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MINUTEMAN COMMUTER BIKEWAY PROPOSAL
March 1982
Submitted to The Massachusetts Department of Public Works and
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Submitted by The Towns of Arlington, Bedford, and Lexington and
The City of Cambridge
Prepared by The Cycling Transportation Foundation
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PROPOSAL ABSTRACT -- MINUTEMAN COMMUTER BIKEWAY
To The Massachusetts D P W and the M B T A
From Arlington, Bedford, Cambridge, and Lexington
Prepared by The Cycling Transportation Foundation
The Project
The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway is an eleven-mile bicycle
highway to be built upon the abandoned B&M Railroad right-of-way
from Bedford to the Red Line Terminus at Alewife Brook This
important new transportation link will be
o Flat, wide , straight, and scenic
o Separated from traffic, and among the safest in the U S A
o Accessible and useful to more than 7 , 000 daily users
o A boon to energy conservation and Red Line ridership
The Approach
In an innovative alliance of the public and private sectors
appropriate to the era of Proposition 2 1/2, a dedicated group of
private citizens is working with the towns to organize volunteer
labor , donated equipment, local in-kind services, non-profit
foundation support, and public fund-raising efforts that will
supplement financing from the Commonwealth' s Bikeway Bonds
The Request
o From the MBTA A lease for the use of the right-of-way
o From the DPW Bikeway Bond funds for construction
We stand ready to begin
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1
2 BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION 3
3. BENEFITS 5
3 1 Projected Use 5
3 2 Energy and Air Quality 5
3 3 Safety 6
4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 7
5 CONSTRUCTION COST 9
5 1 Clearing and Grubbing 9
5 2 Rail and Tie Removal 10
5 3 Design, Engineering , and Miscellaneous Services 10
5 4 Grading and Surfacing 11
5 5 Bridge Improvements and Access Ramps 12
5 6 Signs and Pavement Markings 12
5 7 Landscaping and Barriers 12
5 8 Lighting 13
5.9 Bottom Line 13
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6. RIGHT-OF-WAY 14
6 1 Ownership 14
6 . 2 Maintenance 14
6 3 Liability 15
7 . LAW ENFORCEMENT 16
7 1 Community Concerns 16
8 CONCLUSION 18
8 1 Community Support 18
8 2 Future Connections 18
APPENDIX A THE CYCLING TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION 20
APPENDIX B EXPERIENCE WITH CAPE COD RAIL TRAIL 21
APPENDIX C. COST FIGURES FROM CAPE COD RAIL TRAIL 24
APPENDIX D LIGHTING ESTIMATES 26
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1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
The proposed Minuteman Commuter Bikeway will be an 11-mile-
long , 12-foot-wide, fully lighted, regional bicycle highway on
the abandoned B&M Railroad right-of-way from Bedford through
Lexington and Arlington to the new Red Line terminus at Alewife
Brook in Cambridge It will be an important new transportation
link along one of the most densely-settled and heavily-traveled
corridors in the Boston metropolitan area
It is difficult to imagine a more ideal route for a
transportation bikeway
1 The right-of-way is flat, wide , scenic, and relatively
straight The grade is barely noticeable, sight
distances exceed all standards, and the surroundings
are charming
2 It will be one of the safest urban bikeways in the
country it is separate from but adjacent to major
traffic arteries for its entire length, passes under or
over 12 thoroughfares (including Routes 2 and 128) , and
has only 11 grade crossings ,with significant traffic in
11 miles
3 Most importantly, it goes where people want to go
Although the Red Line connection alone is sufficient to
justify this project, it will also provide direct
access to Bedford Center, the Hanscom/Hartwell
industrial area, Lexington Center , East Lexington, the
Arlington Heights bus terminal and shopping area,
Arlington Center , the Fresh Pond industrial and
shopping complexes, and numerous schools , shops ,
businesses, and other points both along and beyond the
right-of-way
Because it is so attractive and well-situated, the Minuteman
Commuter Bikeway will carry large numbers of commuters and local
travelers in both directions; conservative estimates place the
