Adams Conservation Committee OK Rail Trail Changes
 The Conservation Commission approved revisions to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail that will incorporate the Berkshire Scenic Railway. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Conservation Commission on Thursday approved plan revisions to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail extension filed by the state Department of Transportation that will accommodate the future scenic rail service.
The extension will run from Hoosac Street, the bike path's north end, to Lime Street.
The commission met with Richard Kelley of HDR engineering services to go over changes to the original rail trail plans that would realign it east along the southern portion of the project from Hoosac Street to 900 feet north of Cook Street.
"The project isn't any wider, and it isn't any longer. It has the same connections and some improvements," Chairman Jason Krzanowski said. "It is to the benefit of the town because now we are going to have the Berkshire Scenic Railway."
Kelley said the first alteration would be to create an access ramp to a paved overflow ditch as well as the drainage chamber by request of the Department of Public Works. This is needed for maintenance.
Krzanowski said the access ramp and drainage improvements are part of the flood control chutes, which because of special legislation puts them beyond any wetlands restriction because the chutes were built prior to 1973.
Kelley said the plan will also include the relocation of an existing reinforced concrete pipe, additional retention walls, additional clearing, and the removal of railway ties that could potentially impact the trail.
He said the ties are hazardous material and will be an overall benefit if removed.
"We certainly see this as a betterment to the corridor, moving these ties having them properly disposed of," Kelley said.
Commissioner Thomas Robinson was concerned that Adams was moving backwards. The plan was originally put out to bid several years ago, but with the announcement of the Berkshire Scenic Railway, the project was reconsidered to accommodate it.
"It feels as though I have been in a time warp and I'm going back 4 or 5 years from where we were," Robinson said.
Director Community Development Donna Cesan said the project is still moving ahead and many of the easements the town originally received are still useful. She said alterations to the plan need additional easements that are being looked at now.
She said the town is about "halfway" toward getting all the needed easements, two of which may be by eminent domain. She said one property owner does not want his land to be taken and the other is a vacated property the town is looking to take by foreclosure.
"The town may be forced to pursue eminent domain," she said. "We don't know that but we have informed town counsel and we are kind of moving toward the process."
All easement are needed to begin advertising the project. Cesan believes this should happen by the end of the calendar year.
Tags: Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, conservation commission, easements,
