Weston Rail Trail Task Force Minority Report

Even the best of projects is bound to have some minor negative impacts, along with projected benefits. For this reason, no project, including a rail trail, can ever be "fully mitigated"-- a standard used in the RTTF report in deciding to adopt a "no-trail" recommendation. Instead, we believe that an acceptable mitigation package for the rail trail is one that removes the possibility of significant adverse effects and ensures that the benefits are predominant and enjoyed widely throughout the Weston community.

In reaching its conclusion that the Wayside Rail Trail can't be fully mitigated, the RTTF relied on a variety of data, some of it outstanding (and a credit to members of the Task Force who helped compile it) and other elements quite deficient or altogether lacking. In some areas, the RTTF has overlooked potential mitigation solutions to the problems identified, and incorrectly assumed that Weston can do little or nothing to make the project sound.

In the following sections, we present information and recommendations that address the key areas of concern highlighted in the RTTF report. Our goal is to develop a blue print for mitigation measures that ensures the project provides overwhelming benefits with no significant adverse effect on Weston.

In the event that Town Meeting terminates Weston's participation in the Wayside Rail Trail, we believe that the town will nevertheless be subject to potential negative impacts resulting from rail trail corridors in Wayland and Waltham. One possibility is that trail users in Waltham and Wayland will seek to connect with the trail across the Weston border and will continue along the unimproved railbed or follow Weston roads such as Route 117, Church Street and Boston Post Road.

Even if only a small percentage of trail users are inclined to blaze a "virtual trail" through Weston, the number of users could total several hundred daily. This situation may result in increased bicycle traffic on local streets and Town Center, potential problems along the railbed which would not be accessible by regular police patrols, and few or no mitigating measures for abutters. Thus, a "no trail" vote also requires some form of mitigation to deal with the problems that may arise, and has cost implications for Weston.

Scenario One—Rail Trail Users are diverted to local streets

The abandoned railroad right-of-way would remain in its present condition with old rails, rotted ties, underbrush, wet areas and a blocked underpass at Conant Road; a path attractive only to the most adventuresome of users. Any Wayside Rail Trail user who chose to come west from Waltham would possibly be diverted through Weston via Route 117, Church Street and Boston Post Road to Plain Road in Wayland. Rail trail users coming east from Wayland would follow that route in reverse.

The Utilization Committee of the RTTF estimates that if the rail trail was built through Weston, up to 4,500 one-way trips on an average peak season weekend day can be expected. About 65%, or 2,900 trips, would be bicyclists. If the rail trail is not constructed through Weston, we might guess that somewhere between 10-25% of those bicyclists would still make the connection between trail segments in Waltham and Wayland. This means that between 290 and 725 bicyclists could ride through Weston on our local streets on an average peak season weekend day.

Scenario Two—Minimal improvements to the rail corridor, attracting users

While building the rail trail in Wayland and Waltham, the Massachusetts Highway Department and the MBTA may decide to improve the rail bed through Weston without the town’s participation. At a minimum, this could include removing the old rails and ties. It might also include smoothing the original ballast surface, cutting underbrush, restoring drainage systems, and even opening up the Conant Road underpass.

Should this happen, increased usage of the corridor can be expected, especially by mountain bikers (estimated by the RTTF to number as many as 1,500 trips on a peak season weekend day). Even if the Conant Road underpass remains blocked, there could be an increased usage of the rail corridor east of Church Street and west of Concord Road, with connections made on local roads or through private or town property.

Consequences for Weston:

If the trail is not constructed, the town of Weston will experience decreased costs, fewer parking and traffic problems, less-than-predicted utilization, and no responsibilities for maintaining the rail corridor.

However, the following negative results may also occur:

• increased bicycle traffic on local streets, including town center
• lack of control of access to and from the rail corridor
• few or no mitigating measures for abutters
• rail trail not readily accessible to Weston residents
• access to trail via Church Street, Concord Road, and Gun Club Lane would easily continue, with ensuing parking and traffic issues
• littering and vandalism could increase along the rail corridor due to the lack of consistent use and no regular patrols
• no access for emergency vehicles

In summary, Chief Charles C. Mayo reports:

"Finally, a point that was raised during my conversations with many of the Chief's in the area when discussing the Rail/Trail idea was what impact the Town's vote if negative, have on the demand for service. As I mentioned before, non-development of the trail does not mean non-usage, especially if there is a developed trail on either end. If bike traffic is diverted off the trail on to Route 20, there exists the possibility of increased bike/car accidents. Intersections would have to be redesigned to facilitate bike crossings and a whole new set of problems that will require answers. If the existing trail has ties and rails removed along with brush cut back, the trail will be as usable for bikes and foot traffic as it would be if fully developed. So basically, what I am saying is that developed or not, there will be some impact upon the Police Department."