potential volume above 15,000 daily trips and 17,000,000 annual
bicycle-miles by 1987 This is particularly significant in view
of existing problems with automobile congestion, parking, air
quality, and energy consumption in the area
Citizens and elected officials in all four communities are
solidly backing this project and are prepared to accept
responsibility for maintenance and liability The original cost
1
estimate for construction (including intersection improvements,
track/tie removal, and some lighting, but no design or
engineering) was $1,520, 000 in 1980 dollars [1] Our current
estimate is $1,123 ,000 from the Commonwealth' s Bikeway bonds,
plus a local share valued at $500, 000 and comprised of
design/engineering , clearing and grubbing, track/tie removal, and
other in-kind services
Even the worthiest of projects are difficult to undertake in
these times of fiscal constraint, and the reality of Proposition
2 1/2 requires an imaginative approach to bring this one to
fruition Accordingly, a unique and innovative alliance of the
public and private sectors has been formed to get the job done
The Transportation Cycling Foundation (CTF) is organizing
donated equipment, volunteer labor , local in-kind services, and
public fund-raising efforts to supplement financing from the
Commonwealth' s Bikeway Bonds By making use of these many local
resources, we expect to build a first-rate facility while
minimizing the expenditure of public funds
A map of the proposed Minuteman Commuter Bikeway has been
inserted in this proposal Bicycle transportation in Boston and
the projected use and benefits of this particular project are
discussed in Sections 2 and 3 , and the bikeway is described in
Section 4 Construction costs, ownership, maintenance, and law
enforcement are discussed in Sections 5-7 Community support and
possible future connections are described in Section 8
A preliminary study of the Minuteman Bikeway was carried out
by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) , with funding
from the EPA' s Clean Air - Transportation Planning Program and
assistance from a broadly-based working committee of interested
citizens and officials The resulting report [1] , issued in
March 1981, has been used extensively in preparing this proposal
1The CTF is a non-profit foundation whose goal is to make
bicycling a viable mode of transportation in the greater Boston
area Details are given in Appendix A
2
2 BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION
Increasing concerns about energy and air quality have led to
more reliance on the bicycle as a mode of transportation
Because of its size, a bicycle is easier to maneuver in traffic
and to park Thus, the bicycle matches or, in dense urban areas,
exceeds the personal mobility of the automobile, while
eliminating dependence on gasoline These factors have
contributed to a 50% increase in bicycle commuter traffic volumes
in the past five years
Despite its obvious virtues , the bicycle is the primary mode
of transportation for only about one percent of Boston area
commuters According to surveys , the primary reason for not
bicycling is fear of collisions with motor vehicles for many
potential cyclists , the advantages of bicycling are simply
outweighed by the perceived risk to life and limb
The bicyclist' s vulnerability to injury in collisions has
led in recent years to an emphasis on bicycle paths, which
exclude motor vehicles Unfortunately, many bicycle paths have
been built essentially as sidewalks, in order to move bicycle
traffic off the adjacent roadways ., The construction of this type
of facility, contrary to the desired effect, can result in an
increased accident rate, and is opposed by nearly all serious
bicycle advocates
The great majority of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions occur
at intersections A "sidewalk" bicycle path does not eliminate
driveway and cross-street conflict points but merely moves the
cyclist laterally This lateral move results in decreased
visibility, where the motorist and bicyclist have less time to
react to each other in conflicting maneuvers
Bicycle path construction is quite effective in instances
where the number of conflict points can be reduced This occurs
most often along rivers, expressways, and railroad rights-of-way,
where bridges and underpasses tend to minimize the number of
intersection problems.
