Town Planning Sidewalks and Drainage Issue Remediation on Section of Worcester Road
Monday, Greg Russell, a project engineer with VHB, presented a preliminary design for sidewalks and drainage remediation on a section of Worcester Road. He explained that this was Phase 1 of a multi-phase project which would eventually include milling and repaving from the town center to the Holden line and sidewalks between the southern-most side of Hickory Drive to PMLD.
Last year, the Town submitted grant applications to MassWorks for the entire project and to Complete Streets for the sidewalks. The Selectboard authorized $50,000 of ARPA funds for parking lot improvements for the Cobb Brook Trailhead on Worcester Road and received almost $500,000 in Complete Streets funding. Our MassWorks application for $3.9M was turned down for multiple reasons. MassWorks is primarily focused on increasing housing and businesses. Our plan didn’t include any of this but focused on the renovation and revival of the former Mountain Barn. In addition, we were told that the Town hadn’t made enough of a financial commitment to the project. And lastly, MassWorks doesn’t usually fund projects of that size.
Greg mentioned that one option for future funding might be to apply for a TIP grant from the DOT like we did for the 140 Project. However, he warned that TIP grants come with road requirements that go beyond what we might want to do. For example, we might be required to widen the road and include a bike lane. This might require easements across private property.
After receiving the Complete Streets grant but not the MassWorks grant, the project team looked at what could be done when and with what funding. They decided to break the project into multiple phases. Since we have the Complete Streets funding and need to use it promptly, they plan on going out to bid this spring for a section of the sidewalk project which includes sidewalks and crosswalks on the West side of Worcester Rd between PO Place and PMLD. No milling or repaving would be done during this phase.
Greg Russell presented concept pictures of the work that will be done in phase 1. The sidewalk would not infringe upon the existing travel lanes and would be entirely within the town’s right of way. The sidewalks would help manage drainage and, in front of Hunt and Gather, would help manage traffic entering and leaving the parking lot. He also described what might be done with the sidewalks in a later phase. To avoid utility poles and sidewalks, the sidewalk would continue from PO Place to Hickory Dr on the East side of Worcester Rd.
If you would like to see the recording of Monday’s meeting, you can find it here. If you would like to provide input on the project or learn more, please reach out to Town Administrator Sherry Patch. Note that this stretch of Worcester Road was included in the Town’s Complete Streets Plan which was accepted in April of 2021 and can be found here.