(see appendix for full text)

1. Environmental Protection:

Weston residents cherish the sensitive natural environment of our town and must be assured that the rail trail will not have a significant adverse effect on natural resources such as plant and animal habitat, wetlands, groundwater, conservation land and the Town Forest. Environmental benefits of the project should also be identified. Existing federal, state and local environmental protection laws and regulations offer a valid means of assessing and mitigating potential adverse environmental impacts of the rail trail, and should be applied in full, both letter and spirit.

Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail concur that the rail corridor is indeed an environmentally sensitive area that must be protected from potentially significant effects from the rail trail. Effective legal and regulatory protection measures are in place to accomplish this:

• The Weston Conservation Commission is by law charged with administering the Wetlands Protection Act and issuing permits for projects occurring near local wetlands. Enforcement of rigorous state wetland regulations will ensure protection of wildlife habitat, groundwater, and public water supply, and will guard against erosion, pollution, stormwater damage, and general degradation of sensitive resource areas protected under the Wetlands Protection Act.
• The state administered Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program will conduct a review of the project’s impact on rare species habitat so that appropriate protective measures can be implemented.
• Under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), the Massachusetts Highway Department (the rail trail developer in this case) would be required to file a project notice (Environmental Notification Form). Following a 20-day public comment period offering an opportunity for citizen review of the project, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs decides whether to require the submission of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) covering all impacts of the project.

To alleviate the RTTF concerns about the potential for "waivers" from required environmental reviews, and to guarantee the greatest possible degree of scrutiny at the local level, we recommend the following two mitigation measures:

• Condition Weston's participation in the Rail Trail Project on a requirement that the state conduct and Environmental Impact Review on this project under MEPA.
• Condition Weston's participation in the Rail Trail Project on a requirement that the Massachusetts Highway Department pay for the services of a Weston Conservation Commission designated qualified Environmental Monitor who will be on-site during the construction phase of the trail and who will report regularly to the Conservation Commission.

In addition, as noted in the next section, we suggest that the Conservation Commission be given jurisdiction over the selection of a suitable trail surface in Weston, which among other requirements, must be environmentally sound.

The Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail share the RTTF concern that, absent a prudent management plan to deter mountain bike access to environmentally sensitive trails in the town forest and conservation areas, the potential for environmental harm is real. The Conservation Commission has recently initiated a committee to study the impacts of mountain bikes and other users upon the trails. Already, they have agreed that signage and trail user education is warranted and could help prevent negative consequences. Should these measures prove inadequate, we note that the Conservation Commission could consider a range of additional options. Working with the Forest and Trail Association and equestrians, the Conservation Commission can:

- Find ways to reduce the number of town forest and conservation land trail crossings with the Wayside Rail Trail.

- Designate which trails, if any, are to be open to mountain bikes. Intersections on the rail trail could be designed to protect the users of both the Rail Trial and the intersecting trails and to prevent or discourage bicycles from entering the Town Forest and conservation land, except on designated trails.

It is important to recognize that Weston already faces these issues regarding town forest and conservation land. Regardless of the rail trail plans, Weston needs to study utilization problems and alternatives. Most likely, there will be additional costs associated with improved forest/ conservation land supervision, even if the rail trail is not developed.

We recommend that a continuing dialogue between the Conservation Commission, the Forest and Trail Association, and equestrians explore these ideas, and others, to develop appropriate solutions that adequately protect the town forest and conservation lands.

2. Trail Surface

The selection of a suitable trail surface is a key project decision with a range of potential effects on: environmental protection; user access and enjoyment; public safety; aesthetics; ongoing cost; and eligibility for state and federal funding. We believe the following criteria are appropriate considerations for selecting a trail surface:

The trail surface must, at a minimum, be:

• environmentally sound
• compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• wide enough for emergency vehicles (8 feet)
• compliant with other regulations and requirements necessary to ensure the project will be eligible for state and federal design and construction funding
• meets recommended ASHTO standards

The trail surface should strike the best possible balance among other important attributes:

reasonable maintenance costs

adequate width for user safety

usable by all types of non-motorized users and motorized wheelchairs

compatible with aesthetic standards of the town

The RTTF report evaluated five possible trail surface options: (1) no trail; (2) asphalt and boardwalk; (3) stonedust and boardwalk; (4) asphalt, stonedust and boardwalk; and (5) trail alongside Route 20. Citing environmental considerations, the RTTF recommended "no trail" with a trail next to Route 20 as a secondary preference.

