2002 Annual Report to Board of Selectmen

November 12, 2002

1. School Loop

Completed sections

• 900 foot test section at Carlisle Castle: from lower Spalding driveway to driveway of school’s main parking lot.
• 110 feet at Gleason Library

Scheduled Sections

• Bedford Road: 940 feet; from Post Office to 7 School Street: to begin early December, pending approval of Historical Commission (public meeting 11/26/02) and notice to Planning Board. Easements to be requested from three abutters: Langrind, Senkler, and 7 School Street.
• Bedford Road: from Kimball’s to Banta Davis driveway: planning, approvals, and licenses to be completed/ obtained beginning this Fall and construction to be completed prior to start of Kimball’s 2003 business season.

Unscheduled sections:

• Bedford Road: from Post Office to Banta Davis
• Church Street: from driveway of school’s main parking lot to end of Spalding playing fields.

2. Footpath Plan

Final draft to be completed and presented in appropriate public meeting forum. To date, committee has received broad support and enthusiasm for small sections of paths constructed. Strong support exists for continuing pathway constructions and arriving at equitable sequencing of construction. Full plan essentially calls for a limited system of paths that link communities to each other, to town services, and to existing and planned trails.

 

3. Funding Footpath Plan

Available Funds

a. Existing Chapter 90 Allocation

$30,000 - Opening Balance

$5,000 - Survey of Bedford Road from 7 School Street to Kimballs

$1,600 - Materials outlay for test section at Church and School Streets

$1,450 - Installation of 110 foot pathway at Gleason Libary

$ 21,950 - Remaining Balance

b. Pathway Account

$9,393 - Balance at 9/30/02 (interest income ca $15/month)

Potential Funds

a. Federal Funding

Application process proceeded through summer and early Fall. Preparatory meetings to formal prescreening process completed. Based on feedback from Mass Highway Department, committee unanimously voted to not proceed under the current formulation. This formulation requires that construction be completed in adherence with Mass Highway Department standards, including greater widths, asphalt/cement surface, handicap access cuts at regular intervals. The enhancement program under which application would be made is a reimbursement program through the design phase, but requires construction to be undertaken by the Mass Highway Department directly. The committee determined that such restrictions would produce a pathway inconsistent with the goals of the committee and desires of the town.

b. Future Chapter 90 Allocations

The committee anticipates that the $22k remaining in the existing Chapter 90 fund will be sufficient to complete key sections of the School Loop. Future allocations may be sought to continue implementation of Footpath Plan.

c. Town Operating Funds

To date, no funds have been expended from the Town’s budget in the study, design or construction of paths. A $50,000, five-year, annual request was made to the Long Term Capital Requirement Committee beginning in the 02/03 budgeting period. Funding for 02/03 fiscal year was declined. The committee will submit a similar, annual request for the 03/04 budget period, with the goal of obtaining a baseline of funding to construct small portions of the Footpath Plan each year.

d. Developer funds, private contributions, sponsorships

Pathway account was established to receive tax deductible contributions, in-lieu-of- construction payments from developers, and business sponsorships. To date, two deposits have been made from developers. Planning Board rule and regulations have been revised to allow for “in-lieu” contributions.

 

4. Committee Priorities – November 2002 to May 2003

1. Complete all key sections of School Loop
2. Complete Footpath Plan for presentation/adoption.
3. Develop implementation plan based on three levels of funding:
4. A Low funding option would utilize DPW labor and equipment and require cash outlays for materials and special equipment needs. The extent of path construction would be determined by DPW availability and annual budget. This approach is expected to yield a limited pathway system in a 10 to 15 year period.
5. A Mid funding option would combine DPW’s internal resources with the participation of some third-party contractors, especially for the construction of longer segments of path or for preparing sections with more difficult terrain.
6. A Full funding option would combine some level of pathway preparation completed with internal resources, but would rely more heavily on third parties to construct pathways. This option has the benefit of minimizing the impact of construction on traffic and community and completing the system in a 5 to 7 year period.
   

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