Hotel Bridge Q n A CPC 3 9 11
Northampton Community Preservation Committee
Questions to Applicants from Committee Members, Round 1 2011
Hotel Bridge Application
1)A) Can you give us a rough estimate of what the full cost of the project beyond the feasibility stage
would be (just a general range)?
DPW: DPW is reluctant to project any construction/rehabilitation costs without the structural analysis
being performed.
B) What are the likely sources of funding that will be sought and what is the process for securing them?
DPW: Since the bridge has been taken off the MassDOT inventory due to its closure to vehicles, it is also
off the State bridge project list. A project for pedestrian and bicycle use would be eligible for
Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization administered
by the Pioneer Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (PVMPO). Through the TE program the State
will provide a 50% match for construction funds programmed by the PVMPO up to a maximum estimated
$378,350 of State TE funds.
LCA: The Leeds Civic Assoc is prepared to initiate a grassroots campaign to raise private funds for the
project. Some small fundraising efforts have already been taken including a “Ride for the Bridge” rally in
May of 2010 and an ongoing Hotel Bridge t-shirt sale. The LCA projects that approximately $20, 000
could be raised locally over the course of two years to supplement other sources of funding.
2)The bridge was extensively rehabilitated in 1985.
A) Is 25 years a normal life for repairs of that nature?
DPW: Considering that no preventive or regular maintenance performed during the past 26 years, the
bridge needs are probably greater than if such a program existed. There is no budget for bridge
maintenance and to DPW’s knowledge there historically never was one.
B) When was the asphalt surface put in and can it all be safely removed?
DPW: The asphalt surface was part of the 1985 rehabilitation. It can be safely removed as there is a
corrugated metal decking beneath it.
C)Will the newly rehabilitated bridge be strong enough to hold large community groups as pictured?
DPW: The structural analysis will dictate the safe load of the current bridge and identify future proposed
loadings and the type of activity that may occur. During the proposed needs assessment meetings
facilitated by the engineering firm this type of community use will be flagged for study.
3) How many bids are required for rehabilitation? (only 2 included – I thought three were necessary)
DPW: This project would be bid under Massachusetts Chapter 30 procurement laws where the lowest
qualified bidder would be selected. The number of bidders would dictate the number of bids received.
There is no minimum or maximum number of bids to be evaluated under this procurement method.
ggk / lca / cpcapp / 3.7.11
Northampton Community Preservation Committee
Questions to Applicants from Committee Members, Round 1 2011
Hotel Bridge Application
4) All letters of support have exactly the same wording, and there are only 9 signatures of support from the
Leeds Civic Association. Is this really a widely supported project
LCA: over the course of the past three years the proposed restoration of the Hotel Bridge has been met
with wide support from a variety of constituencies, including;
The residents of Leeds who use the bridge on a regular basis during their non-vehicular travels and
who also recognize the bridge as a vibrant, physical link to Leed’s past.
individual bicycle riders throughout the area and regional biking clubs are another group that is
solidly in favor of rehabbing the bridge in order to preserve its use as an important spoke of the
Northampton pedestrian and bicycle network.
advocates of Northampton’s recreational and environmental resources also support the project as an
integral link to the Robert’s Hill and Musante Beach Conservation areas.
established historical associations including Historic Northampton and the Northampton Historical
Commission are also avid supporters of preserving the Hotel Bridge through professional
rehabilitation
If the CPC has any lingering concerns of the widespread support for this project the applicants will
provide more written and verbal testimony from supporters at the Public Hearing of April 6, 2011.
5) What is the status of the application for including the bridge in the MA Registry of Historic Places?
LCA: In May of 2003 the Leeds Civic Association provided the N’ton Office of Planning & Development with
a $50.00 check to be used for the application fee to the MA Registry of Historic Places. Unfortunately, due
to volunteer turnover in both the LCA and the Historical Commission the various pieces of research needed
for the application were not completed at that time.
Recently, the LCA and staff of the N’ton OPD have agreed to move the application forward again. The
LCA will be in contact w/ the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to identify a staff member with
experience in this type of application research to assist with the project. The LCA anticipates that the
application to the MA Registry could be completed by September of 2011. Inclusion on the Registry seems
very favorable once the application is submitted
6) What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two proposals?
DPW: Both proposals from very reputable Engineering firms met the core proposal requirements. The
Stantec proposal has a more defined scope of services with respect to the inspection and structural
analysis.
7) In the unfortunate event that there would be no further opportunity for CPA funding, would it still be
valuable to have done this engineering evaluation? What would be the long-term value?
DPW: The information from the study could be used to seek funding from the TE and PVMPO. With the
recent land acquisition across the street that abuts the railtrail the bridge becomes part of the potential
gateway from the Norwottuck Rail Trail to the City conservation lands and Musante Beach.
ggk / lca / cpcapp / 3.7.11