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The trail is currently split into two phases: Phase 1 will start at the Fairhaven town line (where the Phoenix Bike Trail ends) and will end at Depot Street, Mattapoisett—thus linking Fairhaven center to Mattapoisett village. Phase 2 will then connect Mattapoisett Village from Depot Street to the Marion town line. At that point, the planned Marion bike path (acquisition authorized at Marion's Spring 2003 Town Meeting) will complete the link from Mattapoisett village to Marion village.
Almost all of the trail uses the Old Colony Railroad Right of Way (RoW), except for (1) a planned reroute (photo) around the YMCA recreational facility and summer camp, (2) a two-block portion between Depot St. and Acushnet Rd., allowing the route to safely cross Route 6 at the Main Street traffic lights, and (3) a curve to avoid Rt. 195 and instead link to the North St. park & ride lot.
Phase 1 federal and state funding is slated for Fall 2006 (federal fiscal year 2007), while phase 2 funding is slated for Fall 2009. Funding was increased to cover a possible 10% inflation rate and 15% construction contingency. The town's cost is a 10% overmatch, which will be covered by prior town expenditures and prior and future in-kind services including:
- Phase 1 environmental permitting to be performed and funded by the Buzzards Bay Project.
- Eel Pond Bridge design will be provided and funded by Coastline Engineering.
- Eel Pond Bridge test borings, required for the design, will be funded by the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike and Recreational Path.
Since Mattapoisett's Spring 1996 Town Meeting, when voters appropriated $500 for Bike Path Study Committee expenses, the project underwent substantial changes requiring additional research and design. Originally understood to be completely town-owned, property title to parts of the Railroad Right of Way was later questioned—and in some areas the town found that the RoW was private or the title was muddy. To establish clear title for a strip of land within the RoW, which already has an easement for an existing sewer line, the State required eminent domain land takings.
The bike path route took an unexpected turn from the RoW in 1998 when the YMCA strongly objected to the trail dividing the north and south properties of their recreational facility and summer day camp at the head of Mattapoisett Harbor. Even with a proposal to build a "land bridge" under which Y members and campers could walk unobstructed, the Y remained concerned about camper safety. After considerable discussion between the Town and the YMCA, complete agreement was reached in 2002 for the path to follow the perimeter of the Y's northern property, on land it would donate to the town. This portion of the project was redesigned accordingly.
Unfortunately, the new route conflicts with the neighboring Reservation Golf Club's green: the club divulged that they have used land within the YMCA's north property for some years, and some club members publicly stated their interest in continuing the use the Y's property.
The 4.5 mile trail on the Railroad Right of Way was originally to be constructed in whole, but by 2001, the trail was divided into four, roughly mile-long phases to allow the project to continue while YMCA route negotiations progressed. The first phase (Fairhaven to Neck Road) passed two votes by the townspeople of Mattapoisett: one approved the land taking of the RoW, needed to establish clear public title to the land, while the second approved the funding—and both passed by overwhelming majorities (80% in December 1997, 91% in May 2001).
However, the Selectmen put the project on hold until total cost information could be produced -- which it was during a May 2002 hearing [refer to 4/29/02 Standard-Times article "Bike path costs to be explained at May hearing" and their post-hearing 5/08/02 article "Bike Path details come into focus"].
Soon after, the May 2002 Town Meeting defeat of two bike path money-rescission articles showed the town's continued support for the project even in these difficult financial times. The next year, a May 2003 Town Meeting article to table the bike path project was amended, after a thorough discussion, to not table the project [see News].
Survey plans from the Fairhaven town line to Neck Road were completed in late Fall 2002, followed by the RoW land taking in early Spring 2003. Construction might have started as early as Fall 2003, when our funding for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2004 was to become available, but the poor economy pushed back the funding schedule.
Also in 2003, the four construction phases were consolidated into two, to align with the Federal and State transportation enhancements new funding schedule. SRPEDD increased the funding to allow the much larger project scope and cost due to the YMCA portion, and to cover normal escalation of costs since the original 1997 request for $880,000. Appropriations have increased by $1,050,000 to a new funding total of $1,930,000. For this new total, the town's overmatch of 10% is still met by our existing planned costs, including in-kind services.
1. Join the Friends group!
directly. 2. Speak out!
3. Attend Bike Path Study Committee Meetings
4. Join Mattapoisett's Bike Path Study Committee!
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or write the Board of Selectmen, Town of Mattapoisett, 16 Main St., Mattapoisett,
MA 02739. | Project
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This page last modified March 22, 2006 . Email comments regarding this page to the webmaster.
