Category Archives: Medfield Rail Trail

Medfield Rail Trail and Bay Colony Rail Trail

BCRT gets $100K state grant

Posted on September 6, 2018 | Comments Off on BCRT gets $100K state grant

bcrt-logo

bcrt

Photo shows the Bay Colony Rail Trail in Needham

 

From: Lewis, Amanda (DCR) <amanda.lewis@mass.gov>
Date: Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 1:57 PM
Subject: 2018 Recreational Trails Program/State Trails Grant Awards
To: Lewis, Amanda (DCR) <amanda.lewis@state.ma.us>

 

Hello RTP Grantees,

 

I am very pleased to inform you that your Recreational Trails Program Grant has successfully completed federal review and we can now move on to awarding your grant!  I will be soon be sending out information regarding your projects and next steps, so please be on the lookout for an award package in the mail and a follow-up email with attachments.  Please keep in mind that some projects will have conditions attached which will alter the specifications of your project.  And, most importantly, remember that you cannot begin to spend money or accrue match until the contract documents have been signed and you have received a Notification to Proceed letter.

 

A few weeks ago,  an event was scheduled and then postponed for the announcement of these RTP grants.  I have not received any updates on a new event, but the press release found here was distributed on August 20th and, with federal approvals completed, I can now encourage you to share news of your grant award.  A more detailed spreadsheet is also attached.

 

Again, please keep in mind that some details regarding your project may change, including building specifications and budgets, as we enter the award and contracting phase.  It will be imperative that you read through the award package carefully so that you can plan for these changes and discuss adjustments with me before the contract gets finalized.

 

Thank you for applying to the Recreational Trails Program and for your dedication to enhancing trails in Massachusetts.

 

Amanda

 

 

Amanda Lewis

MassTrails Program Manager

Department of Conservation and Recreation

136 Damon Road

Northampton, MA 01060

413-387-4333

Amanda.lewis@mass.gov
RTP Website: https://www.mass.gov/guides/recreational-trails-program

2018 Recreational Trails Program/Trail Grant Projects (75 Projects)
Grant ID Community Agency Title Description Award Amount Match
RTP18124 Medfield Town of Medfield Medfield Rail Trail The Medfield Rail Trail is a proposed shared-use trail following the route of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail bed in Medfield, spanning approximately 1.3 miles. The Trail will connect residents through the Town by biking, walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. It will provide a direct connection to the Bay Circuit Trail, an extensive regional trail system as well as the access to the Norfolk Hunt Club’s regional trail network. $100,000.00 $260,100.00

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail

BoS on 5/22

Posted on May 19, 2018 | Comments Off on BoS on 5/22

Agenda and informational materials for the Board of Selectmen meeting on May 22 –  20180522-agenda &amp; information

Board of Selectmen Board or Committee PLACE OF MEETING DAY, DATE, AND TIME Town Hall Chenery Meeting Room Tuesday May 22, 2018 @7:00 PM AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Announcement Disclosure of Video Recording We want to take a moment of appreciation for our Troops serving in the Middle East and around the world Last day to register to vote in the June 11, 2018 Special Election is May 22. Town Clerk's Office will be open 8:30AM to 8:00PM. You may check your registration status on line at www.sec.state.ma.us ELECTIONS AND VOTING Citizen Comment Appointments 7:00 PM Police Chief Meaney Discuss conditional offer of employment for a police officer 7:15 PM Christain Donner, Rail Trail Study Committee Discuss committee reappointment Action Item DPW Director Maurice Goulet requests the Selectmen vote to sign the Agreement For Professional Services with BETA Group, Inc. Norwood MA for Route 109 Corridor Improvements Concept Plan, amount $30-35,000. Selectmen are requested to appoint Police Chief Meaney and Deputy Chief of Police Wilhelmi as Records Access Officers for the Police Department Discussion Items Preparation for May 29, 2018 joint meeting with Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee Police Chief Search Licenses and Permits (Consent Agenda) The Gazebo Players of Medfield will perform their summer production of Otfie{(o July 21 and 22, 2018 for the second year at Rocky Woods Reservation. Permission is requested to post signs two weeks prior to promote their seventeenth season Selectmen Report Informational Notice from MllA regarding Medfield's preliminary FY19 contributions/pricing Planning Board Reorganization as of May 7, 2018 From Zoning Board Decisions number 1335 and 1339 Packet of information from Medfield Conservation CommissionPages from 20180522-agenda_Page_2

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Police Department, Select Board matters

Dover on BCRT

Posted on April 28, 2017 | 1 comment

Driving to work down Farm Street in Dover is now akin to navigating a tunnel of Bay Colony Rail Trail opinion signs, aimed at Dover town meeting votes on the Bay Colony Rail Trail issue.

