By Jarrod Goentzel
Recent meetings offered a first look at the official 25% draft plan for the Belmont Community Path, which should include most significant features, and continued conversations with state leaders about how and when it can be built. On July 16, the Community Path Project Committee (CPPC) held a virtual public meeting for the design firm, where Nitsch Engineering presented draft 25% design drawings for the first two construction phases (bit.ly/20200716BCPpresentation). A video of the full meeting, including public questions and feedback, is available at Belmont Media Center (bit.ly/20200716BCPvideo).
Phase 1 includes the rail trail from Brighton Street through Belmont Center to the Clark Street pedestrian bridge, the railroad underpass from Alexander Avenue to Belmont High School, and the route to Concord Avenue. Graphics featuring design elements with photos showed screening from the perspective of abutter backyards and the crossing at Brighton Street from the perspective of a rider or walker.
Illustration of the Alexander Avenue Underpass from the July 16 presentation. Graphic: Nitsch Engineering.
One week later the Friends of the Belmont Community Path (FBCP) hosted a virtual meeting with two members of the Governor’s Inter-Agency Trails Team to hear how Belmont’s project fits into state plans. Peter Sutton, state Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, presented new developments for the 104-mile Mass Central Rail Trail. This trail is one of the Team’s top priorities, and Belmont’s path is a key link in the trail.
Michael Trepanier, trails program manager for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, discussed the timeline and process for obtaining state and federal funding that would cover construction costs. Trepanier was encouraged by Belmont’s recent progress and emphasized the importance of this path in their plans, affirming, “All you folks who are working on the Belmont Community Path recognize that we are part of a much, much bigger vision for the state and it takes all of us to get there.” The 61 minute video of this meeting (bit.ly/YT72020CP) also includes a brief review of the previous week’s design meeting.
Jarrod Goentzel is chair of the Friends of the Belmont Community Path. He can be reached at belmontpath@gmail.com.
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