To The Editor:
There has been a lot of talk lately relative to Phase II construction of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail in Westfield. Some important issues and valid concerns have been raised by local residents. Unfortunately, there has been little discussion of many of the realities of this project, or with regard to many of the common myths related to urban trails. This letter aims to dispel some of these myths.
Myth: Residents had little involvement in the planning process.
Fact: Plans for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail date back to the early 1990s. Since then, the City has conducted both public information sessions, and, as required by Massachusetts law, a number of public hearings related to design and construction. Closer to construction of both Phase I and Phase II, abutters and residents within 1,000 feet of the Trail received invitations to neighborhood meetings. Announcements were made via a myriad of media channels. There has been ample opportunity to ask questions, address concerns, offer suggestions, and provide feedback.
Myth: Land and trees have been taken resulting in lack of property and privacy.
Fact: The City owns a clearly marked easement/right-of-way along the Columbia Greenway and has plans to include both decorative/privacy fencing, as well as landscaping to address any concerns regarding privacy. The City has been and will continue to be a good neighbor.
Myth: Minimal thought has been given to protect the safety of children.
Fact: There has been extensive thought given to ensure the safety of children – and every other user of the Trail. The Columbia Greenway, just as with any other transportation system, has rules of use (the standard is a 15MPH speed limit on bike paths). The East Silver Street access ramp will adhere to standards outlined by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices [as it does for streets and highways], including, in the likeliest scenario, a “Warning: Trail Ends” and/or “Stop” sign at the approach to, and end of the ramp, respectively. Additionally, the sidewalk along East Silver Street will be widened to Coleman Avenue. Trail users will be directed to a curb cut (already existing at Coleman and East Silver Streets) for street access. A railing is to be installed along East Silver Street as an additional safety precaution.
Myth: The Rail Trail will decrease property values.
Fact: Several studies have been conducted across the United States demonstrating exactly the opposite. According to Home Sales Near Two Massachusetts Trails (Jan. 25, 2006; Craig Della Penna), “Municipalities through out the United States have found economic benefits in Bike Trails within close proximity to residential areas.” Further, the study finds, “Homes sales were examined in the seven Massachusetts towns through which the Minuteman Bikeway and Nashua River Rail Trail run. Statistics on list and selling prices and on days on the market were analyzed. The analysis shows that homes near these rail trails sold at 99.3 percent of the list price as compared to 98.1 percent of the list price for other homes sold in these towns. The most significant feature of home sales near rail trails is that these homes sold in an average of 29.3 days as compared to 50.4 days for other homes.”
In a separate study conducted by the Rails To Trails Conservancy (Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways, 2004) “A 1998 study of property values along the Mountain Bay Trail in Brown County, Wisconsin shows that lots adjacent to the rail sold faster and for an average of 9 percent more than similar property not located next to the trail.” Further, “Realizing the selling power of greenways, developers of the Shepherd’s Vineyard housing development in Apex, North Carolina added $5,000 to the price of 40 homes adjacent to the regional greenway, those homes were still the first to sell.”
Myth: Having a rail trail in our backyard increases crime. Fact: One has only to look at neighboring communities [Southwick, Easthampton, Northampton, Amherst] as examples of ways in which having a trail has had little or no effect on crime rates. There is plenty of evidence to suggest a trail has no effect on crime, and may actually lead to a decrease in crime.
A number of studies have now shown that urban greenway trails do not increase crime and, in fact, are commonly regarded as improvements by adjacent property owners.
Comparisons of mugging, assault, rape, and murder make it quite clear that rail-trail crime rates are almost non-existent on a per capita comparison to other areas. (Bike Path Phobia: Selling Skeptics on Urban Greenway Bike Paths, Parks & Recreation, 2000; Tod Schneider)
Stories of trails attracting drug dealers, murderers and rapists are perpetuated by trail opponents with only a handful of newspaper headlines to back up their assertions rather than empirical research…
The research that has been conducted, along with anecdotal evidence, suggests that converting an abandoned rail corridor to a trail actually tends to reduce crime by cleaning up the landscape and attracting people who use the trail for recreation and transportation…
The study found that incidents of vandalism and burglary did not increase as a result of the trail. (Rail-Trails and Safe Communities: The Experience on 372 Trails. National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, January 1998; Tammy Tracy & Hugh Morris)
Residents have an opportunity to attend the annual Trail Mixer event planned for Thursday, May 15, from 4-7 p.m. at Shaker Farms Country Club Pavilion and Trail Head parking area. In addition to learning more about the Columbia Greenway project children and families will participate in a scavenger hunt aimed at providing useful educational tools for trail users. Topics include: bicycle safety; safe road crossings; trail rules; and users guide and responsibilities. For those with further questions about the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, or the work of Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, I invite you to attend one of our monthly Board of Directors meetings. All meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of each month (with the exception of July and August) at 6:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 36 Court Street. Questions may also be emailed to [email protected], or posted to our Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey J. LaValley Chair,
Board of Directors