A path along a riverbank is relatively flat but may be
longer than the street system because rivers meander. The
Charles River bicycle path from Newton to Boston, while
decreasing the number of at-grade intersections from fifty to
six, increases the distance from five to six and one-half miles
A path along an expressway, besides lacking aesthetic
3
quality, typically requires cyclists to negotiate busy
interchanges with motor vehicles turning at high speed
A railroad right-of-way generally avoids even these
difficulties , providing a flat, separated , direct route for
bicycle travel One of the few railroad rights-of-way available
for bicycle transportation in the metropolitan Boston area is the
Bedford branch of the Boston & Maine, from the Alewife area in
Cambridge to Bedford A cyclist in Bedford, using the most
direct route available , now must travel 11. 5 miles through 100
intersections to reach the Alewife area The proposed Minuteman
Bikeway will reduce that to 11 miles through 16 intersections,
only 11 of which have any significant traffic
Building a railroad right-of-way bicycle path in any part of
the metropolitan Boston area will certainly increase bicycle use
for commuting and ocher transportation But if this type of
construction could be done in only one area , the northwest
corridor from Cambridge through Arlington, Lexington , and Bedford
would be a logical first choice because traffic counts indicate
that existing bicycle use is higher there than in other
corridors The Minuteman Bikeway will therefore serve a large
number of present users as well as attract new bicyclists
4
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3 BENEFITS
3.1 Projected Use
Traffic projections for the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway are
impressive The MAPC report [1} predicts an average of 15, 000
daily trips and 17,000, 000 annual bicycle-miles by 1987,
resulting in an annual reduction of over 5 million miles traveled
by motor vehicles. These figures were obtained from counts of
current bicycle traffic in the same corridor on a cold autumn
day, by applying some fairly conservative assumptions about
increased use , weather conditions, and driving habits; actual use
may well be be a good deal higher than the predictions
Becauaa -:an, thousands of commuters live within easy
bicycling distance of the new Alewife Station, the bikeway will
contribute significantly to increased ridership on the Red Line
3 2 Energy and Air Quality
Construction of the Minuteman Bikeway will produce both
individual and regional benefits It is clear that the
individual saves money and derives substantial health benefits
from using his own power At the regional level, the MAPC' s
figures [1] indicate that the bikeway will save about 255,000
gallons of fuel annually by 1987 (this estimate includes only
bicycle trips made instead of motor vehicle trips, not trips that
are currently made by bicycle) , for an annual savings of about
$535,000 If this figure is applied to a twenty-year period, the
savings are on the order of $10,000 ,000 , about nine times the
proposed expenditure of Bikeway Bond funds 2 The bikeway will be
spatially removed from motor vehicles , yielding improved air
2The price per gallon for 1987 assumes a 7% increase per year
from the present $1. 40/gallon The 1987 annual dollar savings
can be considered appropriate as an estimate of a twenty year
average because as the price of gasoline continues to rise, so
does the fuel efficiency of automobiles
5
quality for cyclists A separation of even twenty feet from
motor vehicles is significant in decreasing carbon monoxide
levels This is particularly important for bicyclists , since the
body becomes less efficient at taking in oxygen as it exercises
Thus, a greater volume of air and the contaminants contained
therein are taken into the lungs of those who exercise
At the regional level, the expected decrease in dependence
on motor vehicles will have a measurable impact on air pollution
In particular , the MAPC' s calculations predict 207 fewer tons of
carbon monoxide and 12 fewer tons of hydrocarbons in the air for
the year 1987
3 3 Safety
The Minuteman Bikeway' s most important contribution will be
the elimination of many of the hazards for cyclists As
indicated above , an 11 5-mile trip through 100 intersections will
become an 11-mile ride through 16 intersections Also eliminated
will be the hazards created by parked vehicles
In a twenty-month period (Match 1976 to October 1977) , 23
bicycle-motor vehicle accidents were reported on Massachusetts
Avenue in Arlington [3] Of these, the cause of fifteen were
identified The hazards that led to 75 percent of those
accidents would be eliminated by this bicycle highway, and the
