GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK-YOU FOR VISITING US AT D2! I AM LAURA HANSON BIKE/PED COORDINATOR HERE AT THE DISTRICT, AND I AM IN THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SECTION. 1
HERE IS MA SHOWING THE SIX DISTRICTS AND 10 PARK PLAZA (HQ IN BOSTON). HERE IS D2 WE WORK WITH 4 PLANNING AGENCIES SERVING 56 CITIES & TOWNS: FRCOG MRPC CMRPC AND PVPC AND WE ARE LOCATED AT THIS STAR RIGHT NOW IN NORTHAMPTON. TODAY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN D2 TO SHOW THEIR DIVERSITY, AND SHARE SOME OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS BEING CONSTRUCTED FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. 2
WITH CONSIDERATION TO TIME -I HAVE DIVIDED D2 INTO A NORTHERN SECTION & SOUTHERN SECTION FOR THIS PRESENTATION. THE NORTHERN SECTION OF D2 INCLUDES COMMUNITIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY AND IN MRPC. IT MIGHT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO SEE FROM THE DISTANCE, BUT THIS MAP HIGHLIGHTS SOME DIFFERENT BICYCLE TRAILS: FOR EXAMPLE: BLUE LINES SHOW AN EXISTING FACILITY SUCH AS THE FRANKLIN COUNTY BIKEWAY -CT RIVER ROUTE JOINS THE CANALSIDE TRAIL THAT IS PART OF THE GREENFIELD- MONTAGUE LOOP -THERE IS THE LEVERETT-MONTAGUE ROUTE THAT JOINS THE NORTHFIELD CONNECTOR AND THE NORTH CENTRAL PATHWAY IS A SHARED USE PATH IN WINCHENDON. THE RED LINES REPRESENT ENVISIONED PATHS SUCH AS ON-ROAD FACILITIES. THESE YELLOW LINES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW, SUCH AS A SHARED USE PATH FOR THE MILLERS RIVER GREENWAY IN ORANGE, AND THE WARE RIVER RAIL TRAIL IN TEMPLETON. NOW, I WILL TAKE YOU ON A QUICK TOUR OF 5 PROJECTS IN THE NORTHERN AREA: -3 ARE LOCATED FAIRLY CLOSE EACH OTHER IN MONTAGUE (WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED), -AND 2 ARE PLANNED AS FUTURE PROJECTS -1 IN NORTHFIELD & 1 IN GREENFIELD. 3
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INCLUDED IN A LARGER PROJECT FOR HACHERY ROAD & GREENFIELD ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. PICTURES INCLUDE CONCRETE DECK POUR (4/28/17), POLYSTYRENE APPROACHES (BEGINNING OF MAY 2017): UNIQUE SITUATION IN THIS AREA DUE TO HIGH WATER TABLE & ARTESIAN CONDITIONS WHERE WATER IS IN A CONFINED AQUIFER CONTAINING GW UNDER PRESSURE THAT FLOWS OUT TO THE SURFACE. THIS CONDITION WREAKED HAVOC AT THIS SITE, AND CAUSED THE BRIDGE TO BE SHUT DOWN ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RAILINGS GOT SEPARATED, SO THE BRIDGE WAS REMOVED TO PROTECT THE RR UNDERNEATH. THE POLYSTYRENE APPROACHES ARE LIGHTER THAN THE USUAL PAVEMENT APPROACHES, AND THIS NEW INNOVATION WILL CAUSE LESS PRESSURE ON THE WATER TO RISE, THEREBY MAKING IT LASTING LONGER. THIS RECENTLY COMPLETED BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WAS OPENED FOR PUBLIC USE ON 7/1/2017, AND SHOULD HAVE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY THIS FALL. 5
LOCATED IN NORTHERN MA OVER CT RIVER (CLOSE TO NH & VT BORDERS) Historic Steel Truss CANTILEVER (ARCHED) BRIDGE (Donated in 1904 Francis Robert Schell in memory of his parents Closed in 1985 due to structural integrity STRUCTURE LENGTH = 515 FT/ HAS 3 SPANS BUT MAIN SPAN BETWEEN PIERS = 352 FT/ WIDTH = 19 FT WSP (MassDOT CONSULTANT GAVE A PI MEETING ON 6/1/2017 WHERE THEY SHARED 8 CONCEPTS OF LONG SPAN PED BRIDGE TYPES & SHARED ADV/DISADV TO GAIN FEEDBACK. NEED 352 FT FOR THE SPAN, WHICH POSES DIFFICULTY FOR CURRENT PIER AND ABUTMENT LAYOUT IF INTERESTED IN FEEDBACK SEE ME AFTER MEETING 6
