Q         Is the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail going to be a recreational trail or a transportation corridor?

A         The vision of the BFRT as defined on the Town’s website is “The Town of Concord envisions a non-motorized multi-use trail (a rail trail) to serve as a historical, recreational and alternative transportation resource for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.The design of the rail trail will balance the benefits and the drawbacks of such trails and will balance needs of the users with any impacts on Concord residents and the natural environment.The trail will, to the greatest degree possible, retain the look and feel of a Concord woods path where appropriate; we are particularly interested in alternatives to asphalt.It will serve walkers, joggers, bicyclists, children in strollers, cross-country skiers, people on snow shoes, wheelchair users, and others as may be identified during this phase of study.The trail will connect West Concord Center (a vibrant commercial area that includes the MBTA commuter rail station) to neighborhoods, playing fields and conservation lands that are located along the railroad right-of-way.It will provide non-motorized access to Concord open spaces and beautiful vistas, as well as to those of Acton, Sudbury and other communities located along and served by the trail.The trail will provide opportunities for nature education, quiet reflection, minimal-impact enjoyment of flora and fauna, and exercise that refresh and strengthen mind, body and spirit.”

            Additionally, Ma General Law defines a rail trail as “property converted from the former use as a railroad right-of-way to uses as a publicly owned, improved and maintained corridor for bicycle, pedestrian and other non-motorized public transportation, recreation and associated purposes.”

Q         What measures will be taken to direct trail users safely along the trail alignment?

A         Trail signs and pavement markings (depending on the surface type) will be used to direct trail users in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  Signs will be proposed on local streets in the vicinity of the trail directing cyclists and pedestrians to the trail.  Trail rules signs will also be posted at trail heads and road crossings to inform the users of the rules of the trail.  Kiosks will be included at designated trail heads (at West Concord, for example) that will identify trail rules, the trail route, and local points of interest, such as restaurants, shops, bike rack locations, etc.

Q         Will the existing tunnel/underpass under Powder Mill Road be retained or replaced?

A         The existing corrugated metal pipe underpass atPowder Mill Road does not meet horizontal and vertical clearance criteria for a rail trail.The design consultants will perform a visual inspection of the culvert to determine if the existing culvert is structurally adequate for the future trail.  If it does not have to be replaced for structural reasons, and the Committee and Town want to retain it as part of the proposed trail,  waivers from state and federal design standards will be required.If the underpass is retained as is, options such as signing to “walk bicycles” through the underpass will be considered.

Q         Will the trail have the same uniform design throughout the project limits?

A         Design treatments can vary along different segments of the trail for items such as trail surface, trail width, rest stop locations and amenities.Options will be laid out on the design plans so that the impacts of design treatments can be assessed.

Q         How many people are expected to use the trail?

A         VHB estimated the number of trail users based on the population density of Concord , particularly within 2 miles of the trail and compared the population density with actualtrail use counts performed on the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Hadley , MA and the Minuteman Trail in Lexington, MA .   The Concord portion of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is expected to carry 165 trips per weekday and 434 trips per weekend day during the spring, summer and fall..

Q         How wide is the trail proposed to be?

A         State and Federal design standards require minimum trail widths to be 10 to 12 feet wide with 2-foot level shoulders (grassed) with 3 feet clearances from vertical obstructions such as vegetation, sign psots and railings.The 2 foot shoulder is included in the 3 foot clearance.The Concord Fire Department has requested that the trail be a minimum of 10 feet wide, so that emergency vehicles and personnel can access the path.  Trail widths of 8 feet are allowed only where bicycle volumes are low and pedestrian use is occasional.  We anticipate that the BFRT will have mixed use of pedestrians and bicycles  thus an 8 foot wide trail is not recommended.

Q         What are the sight distance requirements at roadway crossings?

A         All trail/roadway crossings will be designed with the right-of-way assigned to the roadway and a STOP condition on the trail approaches.

Two types of sight distance will be evaluated at each roadway crossing:

Stopping Sigh Distance (SSD) defined as the distance required to bring a vehicle (motor or bicycle) to a full controlled stop.  The SSD varies based on vehicle speed and grade of the road or trail.  SSD will be checked at each crossing for both the trail and roadway approaches.

Intersection Sight Distance (ISD) defined as the sight distance needed for trail users (pedestrians or bicyclists) to judge the suitability of gaps in on-coming traffic for crossing the roadway.  The ISD varies depends speed of approaching traffic, crossing width and time, and crossing performance.  The ISD will be checked at all roadway crossings.The extent of clearing required at each crossing to accommodate the sight distances will be calculated during the design process using the actual survey base plan and the proposed trail alignment.

