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Date: 5/16/2023
EASTHAMPTON — Construction of a new raised crosswalk for the Manhan Rail Trail on Payson Avenue began the week of April 24.
The project is one of many outlined by the city’s planning committee, DPW and the mayor’s office to enhance pedestrian safety. As part of the Union Street project, the new raised crosswalk follows the safety improvements made to Ferry Street Manhan Rail Trail Crossing.
Funded mostly by a $200,000 Massachusetts Department of Transportation Shared Streets grant, the new construction will help slow vehicle speeds on Payson Avenue and provide increased safety for users of the Manhan Rail Trail.
City Planner Jeff Bagg explained that because the Manhan Rail Trail crosses many roads, improvements consist of a variety of new enhancements: rapid, rectangular flashing beacons, construction of a new 10-foot-wide sidewalk along Payson Avenue to better connect the trail to downtown, reconstruction of the roadway from the Manhan Rail Trail to Union Street and installation of a new bike rack at City Hall.
“The goal of better connecting the Manhan Rail Trail to the downtown has been around since the 2008 Master Plan,” said Bagg. “It was identified as a high priority by the Manhan Rail Trail Committee in 2017 and was identified [again] in the 2021 Open Space Plan. The goal of making the street crossings of the Rail Trail safer were identified in the 2017 Complete Streets Prioritization Plan and were identified in a 2018 study by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.”
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, construction will also include minor adjustments to the corner of Railroad Street, providing better access for those who use wheelchairs and improved ADA ramps.
“[It] includes a safer crossing for the users of the rail trail,” said Bagg. “As well as a wider sidewalk between the Manhan Rail Trail down to City Hall as a way to highlight and promote users of the rail trail to access the downtown. The reconstruction of the sidewalk along Payson Avenue will create ADA accessible ramps and the installation of tactile warning strips to make the section more accessible.”
Additional investment for the project came from the use of ARPA funds and excess funds from a Community Preservation Act project to fund the preliminary design for the project.
The new project supports the forthcoming MassDOT Safe Routes to School plan which will connect the Manhan Rail Trail to Mountain View School via a connection of the Manhan Rail Trail to Park Street and a new 8-to 10- foot sidewalk along Park Street.
Upcoming projects include milling and repaving Holyoke Street.
“As part of that project the DPW secured a $286,000 MassDOT Complete Streets grant to install two new crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons and ADA compliant ramps at the intersection of East/West Green and Holyoke streets, and Allen Street and Holyoke Street,” Bagg said.
Development of the raised crosswalk for Manhan Rail Trail on Payson Avenue will be completed by NC Incorporated. Although the rail trail was closed at the intersection for the weeks of May 15 and May 22, it is estimated that the project will be substantially completed by Memorial Day.
“This project wouldn’t be possible without the involvement of the DPW,” said Bagg, “Specifically the Director, Greg Nuttelman, City Engineer, Dan Murphy and the staff engineer, Diane Rossini.”