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THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF D2 INCLUDES COMMUNITIES IN PIONEER VALLEY & CMRPC. REMEMBER RED LINES INDICATE ENVISIONED FACILITIES, AND THE BLUE LINES INDICATE EXISTING FACILITIES SUCH AS THE MANHAN RAIL TRAIL IN EASTHAMPTON THAT CONNECTS TO THE MASS CENTRAL BIKEWAY IN NORTHAMPTON, AND CONTINUES TO HADLEY ON THE NORWOTTUCK RAIL TRAIL. THE YELLOW LINES SHOW FUTURE AREAS UNDER REVIEW SUCH AS THE CT RIVERWALK IN WEST SPRINGFIELD. SO LET S TAKE A QUICK TOUR, AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOME INTERESTING PROJECTS FOR: - 2 RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS IN BARRE & NORTHAMPTON, - 2 PROJECTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN SPRINGFIELD AND AGAWAM/W. SPRINGFIELD, -A CURRENT SRTS PROJECT IN SOUTHAMPTON & FINALLY, AN UPCOMING PROJECT IN WESTFIELD. 8
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NOTE: THE GREEN WILL NOT BE HERE ON THE BRIDGE. 12
Bid Price -$1M Construction Began 3/27/2017 13
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THE RIVER ROLL & STROLL EVENT WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN MA. IT INVOLVED CLOSING THE BRIDGE THAT CARRIES RT 116 OVER THE CT RIVER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE WALKING, BIKING, & USING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION! DURING THE CLOSURE, SIGNS & JERSEY BARRIERS WERE ERECTED FOR A TRAFFIC DETOUR OVER THE ROUTE 202 BRIDGE, SO YOU CAN SEE THIS TOOK A LOT OF COORDINATION. ARE ANY OF YOU AWARE OF THIS EVENT OR DID YOU ATTEND (RAISE YOUR HAND)? -HOLYOKE & SOUTH HADLEY COORDINATED THE FUND RAISING, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR (ABOUT 75) VOLUNTEERS FROM BOTH COMMUNITIES. D2 WORKED WITH THEM FOR A PERMIT TO CLOSE THE BRIDGE TO TRAFFIC FOR 4 HOURS (11AM-3PM) ON A SUNDAY. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE HAD TO BE A LOT OF COORDINATION ESPECIALLY INVOLVING THEIR POLICE & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS, - AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL FOR SAFETY COORDINATION, - A MILITARY GUARD FIRE THEIR MUSKETS 3X, - THERE WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN MEMORIAL BRIDGE NAMING CEREMONY (COMPLETE W/ A BALD EAGLE FLY OVER-I DON T KNOW HOW THEY DID THAT!) - THERE WERE MANY TYPES OF MUSIC AT THE EVENT INCLUDING THE SOUTH HADLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND. 15
THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF FUN ACTIVITIES TO DO INVOLVING: - DANCING/ LIVE MUSIC BY A VARIETY OF BANDS INCLUDING A DANCING SEA LAMPHREY, - MASSDOT INSTALLED A TEMPORARY SEPARATED BIKE LANE, AND HAD A TABLE TO DISTRIBUTE FREE GIFTS/INFORMATION, - GAVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A BIKE SURVEY REGARDING SAFETY MEASURES, AND LOCATIONS FOR FUTURE FACILITIES, - AND THERE WAS HOLA-HOOPING, BUBBLE-MAKING, BIKE DECORATING, CHALK DRAWING, FACE-PAINTING, AND OF COURSE - ENJOYING THE VIEW OF THE HOLYOKE DAM FROM THE BRIDGE WHERE YOU COULD EXPERIENCE THE CT RIVER IN A WHOLE NEW WAY. 16