Q         How will the horizontal and vertical alignments be set?

A         The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail will for the most part follow the centerline of the rail road right-of-way horizontally and vertically.  The design criteria that was used when the  rail road was constructed is more conservative than the criteria for a multi-use trail so the criteria for sight distances and curve radii willb satisfied.As part of the design process, an alignment alternative study will be completed at the West Concord MBTA station and White Pond.  Based on the alternatives study, the Committee will decide which alignment alternative best meet the goals of the trail, and the community. 

The vertical alignment will be set slightly higher than the existing rail bed elevation to minimize excavation of existing railroad soils.Residents indicated that the profile along White Pond and near Jennie Dugan swamps should be lowered to prevent further erosion.  VHB will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of changing the profile near White Pond and Jennie Dugan swamp areas as part of the design process.

Q         What types of educational and historical features will be preserved and highlighted as part of the trail.

A         As part of the preliminary design, an inventory of historic railroad infrastructure  will be completed  and recommendations will be made as to how to highlight the heritage of the corridor and provide educational features along the trail corridor.   This inventory will be coordinated with the Concord Historical Commission.

Q         What is the environmental process that will be followed for this project?

A         The environmental assessment will include the following.

·         Wetland Delineation that will define the limits of the wetland resource areas along the trail corridor.  The design consultant will coordinate with the Conservation commission for approval of the delineated line.

·         Identification of rare species habitat will be performed along the corridor using mapping provided by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Commission

·         Identification of vernal pools will be completed along the trail corridor

·         Identification of  significant plant communities will be completed along the corridor

·         Assess bird breeding habitat.  The design consultant will evaluate the breeding habitat during spring summer and fall seasons to determine areas of significant breeding habitat

·         Conduct wildlife analysis

The environmental permits that will be required for the project include.

·         Notice of Intent

·         Water Quality Certificate

·         USACOE category II or individual permit

·         Conservation and management permit

·         MEPA Environmental Notification Form (ENF)

·         MADEP Waterways license

The Environmental Notification Form filed with the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency is the only permit that will be filed during the 25% design phase.  The other permits will be submitted after the 25% design phase.

Q         What design speed will be used to design the trail?

A         Typically the design speed for a rail trail is 20 MPH for paved surfaces and 15 mph for unpaved.  Experience on other rail trails both paved and unpaved is that bicyclists  travel around 12 to 13 MPH. 

Q             How many parking spaces are required to accommodate the number of users expected for this trail?

A         No formula has been developed to estimate the number of parking spaces for a given trail.   Typically parking is provided wherever reasonably possible and acceptable to the community.  “No Parking” signs will be installed in areas where there is a potential for illegal parking to occur.

Q         What is the difference between a recreational trail and a transportation corridor?  Will the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail through Concord be a recreational trail or transportation corridor?

A         The vision for the BFRT is a non-motorized multi-use trail (a rail trail) to serve as a historical, recreational and alternative transportation resource for residents and visitors. There is no criteria for design of a multi-use trail that distinguishes between a transportation user or a recreational user.Pedestrian facilities by MA regulations and laws must meet ADA criteria.  Bicycle facilities that include pedestrian use should be designed to AASHTO guidelines which accommodates both pedestrians and bicycles. 

Q         What funding options are available for this project?

A         The funding sources available for a multi-use trail project are as follows.

·               Transportation Bond Bill (SAFETEA-LU)

·               Transportation Enhancement Program

·               Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) Funds

·               Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Grant Program

·               NPS – Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program (technical assistance)

·               Transportation Bond Bill

·               Transit Oriented Development Bond Program (up to $ 500 K for bicycle facilities)

·               Transportation Improvement Program

·               DCR – Recreational Trails Grants Program (up to $ 50k for trails)

·               Community Preservation Act

·               DPW – Chapter 90 Funds

·               Town Meeting Action

·               Public/Private Partnerships

Q         What impacts will the trail have on the Jennie Dugan Swamp and White Pond?

A         The environmental assessment will include a determination of possibility of direct and indirect impacts to adjacent environmental areas and wildlife habitats in the vicinity of the trail.  The focus of the design will be to avoid impacts wherever possible, and minimize impacts if avoidance cannot be achieved.These impacts, if any will be defined in the Environmental Notification Form and in the preliminary design report.

Q         What are the construction costs for the different types of trail surfaces, bridges, tunnels and amenities?