hazards that led to the remaining 25% would be significantly
reduced
In Lexington, the numbers of bicycle-motor vehicle accidents
reported for the years 1973 to 1977 ranged from 25 to 34 , with an
average of 29 per year [4] The 1976 and 1977 accidents were
mapped, and it was found that almost 50 percent of all these
accidents occurred on one corridor Massachusetts Avenue and
Bedford Street The Minuteman Bikeway runs parallel to this
route and would result in most bicyclists choosing to avoid those
busy arterials
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4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway will be a regional commuter/
transportation bicycle highway constructed on 11 miles of the
abandoned B&M Railroad right-of-way known as the Bedford branch
As shown on the map, the western terminus is near South Road in
Bedford (extensions along two other abandoned rights-of-way are
discussed below in Section 8) Traversing major industrial areas
in Bedford and Lexington, it crosses Hartwell Avenue near Maguire
Road and passes over Route 128 Crossing Bedford Street near
Sunnyknoll Avenue , it makes an arc through conservation land and
then runs adjacent to Massachusetts Avenue through Lexington and
Arlington At Arlington Center it crosses Massachusetts Avenue,
skirts Spy Pond, and passes under Route 2 , terminating at the new
Alewife Station of the Red Line in Cambridge
This route will provide safe, convenient bicycle access to a
wide variety of major and minor attractors, including the
following
o Bedford Center
o Wiggins Avenue industrial area
o Raytheon Missile Systems Division
o Hanscom/Hartwell industrial area
o Lexington Center
o East Lexington shopping areas
o MBTA bus terminal at Arlington Heights
o Arlington Heights
o Arlington Center
o MBTA Red Line terminus at Alewife Brook
o Fresh Pond industrial complex
o Fresh Pond Mall
o Numerous other schools, businesses, parks, etc
7
Traffic congestion and parking at these points is already a
serious problem; this fact and the manifest desire of many people
in the area to use bicycles for transportation suggest that the
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway will be very heavily traveled
In order to accommodate the expected volume of commuter
traffic, the bikeway will be 12 feet wide and solidly
constructed This will also allow for access by police and fire
vehicles, street-sweeping equipment, and snowplows Lighting
will be provided , since evening commuters must travel in the dark
during about half of the year Although use is certain to
decrease in the winter, we anticipate sufficient traffic to
justify snow removal
Access to the bikeway will be readily available at all 16
grade crossings In addition, access ramps will be provided at
those underpasses and overpasses where the terrain permits , and
at other appropriate locations
Bicycle access and parking at Alewife Station will be
particularly important, and the CTF intends to work with the MBTA
to help ensure that adequate facilities are made available
8
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5 CONSTRUCTION COST
The MAPC estimate [1] of construction costs for the
Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, including rail/tie removal,
intersection improvements, and lighting , was $1,520 ,000 in 1980
dollars It now appears that only $1,123,000 of Bikeway Bond
funds will be required The balance will be provided through an
innovative combination of volunteer labor, donated equipment,
sale of the rails and ties, local in-kind services, and public
fund-raising We propose to count the value of these efforts
(approximately $500,000) as part of the local share of
expenditures
The private efforts and fund-raising aje being organized by
the Cycling Transportation Foundation (CTF) in close cooperation
with officials of the four towns. The latter, of course, hold
the ultimate responsibility for the project Local fiscal
constraints necessitate this innovative combination of public and
private efforts, which is very much in the spirit of Proposition
2 1/2
The MDC' s planned Mill Brook Valley interceptor sewer will
follow the same right-of-way as the bikeway through most of
Lexington If funding for the sewer is obtained in time, the two
construction projects will be coordinated If not, we have been
advised that the bikeway will not represent any significant
impediment to the subsequent construction of the sewer , which is
to be located at the extreme edge of the right-of-way
5 1 Clearing and Grubbing
Some sections of the right-of-way are quite overgrown and
must be cleared before construction or even rail/tie removal can
commence. Other sections will require less extensive clearing.
