HomeMy Public PortalAbout20190917 - Trail Coordination and Management Committee - Meeting MinutesTrail Coordination and Management Committee
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
TCMC Minutes: September 17, 2019
7:30 PM ; basement town hall
TCMC Members:
Present: Chuck Dauchy, Cynthia Esthimer, Peter LaGoy, Ken Parker, David Paul,
Absent: Jim Ciriello; Jamie Wronka
Others Present: Jane Moran, Mike Boelsen, Jessica Miller, Brad Verrecchia
Proceedings:
• Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM by Chairman Peter LaGoy
• Jane Moran, Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) chairperson, led a discussion
describing the status of the Campus Trail Connector, which is the trail segment
planned by UCTC to connect between Marathon Elementary School and the Center
Trail. Two years ago UCTC members met with the School Committee and the
Planning Board to negotiate an easement around the boundaries of Marathon
Elementary and the Irvine - Todara parcels. UCTC also went to Parks and Rec to
get their approval. Jane noted that the School Committee is excited about the
project, as it would connect all schools together except Elmwood. The School
Committee wants to keep kids off the Loop Road Access Road given the new bus
routes. Don McAdams is OK with the plan, the wetland specialist working for the
UCTC’s consultant VHB is OK with it as well. At the end of the day, this might be a
spur trail, as the final route has not been decided on by the Select Board. Later,
the Campus Trail Connector can connect to Blueberry, and the X-country trails.
UCTC has spoken to the closest abutters about this project over the course of
several years. There is an opportunity to get funds for an engineering study via a
Mass Trails grant. Later the project could be completed via a Mass TIP trail grant,
for ~$1.2 million that the state would pay for, or maybe as much as $ 2 million.
Regarding surfaces, there are 3 different kinds of porous asphalt. UCTC is not
planning for regular asphalt that leads to run-off. Porous asphalt costs a little more
due to surface preparation, which needs 2 feet below, with the right porosity. Don
McAdam is OK with this porous asphalt idea. One needs some special equipment
to maintain porous asphalt; you need to keep it dust-free. If we get TIP money,
Hopkinton can apply for the necessary equipment for maintenance. The same
equipment can be used to maintain the sidewalks on Legacy Farms North.
• UCTC has also met with Milford Water regarding a trail along the south side of
Granite Street; Milford Water also like the porous asphalt idea, as nothing ought to
flow into Echo Lake.
• Discussion: Peter suggests stone dust as a better surface for the Campus
Connector, and argued that there is some public support for stone dust, as it is
easier to run on, and is cheaper. Jane: it will depend on public feedback, and our
ability to get state money. Question: What about winter maintenance? Jane: No
plans yet to plow it. Chuck: Porous asphalt is not the greatest surface for the
majority of users; many cyclists won’t go on the Campus Connector anyway
because it is too short. Moreover, the trail does not have much pitch, and thus
there is not much danger of erosion into the wetlands.
• Regarding Trail mapping: Chuck: We need to figure out regarding themes on the
town map how many kinds of property we need to differentiate. Brad: public land
ought just be one color, so as to maximize clarity and minimize confusion.
• Regarding maps and pamphlets for the public, we have work to do. Chuck: we
already have a project with Boy Scouts to do some of this. Noah can get the trail
traces into a version compatible with Esther’s ‘themes’ efforts on the town GIS
system.
• The present status of these maps can be viewed at:
https://hopkintonma.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=67571c5b546a4bcb8b21009014440d
0c
https://hopkintonma.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1be4433517744d7095087e792b917
6fd
https://hopkintonma.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=0507f0c516e04f1f845db6f05ef
4303a
One can click on the list symbol in upper right to see legend for colors.
• Peter: CPA funding needs to be prepared soon, for three applications. Regarding
Hughes, about $48K went to the previous engineering report. For a potential land
acquisition, a key property owner needs to be approached, and we need to
determine whether we can get an appraisal, and get a 12 foot easement along
Hayden Rowe, maybe with a fly-over bridge to connect to the Milford Upper
Charles Trail parking lot. Finally, we are proposing requesting $75,000 for the trail
between the Loop Road and the Chamberlain – Whalen development. One of
these trails will be stone dust.
• TCMC also needs to put together a budget. Perhaps $40,000 for signs, and for
clearing land.
• Mike: Wants to go to Con Comm to get permission to maintain the rail-bed on
Hughes. Peter: TCMC needs to let abutters knowing what is happening. Con
Comm maybe can approve it subject to our approval, following the abutter
contacts. Mike has already touched base with some of the abutters, and has
already mowed the same part he did before. No vote yet.
• There is a trail conference November 2nd , which costs $40, in Leominster. The
town will pay for it, but if Hopkinton pays, you must go or lose $40!
• MOTION to accept minutes from TCMC meeting on Aug 27; seconded and passed.
• MOTION to adjourn; seconded and passed.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Minutes submitted by Kenneth Parker