Run Access Road to Elm Court in
Hatfield would dramatically open up multi-use trail opportunities. It would connect
a new town to the growing rail trail network and provide easy access to Hatfield’s
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 3
safe back roads for Northampton bicyclists. It would also be a spectacular trail
with great Connecticut River vistas and it would be anchored by the south by the
new greenway community boathouse park and on the north by the Connecticut
River Greenway parcel with frontage on the river.”
Serves under-served populations
The Trail will provide access to River Run condominiums, the largest low income
condominium complex in the city. The condos are currently isolated from the trail
network, as well as the rest of the City, by busy, unsafe roads. This project will
create a direct link for
Places high value on sustainable, ecologically responsible, energy-conserving structures,
locations, and materials; demonstrates that the project minimizes the ecological
footprint
The project will create additional connections for alternative modes of travel, and
provide new opportunities to bike and walk to shopping areas and the
downtown, potentially reducing vehicle trips.
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments
The project is supported by the Office of Planning and Development, Recreation
Commission, Conservation Commission, Transportation and Parking Commission,
and Bicycle/Pedestrian Subcommittee.
Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding
sources are not readily available or sufficient
The initial first-dollar-in CPA investment will allow leveraging of state and federal
funds for construction. Funding is unfortunately not readily available for the
initial, design phase of multi-use trail projects, and other trails have been stalled
at this phase. CPA funds will allow the ball to get rolling on the Greenway Trail,
and bring us many steps closer to a ribbon cutting.
Demonstrates a high benefit/cost value
A relatively small initial investment of CPA funds will leverage a great deal of state
and federal funds for construction. Multi-use trail projects have typically received
tremendous public support in Northampton, and this trail will be a very visible,
highly traveled addition to the trail network.
Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget
Bids can be sought for project consultants as soon as a grant is awarded. The
sooner trail design can be completed, the sooner the project can enter the
funding queue. While the larger project is subject to the availability of funding
from other sources, experience with other trails and oversight the multi-year
process that led to our current $13 million of construction funding and all of our
current construction projects, we know that this is achievable.
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 4
The project also meets many of the specific criteria for Open Space and Recreation
projects:
Open Space Criteria:
Provide opportunities for passive recreation and environmental education
Provide connections with existing non-motorized multi-use trails or potential trail
linkages
Preserve valuable surface water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds,
wetlands, buffer zones, vernal pools and riparian zones
Recreation Criteria:
Support multiple active and passive recreation uses;
Serve a significant number of residents;
Expand the range of recreational opportunities available to Northampton residents of
all ages
Enhance the appreciation of the natural world and its conservation
Contribute to the positive health status of its citizens
Benefit conservation and recreation initiatives
Maximize the utility of land already owned by Northampton (e.g. school property)
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
Project Timeline from CPA award (Entire project):
Task Timeline
All necessary environmental due diligence 1 year
Preliminary design (25%) of entire trail 1 year
Enter queue for federal and state funding 1 year
Purchase all necessary right-of-way 2 years
25% design of entire trail accepted by 3 years
MassDOT
100% plans specifications and estimates 4 years
Advertising to build trail 5 years
Trail construction complete 6 years
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 5
Project Budget:
CPA Portion Match Total
Design of $160,000 $160,000
Boathouse Loop:
Includes Surveying,
Engineering and
Other Consulting
Hatfield Connection $40,000 $40,000
Feasibility Study
Project Oversight, $25,000 $25,000
Community
Outreach, Wetlands
Flagging and
Permitting, Mapping
Construction: $8,000,000 $8,000,000
leverage that will be
provided once
design is complete
$8,225,000
Attachments:
Greenway Connection Map
Conceptual Site Plan – CT River Greenway: Lane Business Park and Lane Riverfront
Park
Support Letters to be provided as received
Connecticut River Greenway CPA Application 6
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