The RTTF decided to assess the question of trail surface without being explicitly directed to do so by the Town Meeting Article approved in May 1997. Despite the language in the Article that indicated the rail trail was for "both non-motorized and motorized wheelchairs, as well as all other non-motorized users" the RTTF did not appear to weigh such requirements in its decision making. While the subcommittee on trail surface compiled an extensive amount of information regarding the characteristics of various trail surfaces and their respective environmental impacts, the subcommittee report did not present this information or make any specific evaluations of the data.

The Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail believe that the selection of an appropriate trail surface must reflect the criteria presented above. We recommend that the Conservation Commission make this decision.

3. Equestrians

Weston equestrians are longstanding users of the existing railbed and use the corridor for access to woodland trails on Weston conservation land and to Wayland trails. The 20-30 Weston equestrians’ needs should be considered throughout the design, construction, and operation of the trail and their continuing usage and enjoyment assured.

* Construction of a parallel bridle path

We endorse the recommendation in the RTTF report to construct a parallel path within the railroad right-of-way where possible, or nearby, as proposed by the Equestrian Issues Subcommittee. We agree that a reasonable number of safe trail crossings should provide equestrians adequate access to the bridle path.

* Safe environment for horses and their riders

Another important goal is a safe environment for horses and their riders on the trail. One proposed strategy is to minimize the number of intersections, where existing trails on Weston

conservation land cross the rail corridor. In some cases that may require rerouting existing forest trails. In other cases that may be accomplished by prohibiting bicycles on trails used for equestrian access to the trail. Appropriate traffic calming measures at the crossings will further enhance safety.

4. Access, Parking and Town Center

The RTTF devoted little attention to providing convenient access to the trail for Weston residents, recommending that access from Church Street and Concord Road be blocked by fences and Town Center parking be limited, essentially to the Omni lot. We believe these steps are unnecessary, and that active management of access points and parking areas can provide Weston resident access without detriment to the character of Town Center.

To ensure the benefits for Weston residents from the rail trail, the specific local access recommendations are:

* An access point and parking lot at the eastern aspect of the Rail Trail

We concur with the RTTF that there should be an access point and that a parking lot be developed in the eastern portion of the rail trail. Ideally, this could be accomplished through the construction of either the proposed Park and Ride facility or the proposed development at Mass Broken Stone. If either of these is not possible within the time span projected for completion of the rail trail, we propose the development of a parking lot for Weston residents (approximately 20-25 cars) at the Transfer Station.

*Access at Church Street and Concord Road.

It is recommended that at both locations access to and from the trail be open for Weston residents. This will greatly enhance the ability of Weston residents to use and enjoy the trail without having to drive to a central trailhead. Using the old road stubs that abut the trail at grade in both locations will provide safe access points. At the same time, parking restrictions would prevent use of these access points by non-residents. Parking on both roads would be prohibited except for residents of those streets only. We believe that these parking restrictions will minimize adverse impact on neighbors.

* No access from Conant Road, Gun Club Lane, and Warren Avenue, as that neighborhood determines.

It is recommended that there should be no access from Conant Road and that the existing fencing should be maintained when the underpass is reconstructed. It is also recommended that there should be no access from Gun Club Lane (a private way), unless the residents of that road and Warren Avenue wish to open access.

*Parking Restrictions in Town Center

We concur with the RTTF recommendations for parking restrictions in town center and adjacent areas, at least during the initial stages of the rail trail. We encourage the Selectmen to monitor the effects of these severe restrictions and to change as necessary.

5. Public Safety

Use and enjoyment of the Wayside Rail Trail in Weston, and the contentment of abutting property owners, are very much dependent on the trail being a safe, secure and inviting location as well as an area that is so perceived. The rail trail must be planned, built and operated to ensure that the highest possible degree of public safety is provided to users and abutters alike, and that any potential problems are detected and corrected immediately.