These were circulated by Mike Sullivan yesterday –

/ RECORD OF VOTE OF THE DOVER BOARD OF SELECTMEN BAY COLONY RAIL TRAIL MOU February 16, 2017 At a duly called public meeting of the Dover Board of Selectmen on February 16, 2017, the Board moved, seconded, and voted as follows with respect to the proposed Bay Colony Rail Trail (a/k/a the Dover Greenway) in the Town of Dover (the "Rail Trail"): 1. To authorize Town Counsel's office, before the Town's 2017 Annual Town Meeting, to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Friends of the Dover Greenway Inc. (the "Friends"), covering the timing and donation by the Friends to the Town pursuant to M.G.L. c. 44, § 53A, of funds sufficient to cover all costs of the Rail Trail and the Town's obligations under the proposed "Alternative Transportation Corridor Lease Agreement by and between Massachusetts Bay Transpotiation Authority and Town of Dover" (the "Lease"), including without limitation the costs of (a) architects, engineers, surveyors, attorneys, and related professionals; (b) due diligence, surveys, plan preparation, designs, permitting, environmental insurance, and environmental investigation and compliance measures; ( c) public bidding and other public processes; ( d) construction, construction administration, construction management, and permitting oversight; ( e) operation, repairs and maintenance; (f) clearing title to, laying out and/or providing access to the MBTA right-of-way if and as necessary; (g) contingencies and cost overruns; and (h) otherwise meeting the Town's obligation under the Lease; and 2. To authorize the Town Administrator to engage a qualified consultant to advise the Town, from time to time, when sufficient funds have been donated, or any shortfall of funds donated, to accomplish the various purposes of the MOU. TOWN OF DOVER __..Byit:!:s oard of Selectmen - L - ~---;~~~~~~~~~ R:obyn Hunter, Chair o~ D.,J ___ , Candace Mccann, Clerk ( A0409632.2 } RECORD OF VOTE OF THE DOVER BOARD OF SELECTMEN BAY COLONY RAIL TRAIL LEASE February 16, 2017 At a duly called public meeting of the Dover Board of Selectmen (the "Board") on February 16, 2017, the Board moved, seconded, and voted as follows with respect to the proposed Bay Colony Rail Trail (a/k/a the Dover Greenway) in the Town of Dover: l. To request that the MBTA approve, before the Town's 2017 Annual Town Meeting, the attached form of "Alternative Transportation Conidor Lease Agreement by and between Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Town of Dover" (the "Lease") with the applicable exhibits referenced therein; 2. To instruct Town Counsel's office to advise the Board of any proposed changes to the attached form of Lease requested by the MBTA or the Town either before or after Town Meeting; and, if any such changes are proposed after Town Meeting, to advise the Board whether those changes are consistent with Town Meeting's action with respect to the Lease; and 3. To request that the MBTA work with the Town to arrive at a mutually acceptable License Agreement and/or contingencies in the Lease to enable the Town to perform surveys, prepare plans and specifications, apply for governmental permits and approvals, solicit bids, and otherwise undertake mutually acceptable due diligence activities, and to ensure that sufficient private funds have been and will be donated to the Town to cover its obligations under the Lease. TOWN OF DOVER ;13'Yit~oard of Selectmen ( I \, !lJ-- -~)IIlHU1ltef: Chair LLkJ- (A0409630.2 }20170216-Dover votes_Page_2

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Posted in Buildings, Medfield Rail Trail

Bay Colony Rail Trail report

Posted on December 21, 2016 | 2 comments

The Bay Colony Rail Trail presentation at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen last night by Christian Donner was excellent and the report the study committee submitted was even better.  Below is the executive summary.  $20,000 will be donated for the formal study,  the rest of the construction monies will be fund raised, and town will have a rail trial in 2018 – it strikes me as a no brainer for the town.

The picture of the train wreck is from the report, and especially interested me as it shows the water tower which was the structure that sat on the granite blocks in the woods along the RR right of way that I found while jogging, and ultimately got the MBTA to donate to the Town of Medfield, many of which are now installed at the Straw Hat Park.  It was either Bob Kennedy, Sr. or Ed Hinkley (both now retired from the DPW) who recalled that there had once been a water tower at that site, and they were of course correct.

Also, note how West Mill Street is a pretty narrow and sorry looking dirt road, and Dale Street looks not as steep as today.

bay-colony-rail-trail-report-executive-summaryrr-at-medfield-junction

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Uncategorized

Bay Colony Rail Trail report

Posted on December 20, 2016 | 1 comment

BCRT

Photo above is of the Bay Colony Rail Trail in Needham.

Bay Colony Rail Trail committee reports to the Board of Selectmen tonight

Read the Bay Colony Rail Trail report to the Town of Medfield that the study committee will present to the Board of Selectmen this evening.  It calls for approval at the 2017 annual town meeting (ATM) and completion of the construction by 2018.  The report is a remarkably thorough and detailed document.

