State Still Hopeful For Adams Rail Trail Extension in 2014
 The MPO took no action on the funding for the rail trail extension. But, if the project doesn't go to bid this summer, they might have to reallocate $250,000 to another project. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state is still hoping to bid the extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams this year.
But time is running out.
According to Mark Moore of the Department of Transportation's District 1, the extension is hoped to be advertised for bids in August.
The state experienced a setback in getting the design completed. It was only at 75 percent, when the state had hoped to be at 100 percent.
"We had an estimate that was surprisingly low," Moore said, and then when they reviewed it, they realized there were "significant omissions" in the plans.
Now, the consultants and engineers need to further detail the cost estimates and focus.
The state has been expecting the project to cost $3,260,000, which is mostly coming from a federal earmark. The project was first eyed for 2012 but evolved after the decision to host the railroad tracks for tourism train excursions.
The pathway had to be redesigned to accommodate railroad tracks for the Berkshire Scenic Railway's Hoosac Valley Service. Moore said he was expecting modifications to the former plan but instead, it dovetailed into a more significant redesign.
Further, he said, there are still two other large aspects to be resolved before the bids are released. First is the location of utilities, which also had to be redesigned. That is "just about resolved," Moore said.
The other issue is the rights of way and then the town acquiring them. The state will be providing the list of the needed rights of way to the town soon. When the town enters the process to take the needed lands, the state's consultants will be finishing up the final design, Moore said.
"We'll both be coming to the finish line at the same time in late August," he said.
But the time is getting close because the funding package includes $250,000 from another federal grant that the local Metropolitan Planning Organization has set aside to complete the trail. If the project isn't bid by the end of the year, those federal funds would be reallocated.
On Tuesday, the MPO didn't make a decision about the funding or approve the higher cost (the $250,000 allocation) it has anticipated for a few months now.
In other business, the MPO committed to renovating Washington Mountain Road in 2018 with the county's federal funds. MassDOT's Clinton Bench said Transportation Secretary Richard Davey is "committed" to doing the project with state funds in 2019.
But, that wasn't a promise.
"He is committed to doing everything he can to get it into the [Capital Improvement Plan]," Bench said. "I am not in a position to absolutely promise that you'll see Washington Mountain Road in the CIP for 2019."
The MPO is now setting the four-year Transportation Improvement Plan for 2015 until 2018. The Washington Mountain Road project has been waiting 20 years for funding. However, it is a $10.1 million project so it will basically use up all of the county's federal funds over a two-year period.
The state told Washington officials that it would get on the plan for 2018. And, that didn't happen. Now the state says it will be on for 2019.
The MPO is committed to using the county's federal funds in 2018 and 2019 for the road. If the MassDOT does decide to use state funds, the MPO can always reprogram the federal 2018 allocation.
MassDOT District 1 representative Peter Niles said the state will do some overlay work on portions of the road this year. Washington Board of Selectmen Chairman Jim Huebner said he appreciates that effort because the road is in such bad condition now that town officials were considering closing it.
"This project is 20 years overdue," Huebner said.
That project is already 100 percent designed so Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Nathaniel Karns took Tuesday to advocate for that to be kept in mind if other projects in the state begin to bump up against the year's deadline.
"I would certainly encourage since this project is at 100 percent design, if something isn't going elsewhere in the state, this should be pushed to get done this year," Karns said.
Tags: Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, MPO, road project, scenic rail, transportation,