The testimony and statistics from police departments along the Minuteman Bikeway can help to put the issue of crime on the proposed Wayside Rail Trail in perspective. Captain Richard Kennefick, who has been with the Arlington Police Department for 23 years, reports that the town responds to an average of 17,286 total calls per year (17,304 in 1994; 16,853 in 1995; and 17,701 in 1996). He estimates that 1 or 2 calls per week are related to the bike trail, or about 1/2 of 1% of the total. Moreover, the vast majority of the calls are for medically assisted emergencies (bicycle accidents, etc.) and the theft of bicycles. He stated that for someone who was concerned about the trail when it was first proposed and built, he was very pleasantly surprised about the lack of problems and considers the trail very successful.

Police Chief Christopher Casey from Lexington has similar positive things to say about the Minuteman Trail. He has said that "people using the bikeway police it themselves. It has not been a significant drain on the responsibilities of the staff." Moreover, in a letter dated May 13, 1997, Chief Casey clearly indicated that the Minuteman is "an overwhelming positive addition" to the town and that its benefit is "obvious to anyone observing" the activities of the users. Chief Casey concurs that the most serious crime is the theft of unlocked bicycles.

Weston's Police Chief Mayo reports in his surveys of the police departments along the Minutemen Bikeway that the majority of police calls on the trail involve medical assistance.

Studies reflect a similar picture of relatively low crime incidence on rail trails. The Burke-Gilman Trail study in 1987 by the Seattle Engineering Department and Office for Planning, interviewed local police officers and residents adjacent to the 12-mile urban rail trail. The study found that incidents of vandalism and burglary did not increase as a result of the trail. In fact, the rate of vandalism and break-ins to adjacent property was well below the neighborhood average. In another study the National Park Service studied trails in Iowa, Florida, and in California in 1992 and found that adjacent property owners experienced relatively few problems from the trail, with a majority reporting no increase in problems since the trails had been established, and that living next to the trail was better than they expected it to be. The most recent study was completed by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) in which a survey was sent to all known trail managers in the country. The response rate was 43%, a reasonable response rate for such surveys. RTC found that among the 372 trails surveyed, crime rates on rail trails tend to be very low; the highest incidence of crime is on urban trails, less on suburban trails, and even lower on rural trails.

The RTTF report focused its conclusion on predicting the future crime experience of Weston with the rail trail upon aggregate data collected from Arlington's experience on the Minuteman Trail. However, Arlington's crime statistics do not correlate with Weston's data and cannot predict Weston's future experience. In fact, Arlington has five times the population of Weston and five times the number of crimes that Weston does. Further, Arlington's neighbor to the east, Cambridge, has over three times the number of reported crimes that Waltham does. When the reported number of crimes along the rail trail in Arlington are analyzed by year, the report reflects an incidence of about eight significant crimes per year. Of note, only two incidents over the past five years involved deadly weapons and no reports of murder or rape have occurred. In contrast, the RTTF report describes a collection of newspaper clippings of major crimes committed over the past decade on rail trails, which reflect the occurrence of incidents of major violent crimes. However, without more detailed information about the trail location, the type of neighborhood, and the local experience of similar crimes, it is difficult to apply these isolated occurrences to the projected experience in Weston.

The following efforts are suggested to maximize public safety on the rail trail:

-regular police patrols

-volunteer patrols providing directions, encouraging trail rules, and contacting

emergency response

-emergency aid call boxes

-"mile markers", at least every .5 mile to facilitate location in emergencies

-minimum of two at-grade access points for emergency vehicles, minimally at the eastern and western aspects of the trail

-curfew from dawn to dusk

-reduction of the number of trail crossings

-limiting trail access/egress

-provision of centralized services, such as public pay phones and drinking fountains at the parking facility, which is not lighted in evening hours

-provision of appropriate emergency vehicles necessary to access the trail in all weather

-surface and width of the trail to safely accommodate emergency vehicles

-posting of rules of the Weston portion of the trail at each town border, at a minimum

-dangerous structures currently in the rail corridor should be removed or made safe from trespassers (e.g. Cherry Brook Station, Boston Edison power line towers)

-bollards at at-grade crossings/ access points

-routine maintenance to provide a safe and passable surface of the trail

-separate bridle path

-fire hydrants adequate to respond to fire emergencies

-traffic calming techniques at all crossings, including Gun Club Lane

-inclusion in posting of "rules of the trail", that adult supervision is recommended for all children under the age of 13

6. Concerns of Abutters

Although the trail has the potential to benefit many, it could adversely impact the abutters if preventive measures are not taken. We have reviewed studies of rail trail impact on abutters of existing trails and also recognize the special concerns voiced by Weston abutters in anticipation of a trail. We propose a mitigation package to address these issues.

