Bellingham Bikeway Meeting Minutes
June 25, 2009
7:00 PM
Present for the meeting were members Cliff Matthews, Neal Standley, Mary Chaves,
Bill Roberts, Ernie Taft, Lori Fafard, Dan Ranieri and Anne Matthews. Also in attendance was Ron Clough of DCR.
Franklin update
Since no members of The Franklin Rails to Trails group were present, Ron Clough gave a brief update on the status of the Franklin section of the SNETT. Ron reported that the group is creating a color brochure for distribution and that their website is up and running. The Franklin group is currently researching grant options for funding and reportedly has approximately $650 in donations to date. Ron noted that the Town of Franklin has offered to build a parking lot at the far end of Grove Street on town land for access and parking for the trail in Franklin.
Site Walk Report
Cliff Matthews stated that on Sat. June 20, members Bill Roberts, Lori Fafard, Anne Matthews and he walked the lengths of the SNET Trail that run from Center Street to Lake Street and from Lake Street to the town line in Franklin at Prospect Street. This represents the second phase and completion of the entire SNET trail site walk length in Bellingham. In addition, the walk included the previously suggested “spur” from the SNETT to Silver Lake. Most of the trail has moguls from ATV use but not too many drainage issues except further east on the portion that currently ends at Prospect Street in Franklin. Ron Clough stated that he believes that the catch basins in Franklin at Prospect Street are creating drainage issues on SNET trail in Bellingham. Cliff remarked that these drainage problems will have to be corrected in accordance
with NPDES Phase II requirements. Marcia Crooks stated that a section of this trail collapsed in 1955 when 15 inches of rain fell. She said that the section was repaired and that was when the “cow culvert” was rebuilt under the trail. Cliff reported that there is tremendous ATV usage and requested that Ron Clough look into the possibility of placing signage and utilizing gates or blocks to not only prevent the ATV use but to create public outreach on intentions to create the SNET trail into a bikeway.
Cliff stated that 2,200 foot spur section from the SNETT to Silver Lake includes a 500 foot unpaved dirt section that begins at the town well pumping station and intersects the length of the SNETT that lies between Center Street and Lake Street. The larger section of this proposed spur to Silver Lake Park (1,700 feet) is already paved and is currently utilized as an access road from Cross Street to the town well site. Linking this spur to the SNETT and southwest to the South School (estimated to be approximately two miles in length) would create biking/pedestrian destinations at each location. These areas also provide ample parking at both Silver Lake Park, at Center Street and at South School Bill Roberts added that another destination could also include use of Lake St. to access Arcand Park. Bill reported that the DPW will be undertaking
the job of placing concrete blocks and/or fencing and gates on the well access road and buildings to stop ATV usage. Other areas along this stretch of trail that provide current ATV access include the Sportsmen’s Club and the Trolley Crossing Farm owned by the
Minutes of the meeting of June 25, 2009
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Galipeaus. Cliff then stated that there is only one drainage issue south of Fox Run Road to the South School.
Report on bridge at South Main Street
Cliff reported that he had talked to Don DiMartino about the bridge at South Main Street and was told that it is owned by the town of Bellingham. As noted at the previous site walk, the bridge and bridge area have issues with safety, engineering and drainage. Cliff said that he and Mr. DiMartino briefly talked about the possibility of constructing a culvert or tube for bike access under the bridge at some time in the future when it has been designated for repair. Ron Clough said that including a tube for access under the bridge is consistent with DCR’s policy of maintaining access to their trail system. Dan Ranieri remarked that our committee should be aware of municipality’s general procedures for addressing/resolving bridge problems. Members of the board agreed that the committee must continue to work with both Don
DiMartino and Rep. Callahan and Senator Moore to prioritize the repair of this bridge so that the issues of safety, traffic and access will be addressed. Lori Fafard said that she believes that Mr. DiMartino has an existing bridge inspections/repair priority list in Bellingham.
Discussion with DCR
Ron Clough said that DCR will be installing gates at Spring Street and west of Prospect Street in Franklin in July. DCR will also be undertaking the paperwork for filing with the Franklin Conservation Commission for the proposed grading on the SNETT in Franklin and asked what would be required for filing with the Bellingham Conservation Commission. Cliff Matthews said that once an area is identified for development in our plan, the Conservation Commission can give him more guidance with filing. Ron said that he would also like to install gates on each side of Lake Street in Bellingham and agreed that the potential for including signage was possible. Mr. Clough stated that once the trail is graded and widened, DCR will have access to patrol it. He believes that patrolling the trail will discourage future dumping and ATV usage and create
a safe passage for bikeway users. Marcia Crooks was very concerned with gating access on Lake Street and stated that she believes that ATV’s will bypass the gates and trespass onto her property through her hay fields to access the trail. Both Mary Chaves and Cliff Matthews said that once this trail is developed into a recreational bikeway, ATV usage will stop. Ron Clough stated again that DCR will be patrolling the area. Bill Roberts also said that as a member of the Parks Commission, he can notify the Police Dept. about including Lake Street on the regular patrol route. Ron Clough remarked that the last formal meeting that took place regarding the development of the SNETT was n May 29th of 1990. He is very anxious to work with area towns to develop and complete this long awaited project.
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Liaison to Rep. Callahan
Dan Ranieri, liaison to Rep. Jen Callahan’s Office, reported that Representative Jen had talked with Dan Driscoll who will be our contact person at the state for planning and design of the trail. She will be setting up a meeting with Dan Driscoll, herself and Dan Ranieri (and any others from the Committee) in Boston with the Commissioner of DCR sometime this summer. Dan said that it is vitally important that this Committee has public support for the project (i.e. the Board of Selectmen have conceptually endorsed the project by creating this subcommittee thereby showing good will and interest.) He said that we will definitely require financial commitment from the town at some point in the future when the planning stage starts to evolve into the construction stage. The land swap is surely one way to show financial commitment. He also
said that Jen’s meeting is a good first practical step in demonstrating our organization and efficiency and suggested that we contact Senator Moore’s office as well.
Outreach
Members of the Committee discussed the importance of notifying homeowners and trail abutters about the bikeway project. Bill Roberts and Ernie Taft had generated a complete list several years ago when they were involved with the bikeway project. Bill will investigate getting an update of the list so that we can utilize it in the future.
Next meeting & site walk
Another site walk was not scheduled at this time. Due to vacation schedules, the next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 PM at the Bellingham Historical Building.
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