The CTF has arranged for a brush-cutting machine to be made
available at no cost and this task will be undertaken locally
with voluntary labor
3See Appendix A
9
Estimated value $15 , 000 , based on 3 weeks ' work at
$125/hr
5 2 Rail and Tie Removal
Removal of the existing rails and ties was estimated in the
MAPC report (1) to cost $385,000 . Although most of the ties are
badly deteriorated and the rails are a relatively light-weight
stock , it appears that they do have sufficient salvage value to
cover the cost of taking them up
The CTF has arranged for a track removal machine and crew to
be made available at cost, about $75 ,000 This will be funded by
selling the scrap iron, the current value of which is
approximately $75,000 ($54/ton x 125 tons/mile x 11 miles) . A
few of the 29,000 ties may have some resale value, and others can
probably be used to line the path Any surplus resulting from
the sale of ties or from an improvement in the scrap metal market
will be placed in a trust fund administered by the towns, ' to be
used in part for design/engineering and in part to defray the
later costs of maintenance
In addition, the CTF will arrange to have a few rail
sections cut into Minuteman Bikeway Bookends, suitably inscribed
and numbered , and sold to commuters and other supporters of the
project The net proceeds of these sales (estimated at $20-
40 , 000) and other private donations anticipated by the CTF will
be used to supplement the trudt fund
Estimated value $385 , 000 , based on the MAPC' s original
estimate .
5. 3 Design, Engineering, and Miscellaneous Services
The design and engineering studies will be carried out by
engineering staff from the towns , supplemented with volunteer
4Special legislation to allow this action is being examined.
10
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efforts organized by the CTF The trust fund (see above) will be
available to cover out-of-pocket expenses This is valued at
about 6% of the total, or $65, 000
i
The towns will also provide traffic control, permits,
inspections , and other services, including road repairs when the
rails are removed at grade crossings These items are valued at
$35 , 000
Estimated value $100 ,000
5 4 Grading and Surfacing
•
A preliminary inspection of the right-of-way has indicated
that much of the original ballast has disappeared and major re-
grading will be necessary We are assuming here that a 6-inch
course of stone or gravel will be required for the entire
distance , but we are hopeful that this can be reduced
significantly when the track is removed and the condition of the
roadbed is more precisely known Soil samples will be taken to
determine just how much new gravel is required
Because this bikeway will carry a great deal of traffic, it
must have a high-quality, long-lasting surface To this end, we
are proposing a 3-inch course of hot mix asphalt Wb believe
that the usual 1 5-inch wearing surface can be omitted, provided
a dense grade of stone is used in the asphalt
Experience elsewhere has shown that a pavement width of 12
feet is necessary to accommodate safely the traffic volume
anticipated on the Minuteman Bikeway In addition, this width
will allow access to street cleaning and snow removal equipment
and to police and fire vehicles, as necessary
Adjusting the figures in the R S Means handbook [2] by 10%
to get 1982 prices , the cost per square yard will be about $1 36
for the 6 inches of stone or gravel and $5 32 for the 3-inch
course of asphalt Since the asphalt is 12 feet wide (7040
sq yd /mi ) and the gravel base is 14 feet wide (8213 sq yd /
mi ) , this comes to about $49 ,000 per mile, or $540 , 000 for the
entire 11 miles A small reduction of this figure may be
possible if some of the work can be done as part of the MBTA tail
track construction adjacent to the Alewife terminus
Estimated cost $540 , 000
11
5 5 Bridge Improvements and Access Ramps
Some upgrading of bridges and underpasses will be necessary
to render them suitable for bicycle traffic. This will generally
include a smooth riding surface, some form of safety barrier , and
access ramps from adjacent local streets where the terrain
permits
We estimate the cost of this work to be $5000 for each of
the seven bridges, plus about $15 , 000 each for three access
ramps
Estimated cost $80 , 000
5 6 Signs and Pavement Markings