The following chart portrays those dwellings that directly border the trail in Weston:

Existing Abutters of Central Massachusetts Rail Line

Approximate Distance Between Edge of Trail and Dwelling*	Approximate Number of Single Family Houses	Approximate Number of Jericho Rental Units
0 - 50 Feet 1	0
51 - 100 Feet	1	8
101 - 200 Feet	11	13
201 - 300 Feet	14	**
More than 301 Feet	10	**

* = Data scaled from Assessor's Maps. Location of some dwellings was estimated. It was assumed that the rail trail is 12 feet wide and centered on an 80 foot right-of-way

** = Only the five closest Jericho Village buildings were included. It was assumed that all units in a single building were the same distance from the trail.

The Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail feel that a strong position must be taken with the Mass Highway Division to ensure the following mitigation measures are implemented:

Mitigation Measures

Potential Concern	Mitigation Measure
Addressing Abutters Issues	Regular Survey of Abutters to insure accountability for mitigation
Privacy & Trespassing	Fencing, Landscape Screening to Prevent Intrusions from Trail users Call boxes every .4 miles Drinking Fountains Limited Trail Entry/Egress Benches
Loss of Trail as Walking Path	Parallel Walking/Bridal Path
Public Safety Concerns	See Section on Public Safety Call Boxes Mile Markers every ½ mile
Fire Protection	Fire Hydrants
Roaming Pets	A Trail Only Leash Law
Illegal Motor Vehicle Use	Blocking bollards at grade crossing Police Patrolling Volunteer Patrolling
Noise	Maintenance conducted only during midday hours Sound Barriers Trail Opening and Closing times
Litter	Trash Receptacles, which are emptied regularly Friends Group Adopt a Trail Boy Scouts
Dog Manure	Clean-up Bags at Trash Receptacles
Loitering	Police and Friends Group Patrols
Maintenance	Routine mowing, dead tree removal, and brush cleanup Friends groups/ Adopt-a-Mile volunteer clean-ups
Enforcement of Trail Rules	Posting of Weston "Rules of the Trail" Trailside Educational Talks Volunteer Patrols Rumble Strip, Stop Sign and/or Bollards at grade crossing

Property Values

An important concern expressed by abutters is that their property values will decrease as a result of the trail. Purchasers of property abutting a rail corridor accept a vulnerability to potential uses of this corridor, be it for trains, conversion to a road or a bike trail, as a pre-existent condition of the purchase. This uncertainty has an effect on their purchase price. If the rail trail is installed it is unclear whether this will have a negative or positive impact on abutters’ property values. In researching this concern the Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail reviewed several studies and communicated with realtors who sell trail abutting property. These are included in the Appendix. Representative excerpts follow:

Windermere Real Estate Sand Point Seattle, WA

" There was much negative speculation about all sorts of crime and property devaluation. What happened was a positive! If anything, the property value (not assessed valuation, which means nothing in this city and is a totally false actual valuation) went up." Marcia A Royer, Managing Broker

The Impacts of Rail-Trails by National Park Service

"Landowners along all three trails reported that their proximity to the trails had not adversely affected the desirability or values of their properties, and along the suburban Lafayette/Moraga Trail, the majority of owners felt the presence of the trail would make their properties sell more easily and at increased values." Study of the Heritage Trail, Iowa, the St. Mark’s Trail, Tallahassee, Florida, the Layfayette/ Moraga Trail", San Francisco, CA.

Report "Burke-Gilman Trail’s Effect on Property Values and Crime", Seattle, WA

"The trail has no significant effect on the selling price of homes immediately adjacent to the trail." Seattle Engineering Department - Office for Planning

Comment, Lester E. Savage Real Estate, Lexington, MA

" Rather than a detriment, the Minuteman Bikeway is seen as an asset by myself and the other Realtors of this community..." Lester E. Savage III, CRS, GRI

Comment, Grant Cole Realtors, Lexington, MA

"It has been a positive experience. Both ads and listing sheets trumpet the proximity of the property to the bikepath." Ronald Colwell, CRS, CRB

 

 

7. Operating Costs and Funding

What are realistic implications of the trail for the Weston town budget? Federal and state funds will fully pay for design, construction and appropriate mitigation measures. Thus Weston's ongoing responsibilities are for maintenance and patrolling its 3.1 miles of the Wayside Rail Trail. Once the trail is completed Weston will provide police, fire, and emergency rescue services along its portion of the trail, as well as ongoing Department of Works maintenance of the trail and amenities, and the payment of repair, operations and administrative costs required to perform these services.