A         The preliminary design report will include construction and maintenance costs for different types of trail surfaces as well as the life cycle of each so the Committee can make informed design decisions based on short and long term costs.  The preliminary design report will also provide costs for the construction of the bridges and tunnel.

Q         What are the different types of trail surfaces that VHB has used in there design of other trail projects?

A         VHB has designed trails using a variety of trail surfaces including asphalt, gravel, gravel with a stabilizer, crushed shell, chip seal and stone dust

Q         What type of materials can be used for the bridges?

A         VHB considered using and reusing where possible, steel stringers, and concrete decking with timber railings on each bridge to provide a consistent, cost effective solution that utilizes the existing structures and retains the historical character of the corridor.  A structural inspection will be performed for each structure and if it is determined that the current materials are structurally adequate (which is expected), then the structures will be rehabilitated.  The community has expressed a desire to design the bridges to fit into the context of the surrounding area – timber bridges.  The committee will determine what structural options they would like to be evaluated for each location as part of the preliminary design.

Q         What is the standard spacing along the trail for rest areas?

A         There are no set standards that require rest areas to be provided along a trial.  A rule of thumb of every 0.5 miles may be used for the Concord project.  No rest areas will be proposed near the bridge over the Assabet River or south of Williams Road .

Q         Have the locations of proposed rest rooms been determined?

A         Restroom facilities may be provided as part of the West Concord Train Station reconstruction project.  No other rest room facility locations are being considered for this project based on comments from residents.

Q         What will be done at the West Concord MBTA station to protect trail users when crossing the tracks?

A         Due to the safety concerns expressed by the community at this location, an alternative analysis will be conducted at the MBTA station for trail users to safely pass over (or under) the commuter trail tracks.  Trail alignments considered at this will relocate the trail from the rail road right of way to Commonwealth Ave , or to along the Assabet River . In any case, the design will be coordinated with the MBTA.

Q         Will interim trailheads be provided until the Sudbury and Acton trails are complete to avoid dead ends that may result in users making poor decisions, particularly at Route 2 and the Sudbury Town line?

A         The committee will consider input provided by town residents to determine the necessity for interim trail heads such as Powder Mill Road and Commonwealth Ave.  

Phasing of the trail construction to avoid dead-ends will be considered for the Concord section based on the status of the trail design beyond Concord .   The goal is to achieve a “stand alone” section for Concord with logical termini.
     

Q         Will other alternate routes be considered for the trail such as Cottage Street and Old Marlboro Road ?

A         The committee will consider other alternatives based on feedback from town residents and provide an updated list of alignment alternatives that will be evaluated during the course of the preliminary design.

Q         What will be done to enforce “No Parking” areas, such as Powder Mill Road , when the trail is in place?

A         “No Parking” signs will be posted as determined by the committee as part of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Project.  The Town will work with the Police Department to outline the parking enforcement requirements.

Q         How will trail users be discouraged from trespassing on private properties that abut the right-of-way?

A         No trespassing signs, fences, vegetative screening and trail rules signs will be installed to discourage trespassing beyond the trail right-of-way.  Police patrols will frequent the trail to enforce these restrictions.

Q         What types of fixtures will be proposed at road crossings to protect users and alert vehicular traffic of the crossing?

A         At a minimum stop signs, stop lines and detectable warning panels will be installed on the trail at all road intersections to clearly delineate the intersection and raise awareness of the stop condition.  Trail warning signs and crosswalk pavement markings will be placed along the intersecting road to alert motorists of the trail crossing.  Limited vegetation clearing will be performed as needed to maintain a clear line of sight for trail users and vehicular traffic as required by AASHTO

  Q         Will the Route 2 Rotary project affect the trail alignment between Route 2 and Commonwealth?

A         Depending on when the rotary design gets underway it will be the responsibility of the trail designer and the town to ensure that rotary project designer is aware of the trail project and that ongoing communication and plan distribution is maintained between the two designers.

Q         How will the design of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail address intersections with other trails in the area such as the Reformatory Branch Trail?

A         The metro-Boston regional bicycle plan was finalized in March 2007 and identified a connection between the Minuteman Bikeway (via the Reformatory Branch Trail) and the Assabet River Trail (via a rail with trail along the MBTA Fitchburg Commuter Rail corridor).  these trails originally connected with the railroad of the BFRT so a future connection is possible.  Both of these connections are in the very early conceptual stages and involve significant right-of-way, environmental and cost challenges.

Q         How will trail parking at the MBTA Station be limited to trail users only?

A         The trail user parking located as an extension of the train station parking may be a gravel parking area separated from the commuter lot by a fence or vegetation and signed for Bruce Freeman Rail Trail users only.