There are 16 grade crossings, each requiring a pair of
"Bicycle Crossing" signs on the roadway and a pair of "Stop"
signs on the bikeway itself Pavement markings include "Stop
Ahead" signs on the bikeway surface and a cross-hatched area on
the roadway crossing This comes to about $5000 , plus another
$2000 for other signs directing cyclists to the path, and we will
add another $3000 for other contingencies
Estimated cost $10 ,000
5 .7 Landscaping and Barriers
Landscaping costs will be minimized by planning ahead and
ensuring that the clearing and grubbing is done selectively The
principal cost will then be for topsoil and seeding of rye and
other low-cost, low-maintenance grasses Some additional
expenditures will be required for trees and shrubs, particularly
near intersections and access ramps Based on advice from the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management regarding
their experience with the Cape Cod Rail Trail, we have budgeted
$10 ,000 per mile
Guard rails will be needed alongside steep embankments and
at the approaches to bridges The R. S. Means handbook [2] lists
a cost of $9 35 per lineal foot using treated timber 4x8 posts.
We have assumed about a mile of lighter timber suitable for a
12
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bikeway at $6/foot, which comes to $31, 000 Steel or concrete
barriers to limit vehicular access are estimated to cost $1, 000
at each of the 16 grade crossings and 3 access ramps, adding
another $19 ,000
Estimated cost $160 ,000
5 8 Lighting
Because of the heavy commuter traffic expected on the
bikeway and the early darkness during nearly half of the year ,
lighting will be required Moreover , lighting will provide an
important deterrent to vandalism and other objectionable
behavior
Various options for lighting are under active investigation
at the moment (see Appendix D) This will include tests to
determine which areas receive adequate lighting from adjacent
street lights and other sources Our preliminary estimate
assumes a cost of about $1 , 200 per light fixture ( including
installation and wiring) , a 290-foot spacing , and coverage of 8
of the 11 miles, for a total of $250 , 000 This estimate will be
revised as more information is obtained
Estimated cost $250 , 000
5 9 Bottom Line
Summing the above cost estimates, we have $1,040 , 000
Adding 8% for contingencies, the total proposed expenditure from
the Bikeway Bonds is $1, 123 ,000 The local share, consisting of
clearing and grubbing, rail/tie removal, design/engineering , and
other in-kind services, is valued at $500, 000
These figures compare favorably with the nearly identical
cost ($1, 048,000) to build 19 miles of the Cape Cod Rail Trail
(see Appendix C) Although the Cape Cod bikeway is longer than
this one, it is eight feet wide and hence contains only 19% more
pavement, and it is built on sand, requiring very little gravel
base It is also intended for daytime recreational use and has
no lighting
13
6 RIGHT-OF-WAY
6 1 Ownership
The Bedford Branch of the B&M is currently owned by the
MBTA Proceedings to declare a permanent abandonment of the
right-of-way have been under way in Federal District Court for
some time , and are expected to be completed shortly. At that
time, the towns will formally request a long-term lease of the
right-of-way from the MBTA The lease will be written so as to
protect the MBTA' s options in the corridor
6 2 '?nintenance
Proper maintenance of any public facility is crucial to its
success The maintenance of a bikeway consists generally of the
following five activities
1. Cutting and clearing of trees, and shrubs
2 Sweeping
3 Snow plowing
4 General repairs such as repainting pavement markings
and repair of signs
5 Power and replacement of lights
The MAPC' s cost estimates [1] for these activities, based on
typical highway costs per mile , added up to over $25,000 per
year . We have revised these estimates as follows , based on‘ a
two-way trip of 22 miles Typical equipment costs were supplied
by the Lexington Engineering Department Lighting costs assume
175-watt lamps at a 200-foot spacing for 8 of the 11 miles at 7
cents/kilowatt-hour for 4 hours/day, plus $50 for lamp
replacement every 22,000 hours on the average (see Appendix D)
14
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1 Cutting $30/hr , 1 mi/hr , 1 time/yr = $ 660/year