* Experience in Other Rail Trail Towns

Statistics from other town's experiences of maintaining and policing their trails can help shed light on the anticipated costs for the Wayside Trail. As a point of reference, annual maintenance costs

For two local trails are:

- Lexington: $2035 (based on annual policing cost of $4500 and maintenance cost of $6690 for 5.5 miles its portion of the Minuteman Trail}

- Providence, R.I $ 3320 (based on an annual policing and maintenance cost of $48,124 for its 14.5 East Bay Cycle Path)

 

If one accepts these per mile estimates, Weston's annual maintenance costs could be as low as $6310 to $10,300. Undoubtedly, Weston’s maintenance costs will be higher due to special design considerations.

 

* The RTTF's Approach to Cost Estimating

The RTTF estimates of annual costs range from $62,000 to $162,000 and, in our judgment, are substantially overstated. These estimates include personnel costs for additional police officers, a conservation ranger, total capital costs for 3 bicycles (one for the Police Department and two for the conservation rangers) as well as costs for a range of additional services and equipment. The difficulty of projecting costs that will only be incurred after construction of the trail in five years is underscored by the subcommittee estimates of police costs of $0 to $100,000.

There are many unknown factors, such as future staffing patterns in the Weston Police Department, cost sharing agreements with neighboring towns, and assumptions about the costs of hiring a Conservation Ranger, and staffing and equipment requirements. The RTTF report

does not consider, for example, that there could be benefits from volunteer activity or adopt-a-trail revenue from local businesses. Further, the RTTF assumed zero alternate costs to Weston, if the Town does not participate in the rail trail.

In contrast, we believe that there will be substantial cost offsets through use of volunteers, contributions from local businesses and residents, and regional sharing of services. Further, we believe that there will be significant costs associated with managing trail-related impacts if the trail is built to the borders of Weston without the 3.1 miles in Weston being developed.

* Cost containment through shared services

There are several strategies for reducing Weston's annual maintenance costs. One effective strategy is cost sharing of some services with Wayland or Waltham. For example, the cost for maintaining and supplying a restroom facility, which will benefit other towns along the trail, could and should be shared. Another strategy is an "adopt-a-trail" program, similar to the way sections of highways are sponsored. Sponsorship by local businesses, pledging to pick up litter, could

partially finance trash collection along that section of the trail. Still another strategy is soliciting

services from businesses, such as removing tree limbs or special landscaping.

 

* Friends of the Rail Trail and Other Volunteers

The enthusiasm for rail trails in many towns has spawned volunteer groups, which are an important resource for patrolling the trail and a source of free labor for small trail maintenance projects. For example, the Friends of the Minuteman Trail in Lexington, formed in May 1993, has consistently had about 100 family memberships. Volunteers walk down the trail weekly, perform minor cleanup, and report maintenance problems.

Volunteer groups can also be a powerful force in obtaining grants to support special trail projects,

soliciting businesses, and other fund-raising efforts. Recently a Greenway Grant of $3500 was obtained through the state for the Minuteman Trail. The Friends contributed an additional $500 and the Garden Club of Lexington also gave $500. The money will be used to finance a one-year study to identify and catalog all the natural plantings along the Minuteman, with the goal of eradicating nuisance species and encouraging desirable ones, thereby enhancing the bikeway

experience and affording better views. Ultimately, educational plaques are planned for installation. To date, this project has attracted the volunteer labor of about 15 people, roughly one half of whom are members of the Friends of the Minuteman and one half of whom are new faces.

Closer to home, the Friends of the Minuteman Trail has even assisted the Weston Rail Trail Task Force in its' research. When attempting to distribute the surveys to abutters of the Minuteman Trail, members of the Weston Rail Trail Task Force approached Jerry VanHook of the

Friends of the Minuteman Trail in Lexington. Not only did Mr. VanHook assist in distributing and collecting the surveys and analyzing the results; he also contacted every identifiable dissatisfied respondent and attempted to address their concerns, in some cases pledging funds from the Friend's treasury for the purpose. An active Friends group can be an excellent resource contributing to the smooth operation of a trail.

