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Date: 10/17/2023
NORTHAMPTON — During a public meeting last week, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation presented preliminary plans for a shared-use path along Mount Tom Road in Easthampton and Northampton.
According to MassDOT Project Manager Muazzez Reardon, the total cost of the project is $6 million, with 80% of the funding coming from federal aid and 20% coming from MassDOT. The cost of the project does not include any right-of-way acquisition.
The project includes the construction of a shared-use path that runs 1.3 miles at the west side of Mount Tom Road from the Manhan Rail Trailhead in Easthampton, extending northerly to the Exit 18, I-91 northbound on and off ramps.
“This project was initiated to provide safe, accessible bicycle and pedestrian accommodation along Route five between the Manhattan Rail Trail and the I-91 interchange,” Reardon said during the meeting. Reardon added that this section of Route 5 currently lacks an adequate shoulder width for bicycles and there are no sidewalks for pedestrians. Because of this, MassDOT’s goal is to improve the safety and accessibility of the area while encouraging more bicycle and pedestrian use.
“This section of the roadway lacks accessibility for disabled pedestrians,” Reardon said. “This lack of bicycle and pedestrian facilities creates a gap in service between the accommodations north and south of the project limits.”
According to Reardon, the plans delineate that the shared-use path will be isolated from the roadway constructed on the west side of Route 5. It will run opposite the B&M Railroad tracks and past Island Road.
“This provides a greater separation of the vehicles from the bicycles and pedestrians and also allows for an accessible perpendicular crossing of the railroad tracks,” Reardon said. “After crossing the tracks, the path rejoins the Route 5 right-of-way and continues on the west side of the road crossing Island Road and parallel to a national wildlife refuge.”
The project also includes a new parking area at the Manhan Rail Trailhead and a widening of the sidewalk at the Manhan River Bridge.
The I-91 Route 5 south off-ramp will include new signage and updated traffic signals providing a safer crossing for bicycles and pedestrians. The shared-use path is expected to connect to proposed bike lanes at I-91’s Exit 23, which are part of another bridge replacement project.
Reardon said the project includes work within regulated wetland boundaries which means coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection and the conservation commissions in Northampton and Easthampton will be required.
Because the majority of the project takes place off the existing roadway, Reardon said it is expected that the work will have limited impact to the existing roadways within the project limits.
“It is expected that two lanes of traffic will be maintained during construction, which short-term lane closures required for work at roadway crossings,” Reardon said. “No detours are anticipated.”
Keith Lincoln, the design consultant for the project and a project manager at Chappell Engineering, said that the project is intended to maintain as much of the existing roadway as possible.
“There are a few locations where we have to replace the guardrail and relocate it to facilitate the path. But in general, we’re not proposing to relocate the guardrail,” Lincoln said of one possible modification.
Reardon said that the next steps include working on environmental permits and submitting the 75% design and right-of-way, which MassDOT hopes to submit by the winter. Following that, the hope is for the design to be finalized and right-of-way secured in the winter of 2026. The project is expected to be advertised for construction and bid in 2026.
The majority of the people in attendance for the meeting on board with this project, including many avid bikers, while others brought up environmental concerns.
“This is an area where pedestrian and bike access has been just totally unworkable and dangerous and I think this has really important implications for the folks who live on Island Road,” said resident Nicholas Horton. “I’m really appreciative of it and I think that the shared path, the way this is done and connecting up with the existing part by the I-91 interchange makes a lot of sense.”
Kathryn Bass, a resident of Island Road, said that she has felt “trapped” at her location for 20 years so she is excited about this project. She also suggested more lighting in the area since it is an area with a lot of wildlife.
Geroge Kohout, the chair of the Northampton Planning Board and president of Friends of Northampton Trails, called the project a “wonderful addition” to the community.
“We just need to keep promoting separated trails like this,” he said.
Northampton City Council President Jim Nash said he is “stupidly excited for this project.”
According to Angela Steinman, a right-of-way agent for MassDOT, there are no specific permanent or temporary easements at this time, but MassDOT will notify property owners 10 months to a year before the project happens if there are.