2 Sweeping $70/hr , 5 mi/hr, 3 times/yr = $ 924/year
3 Plowing $30/hr , 10 mi/hr , 10 times/yr = $ 660/year
4 General repair 1/4 of highway figure = $1672/year
5 Lighting $21/light, 26 lights/mi, 8 mi = $4368/year
TOTAL $8284/year
Assuming that these costs are proportional to mileage, the
annual maintenance cost for each community will be as follows
Arlington (4 0 miles) $3012
Bedford (1 0 miles) $ 753
Lexington (5 5 miles) $4142
Cambridge (0 5 miles) $ 377
These maintenance costs will be reduced further by the
creation of a trust fund (see Section 5 2 above) to pay for parts
and materials If necessary, the CTF will also organize
volunteer labor to carry out some of the maintenance
We anticipate that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will
be signed by the four communities and the Massachusetts D P W ,
formalizing the communities ' commitment to certain schedules and
standards of maintenance The same agreement should contain a
provision prohibiting motor vehicles from using the bikeway
6 3 Liability
Liability will be the responsibility of the towns holding
the lease This is not expected to pose any unusual problems,
since it is not significantly different from other town-held
facilities According to a recent MAPC study [5] , municipalities
need only exercise "ordinary care" and refrain from "willful,
wanton, or reckless misconduct"
15
7 LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway is intended for bicycles
only, and all motorized vehicles will be explicitly prohibited
Occasional use by pedestrians and roller skaters is not expected
to be a problem, and joggers are likely to prefer the dirt
surface adjacent to the pavement
Automobiles will be excluded by means of locked posts at
grade crossings and elsewhere Exclusion of motorcycles will be
enforced by the local police in each community
7 1 Community Concerns
Because there are existing problems with motorcycles along
parts of the right-of-way, some local police officials and
abutters have expressed apprehension about the project
Consequently, the CTF has discussed this issue with a number of
people who are associated with over 100 miles of off-road
bikeways on Cape Cod and in the Washington, D C area Their
remarks were uniformly encouraging and included no reports of
increased motorcycle traffic or other law enforcement problems
On the contrary, there is often less motorcycle activity after a
bikeway is built
Significantly , the following consistent pattern was observed
in the experiences of the peopld we contacted When an off-road
bikeway is first proposed , there is usually some apprehension on
the part of abutters and police , primarily over a possible
increase in motorcycle use (the area in question often has a
motorcycle problem well before a bikeway exists) Once the
bikeway is completed , the police are generally pleased with the
situation and find their job easier because they have much better
access to the area. Moreover , illegal motorcycle use and related
incidents typically decrease. We learned of no cases where the
predicted problems actually materialized
Several different explanations have been offered for the
observed reductions in motorcycle use One is that regular
bicycle traffic discourages those who seek deserted areas,
another is that paved surfaces are unsuitable for trail bikes ,
and a third is that increased police accessibility deters illegal
behavior Whatever the explanation, there is every reason to
expect a similar decrease in motorcycle use of the BSM right-of-
way once the Minuteman Bikeway is built
16
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A letter from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Management regarding the Cape Cod Rail Trail is included as
Appendix B In addition, first-hand accounts may be obtained
from any of the following
o David Fisher of the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Management (727-4704)
o Chief James Ehrhart of the Brewster Police Department
(896-7011)
o Captain Chester Landers of the Orleans Police Department
(225-0117)
o Chips Johnson of the Montgomery County, Maryland ,
Transportation Department (301-251-2145)
o Captain Baxson of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Park
Police (301-565-7504)
o Tom DeHaven of the National Park Service in Washington,
D C (202-523-5556)
o Jim Redmond , superintendent of the Rock Creek Park in