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Uncategorized

Selectmen 12/20

Posted on December 16, 2016 | Comments Off on Selectmen 12/20

TOWN OF MEDFIELD MEETING NOTICE POSTED: 'd.-/fo--/0 0/Q,20161220-agenda_page_2

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Posted in Affordable housing / 40B, Fire Department, Medfield Outreach, Medfield Rail Trail, Medfield State Hospital, Select Board matters, Town Meeting, Uncategorized, Zullo Gallery

Rail Trail Study Committee – Update

Posted on November 1, 2016 | 2 comments

Rail Trail Study Committee –

Update to the Selectmen

11/1/2017 Outlining the Study Committee Recommendations

The Study Committee intends to deliver a report before the end of the year. The highlights of the recommendations are:

  • A trail is feasible and desirable for the town
  • A professional design study will answer important questions and, above all, provide a sound cost estimate
    • The BCRTA has offered to fund such a study with a donation of up to $20k
  • The town should sign a lease in 2017 and move forward with a public-private partnership model, provided that an adequate plan to fund the trail can be developed

Update on the formation of the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail

  • A local volunteer group is forming that will
    • Pick up the work after the Study Committee
    • Educate and inform Medfield residents about the rail trail and its benefits
    • Liaise with the BCRTA
    • Become an initiative of the Medfield Foundation
    • Deliver a design study to the town by March 2017
    • Develop a plan to finance the project
    • Advocate for the trail at Town Meeting
    • Work on construction, and once completed, maintenance of the trail

Christian Donner | pod
Email : christian@podconsulting.com
Skype : christian@podconsulting.net
Office : (617) 661 0802
Direct : ( 617) 681 4006
Cell : (617) 610 1527

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Uncategorized

Sidewalk planning

Posted on September 7, 2016 | Comments Off on Sidewalk planning

sidewalk

In response to a citizen discussion on Facebook, at the Board of Selectmen meeting last night I brought up appointing a citizen “Sidewalk Study Committee.”  I have been advocating for better planning around sidewalk construction ever since I noted years ago that the then process seemed ad hoc and came mainly from DPW Superintendent Ken Feeney. I thought the town needed more thoughtful and robust planning, and a process open to resident participation.

Last night, in response to my suggestion to appoint a citizen “Sidewalk Study Committee,” Mike Sullivan opined that he preferred using the moribund Safety Committee, which is where sidewalk planning was sent to die several years ago (as that committee was then newly created with Mike, Ken, and the MPD Chief and had only one independent resident member).  After sidewalks were turfed to that then newly created Safety Committee by my then selectmen colleagues, about five to six years ago, we never heard back from that committee about sidewalks.

Last night my fellow selectmen did not support appointing a citizen study committee at this time, but Mike Marcucci opined about the need for a more robust planning process about future sidewalk construction and also financing their construction via bonding – as we cannot easily afford to pay for them out of the operating budget. That makes me hopeful that a majority of the selectmen want planning about sidewalks, and to actually spend money to build them.

To me it all about making safe connections to the downtown from each part of town. I can imagine that trails could also be used. In my part of town, the Bay Colony Rail Trail when built could connect and funnel most of the North side of town down to Harding Street at West Mill Street – and then the connection to the downtown would have to be figured out from that point.  Although we really need to also look at the more direct route along Harding Street from the town line at Dover.

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Planning, Select Board matters, Trails, Uncategorized

MAPC map of whole area

Posted on August 2, 2016 | Comments Off on MAPC map of whole area

The MAPC also shared their map showing the existing trails (in green), trails in the wroks (in yellow), and those they hope to create (in red), for most of eastern Massachusetts.

20160729-MAPC-whole area

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Trails, Uncategorized

Bike paths & hiking trails

Posted on August 2, 2016 | Comments Off on Bike paths & hiking trails

20160729-MAPC-Medfield

The ad hoc group met with David Loutzenheiser, Senior Transportation
Planner at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) this morning about bicycle and hiking trails in Medfield.  Attending were Town Planner, Sarah Raposa, Town Administrator, Mike Sullivan, Bay Colony Rail Trail Committee chair, Christian Donner, BCRT committee member, George Hinkley, interested resident Alec Stevens, and interested selectman, me.

Per what the MAPC person told Sarah before the meeting, he is working on two rail trail feasibility projects: (1) Wrentham/Norfolk/Walpole/Norwood and (2) Bellingham/Medway/Millis/Medfield.  Apparently, he has funding to begin work on these projects and depending on the communities’ levels of interest would like to do so either this fall or next spring.

At the meeting he focused on

  • the Bay Colony Rail Trail (in yellow on the above map),
  • the possibility of running a rail trail along side of the active north-south rail line (also in yellow on the above map), and
  • hiking trail connectors
    • from downtown to Rocky Woods (needs a boardwalk North of Hinkley Pond)
    • from Elm Street area over to the Bubbling Brook area
    • from Rocky Woods to the Blue Hills

The Bay Colony Rail Trail will probably proceed.  The North South rail line trail would link many of the main features and sites in town in ways that would dramatically improve the town.  Alec Stevens has proposed this in the past, based on his experience with a successful one he knew while growing up in Philadelphia.

It is going to be a long process, requiring lots of work and planning, and it has started.

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Trails, Uncategorized