 

* The RTTF's Specific Cost Estimates

The following are the costs attributed to the Wayside Rail Trail by the RTTF, with our comments in italics:

 

Department of Public Works:

Labor:

Manpower Hours Cost (@ $26/hr*)

 

Raking Stonedust Surface 64 $1,664 Replenish Stonedust 240 6,240

Inspect Boardwalk 32 832

Manpower Hours Cost (@ $26/hr*)

Sweep Asphalt Surface 16 416

Mowing Trail Shoulders 64 1,664

Trimming Trail Brush 120 3,120

Weed Control 32 832

Litter Control 128 3,328

Restroom Maintenance 546 14,196 Total 1,242 hrs $32,292

 

* = Assumes FY 2003 labor costs

 

Materials:

Stonedust - 100 tons @ $12/ton $1,200

Miscellaneous carpentry supplies 500

Restroom supplies 400

Miscellaneous 500

Total Material Cost $2,600

Total First Year Maintenance Costs - $34,892

 

We believe that these costs, which have not been subjected to Finance Committee review, are more than twice the likely real costs. First, we believe that the portion of the trail requiring the more maintenance-intensive stonedust is likely to be less than what is assumed here. Second, we believe that volunteers can assist town employees in litter control and other minor maintenance. Third, and most significantly, we believe that Weston should not presume the need to build and maintain a restroom facility in Weston, nor should it assume that, if built, such a facility serving all trail users should be maintained solely at Weston's expense. As calculated by the RTTF, restroom maintenance and supplies account for $14,596 or approximately 42% of the total DPW estimates. By eliminating the bathroom and other excessive costs, we project that Weston’s annual maintenance costs will be approximately $12,000.

 

Equipment:

Purchase of an all-purpose tractor with accessories: $75,000,with 15% dedicated to Rail Trail use.

First year Capital Costs - $11,250

We propose that no new equipment should be purchased when the trail is first opened, so that the need for such a tractor can be evaluated and the specific allocation can be determined. It may also be feasible to share the cost of acquiring new equipment with neighboring towns.

 

Fire Department:

The Weston Fire Department provides emergency ambulance services within the town. Current ambulance calls are approximately 700 annually, and it is estimated that calls for response at the rail trail will be about 70 per year (based upon Minuteman data), or about ten percent of all ambulance calls.

Estimated Costs:

Personnel expense ($60/call for back-up

coverage at station) $4,200

Maintenance of Equipment (10% of ambulance,

90% of snowmobile) 700

Emergency Medical Supplies (10% of annual total)

Maintenance of Emergency Call System 6,400

($3200 annual maintenance & operating costs,

plus $3200/yr. for replacement of each call box once

every ten years)

Capital expense

Ambulance ($60K/10yrs, 10% rail trail expense) 600

Snowmobile and Sled ($10,000/5 yrs x 90%)* 1,800

* costed here, but shared with police dept.

 

Revenue Estimates

70 Ambulance runs @225/run with 85% collection rate $13,387.50

The Fire Department indicates that, after incorporating reimbursements, the incremental cost

to the town will be $312.50.

Police Department:

Personnel costs $0-100,000

Capital costs

Mountain Bike, $1,200 cost, 10 year

life span 1 120

Uniforms, $940 cost, 2-3 year life span 470

 

The RTTF treatment of costs is dominated by the extreme range in estimated police personnel costs. The reasons for this are explained by Police Chief Mayo: To patrol the trail during all shifts might cost as much as $100,000 if the trail was opened today, and if no volunteer or regional (trail- based) support was available. Neither assumption is valid. Since the Police Department will know at least five years in advance of the trail's opening, future staffing changes can be incorporated into personnel planning. The bottom line: the incremental police costs are certainly much closer to zero than to $100,000.

Conservation Department:

Seasonal Full-time Conserv. Ranger $12,240

2 Seasonal Part-time Conserv. Rangers 8,400

2 Bicycles @ $1,200 ea (10 yr lifespan) 240

2 Cell Phone/Police Radios @ $35/mo ea 840

The RTTF developed these estimates without input from or consultation with the Weston Conservation Commission. We agree that there will be costs associated with protecting the Town forest and conservation lands. However, we believe that due to the current trend of increased usage of Weston’s conservation lands, a portion of these costs will be incurred to some extent regardless of whether or not Weston participates in the rail trail. Additionally, volunteer support could offset some of these costs as well.

Trail Manager (prorated) $5,165

It is by no means certain that a trail manager will be needed, but Weston will participate in that decision. If a trail manager is appointed, it will in effect reduce some of Weston's costs. The

position should be in part self-supporting through such means as sponsorship by local business or grants. The bottom line: should not participate in funding a trail manager, unless it can be shown that the costs are outweighed by the financial benefits; i.e. net costs would be zero.

