A River runs through it

Work progresses slowly on river walks

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE The Chicopee River Walks Advisory Committee has made several recommendations to Mayor Michael Bissonnette on three segments of the city's proposed bike and walking paths.

Last week Bissonnette spoke about the recommendations to Reminder Publications. He said, although the projects have progressed slowly, there may be developments to change that status.

The group met on Jan. 24 to discuss what steps are needed to advance the walking and bike paths that are planned along the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers.

On the Chicopee Riverwalk and Bikeway, the committee noted in its letter that MassHighway has canceled the design and engineering contracts for that project because not all of the right-of-ways have been secured. This path runs into the Uniroyal and Facemate properties, which the city does not control at this time.

At the meeting, committee members expressed the hope breaking ground on one of the projects this summer, but City Planner Kate Brown said the start would be dependent on economic conditions later this year.

On the north segment of the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway that runs from Medina Street to Nash Field, the committee asked the mayor to request that MassHighway schedule a 25 percent design public hearing for this project, and help to advance the project toward construction. MassHighway will not review engineering plans for projects that are not scheduled on the region's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), so the city should seek to add this project to the region's TIP for construction, the committee requested.

Once the southern segment of that riverwalk, which runs from Plainfield Street to Exchange Street, the committee asked for the current design to be changed so the bikeway could be accommodated within the reconstruction of Center Street, provided that the roadway is shifted.

The committee wrote the mayor, "The current proposed Center Street alignment would include two eight foot shoulders. If the roadway is shifted to the east, the alignment could accommodate a 12' shoulder and four foot shoulder, enabling the bike path to be located on the west side of the road. While it would be costly to re-do plans and cross-sections for Center Street, this may be the only available route for the Connecticut Riverwalk, since Guilford Railroad has rejected attempts to seek a right-of-way for the bikepath on railroad property. [Department of Public Works head] Stan Kulig is currently requesting a cost estimate for re-drafting Center Street design plans from the project consultants, Green International.

"This South Segment will also require approval from MassHighway for use of a portion of the I-391 corridor for the bikepath."

Bissonnette said it is important to separate the two projects: the trail along the Chicopee River and the one along the Connecticut River as each has its own problems.

He hopes the first part of the Chicopee River Walkway -- the beginning of the walk in the downtown area -- can be put out to bid in the spring. The start of the path is on property currently controlled by the city.

He said the project has been slowed down by the ownership status of the Uniroyal/Facemate properties, which he said is "nearing the end of all legal maneuvering."

"Hopefully there will be some clarification by the first week in March," he added.

Bissonnette said he has been actively working with the Patrick Administration to secure funds and assistance for the removal of the 17 buildings there.

"If we were to undertake the demolition of 17 buildings, we couldn't manage that ourselves," he said.

Bissonnette is keen on the Chicopee River Walk project as it would provide a pedestrian and bike path linking the public library with locations along Front Street.

He acknowledged that "everything has been in slow motion," but that could change with the involvement of the state government.

The next meeting of the committee will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the library on Front Street.