City Engineer Mark Cressotti and Gene Crouch, senior wetland scientist for VHB present Rail Trail plans to Conservation Commission. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – City Engineer Mark Cressotti and representatives from VHB came before the Conservation Commission on Tuesday to discuss the next phase of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Part of the construction will be within the 200 foot riverfront buffer, requiring approval by the Conservation Commission, according to Gene Crouch, VHB senior wetland scientist.
Crouch said following the recently completed construction of the railroad bridge over the Westfield River, the central phase of the rail trail touches the esplanade and will extend 3500 feet downtown.
Cressotti said most of the trail will be elevated and will include five bridges, including a new bridge to be installed on Elm St., which makes it unique among rail trails in the country. He said there will be two points where cyclists can get down to local roads.
Crouch said there will be an intersection between two bike paths at the Esplanade which will be made visible with red area pavers instead of pavement. He also said the section to the bridge over the river was supposed to be done with the esplanade, where the trail ends. The bridge over the river brings cyclists to Women’s Temperance Park.
Crouch said there are no stormwater management features. He said they received some comments from the Department of Environmental Protection, including to add some plantings. He said there will be some plantings, but they will stop before the intersection due to sight issues. He also said there are plenty of trees and plantings at the esplanade. Cressotti added that as part of the esplanade project, they also removed invasive species, primarily bittersweet.
Cressotti said the $6.7 million project, which is at 75% design, is funded primarily by the MassDOT, adding that this is the second effort by the MassDOT for the CGRT, after the funding of the bridge over the Westfield River.
A public information meeting on the central section is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., October 16 in Room 315 at Westfield City Hall. The plans are also available on the city website at www.cityofwestfield.org, under the Engineering Department active projects.
After they finish the design phase, Cressotti said they will hand it off to the MassDOT in June for advertising and bids, which he said will probably go into early fall of 2019. He said some work may begin next fall, but the bulk will be done beginning in the spring of 2020.
Conservation Coordinator Karen Leigh said the previous order and conditions had expired, and she said they have not visited the site. The public hearing was continued to Oct. 8, and Leigh said the Conservation Commission would arrange for a site visit.