 

 

 

* Weston Residents for the Wayside Trail Cost Estimates

We agree with the RTTF that the likely costs for the town are difficult to project. We agree with the RTTF that the likely costs for the town are difficult to project. However, we feel that the RTTF projections include every possible cost that might potentially be connected with the trail and exclude all potential cost savings. We believe that Weston has many options and opportunities for controlling the annual costs. Working with the RTTF estimates, we believe that a cost estimate in the range of $10,000—15,000 more accurately projects Weston’s financial responsibilities for maintaining and policing the trail.

 

 

1. MONITORING THE TRAIL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION

It is recommended that a Rail Trail Committee be appointed by the Selectmen to monitor trail design, construction, and operation and to ensure all of Weston Conditions of Participation are met. The Rail Trail Committee should include representatives from the Weston Police Department, Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, Public Works Department, and the Planning Board, as well as appointed residents to represent special interests, such as abutters and equestrians.

In addition to the Rail Trail Committee, the existing Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail will transition into a permanent Friends Group. This group will work closely with the Committee to support and enhance the nature of the trail in Weston. Additionally, the Friends will garner financial support from interested residents to supplement Town support.

 

Summary:

The Weston Residents for the Wayside Rail Trail recommend that Weston enter into a lease agreement with the MBTA for the Central Massachusetts Railroad right-of-way through Weston, and work cooperatively with the communities of Waltham, Wayland, Sudbury, Hudson and Berlin in the design, construction, and operation of a multi-use recreational Wayside Rail Trail. Further, we advocate that Weston’s participation integrate the following recommendations in the formal design process.

 

 

 

Summary List of Mitigation Measures:

 

Environmental Concerns:

• Condition Weston’s participation in the Rail Trail Project on a requirement that the state conduct and Environmental Impact Review on this project under MEPA.
• Condition Weston’s participation in the Rail Trail project on a requirement that the Massachusetts Highway Department pay for the services of a Weston Conservation Commission designated qualified Environmental Monitor.
• Reduce the number of Town Forest and conservation land trail crossings with the Rail Trail.
• Designate which trails, if any, are to be open to mountain bikes

Trail Surface must include the following requirements:

• Is environmentally sound
• Complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Is wide enough for emergency vehicles (8 feet)
• Complies with other regulations and requirements necessary to ensure the project will be eligible for state and federal design and construction funding
• Meets recommended ASHTO standards

Equestrians:

• Construction of a parallel bridle path
• Safe environment for horses and their riders

Access, Parking and Town Center:

- An access point and parking lot at the eastern aspect of the Rail Trail

- Access at Church Street and Concord Road

- No access from Conant Raod, Gun Club Lane, and Warren Avenue, as that neighborhood determines

- Parking restriction in town center

 

Public Safety:

• regular police patrols
• volunteer patrols providing directions, encouraging trail rules, and contacting

• emergency response
• emergency aid call boxes
• "mile markers", at least every .5 mile to facilitate location in emergencies
• minimum of two at-grade access points for emergency vehicles, minimally at the eastern and western aspects of the trail
• curfew from dawn to dusk
• reduction of the number of trail crossings
• limiting trail access/egress
• provision of centralized services, such as public pay phones and drinking fountains at the parking facility, which is not lighted in evening hours
• provision of appropriate emergency vehicles necessary to access the trail in all weather
• surface and width of the trail to safely accommodate emergency vehicles
• posting of rules of the Weston portion of the trail at each town border, at a minimum
• dangerous structures currently in the rail corridor should be removed or made safe from trespassers (e.g. Cherry Brook Station, Boston Edison power line towers)
• bollards at at-grade crossings/ access points
• routine maintenance to provide a safe and passable surface of the trail
• separate bridle path
• fire hydrants adequate to respond to fire emergencies
• traffic calming techniques at all crossings, including Gun Club Lane
• inclusion in posting of "rules of the trail", that adult supervision is recommended for all children under the age of 13

Concerns of Abutters: (deleted duplicated public safety and maintenance items mentioned elsewhere)

• Fencing, landscape screening to prevent intrusions from trail users
• Regular survey of abutters to insure accountability for mitigation
• Drinking fountains and benches at parking area
• A trail-only leash law for dogs
• Blocking bollards at grade crossing
• Maintenance conducted only during midday hours
• Sound Barriers

• Trash Receptacles, which are emptied regularly

• Dog Clean-up Bags at Trash Receptacles
• Trash receptacles, which are emptied regularly

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Appendices

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[Wayside Rail Trail]