Washington, D C (202-426-6833)
o Eileen Kadesh, District Coordinator for Bikeways in the
Washington, D C , Transportation Department
(202-727-5906)
17
8 CONCLUSION
8 1 Community Support
Public enthusiasm for the bikeway is widespread, consistent
with the dramatic increase in bicycle use for transportation that
has occurred in recent years Broadly-based community support
has been demonstrated by over 80 people who turned out for the
MAPC' s public meeting in Lexington on May 28 , 1981, and
overwhelmingly endorsed the project, as well as by hundreds of
others who have pledged their support at street fairs and other
local events
The breadth of community support is also reflected in the
unanimous endorsement of the project by the Arlington, Bedford,
and Lexington Boards of Selectmen, the Cambridge City Council,
and various town boards and committees
8 . 2 Future Connections
The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway will provide the basis for a
network of bikeways connecting Boston and Cambridge with towns to
the north and west For example , this bikeway can tie in with
the Paul Dudley White Bike Path along the Charles River to
provide one of the most extensive urban bicycle transportation
systems in the country Possible connections in this network
include the following
1 Alewife to Paul Dudley White Bike Path
The important connection of the Minuteman Bikeway and the
Paul Dudley White Bike Path should be studied thoroughly to
evaluate alternative routes from Alewife to the Charles
Although there is no simple identifiable corridor , there are
several properties and roadways that could provide focal points
for connector paths (i .e , Fresh Pond, Mt Auburn Cemetery,
Buckingham Brown & Nichols, Shady Hill) . The Fresh Pond area is
a highly congested and dangerous area to bicyclists which should
receive more serious bikeway attention
18
2 Alewife to Porter Square and Davis Square
These two densely populated areas could benefit measurably
from radial extensions of the proposed bikeway Off-road
possibilities exist for the right-of-way over the new Red Line
extension from Davis Square to Alewife and for the existing DEM
property from Alewife to Porter Square Both Cambridge and
Somerville have expressed a desire to see multiple use of the Red
Line corridor .
3 Bedford Center to Concord Center and Billerica
The B&M' s Bedford Branch right-of-way continues west from
Bedford Center and terminates south of the Assabet River near
Concord Center This possible connection could provide access to
the bikeway for large numbers of potential commuters in the
Concord , Bedford, and Carlisle region There is already a stone
dust bike path leading north toward Bedford Springs and Billerica
from the South Road terminus of the Minuteman Bikeway; this could
be paved
REFERENCES
1. "Minuteman Commuter Bikeway Study" , Metropolitan Area
Planning Council, March 1981
2 R S Means, 1981 Building Construction Cost Data
3 . Arlington Bikeways Committee, "Proposal for a Bicycle Lane
on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington" , December 1977
4 Town of Lexington, "Bikeway Proposal" , January 1978
5 Metropolitan Area Planning Council, "Inter-Town Trail
Project" , Fall 1980
19
APPENDIX A
THE CYCLING TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION
The Cycling Transportation Foundation (CTF) is a non-profit
foundation formed by a group of dedicated individuals with the
common vision that bicycle transportation has an important role
to play in greater Boston Its most immediate goal is to
accelerate construction of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway through
a unique and creative combination of private donations, local
effort, and public funding Its long-range goal is to create a
network of commuter bikeways and other facilities that will make
bicycle transportation as common here as it is in California,
Europe, and elsewhere
The CTF Board of Directors includes Senator Paul Tsongas ,
whose advocacy of bicycle transportation has been heard on the
floor of the U S Congress; Dr Jean Mayer , president of Tufts
University and a strong bicycle supporter ; Mrs Paul Dudley
White , a prime mover in construction of the first major Boston
bikeway; and Prof David Gordon Wilson of M I T , developer of
the recumbent bicycle and a nationally known authority on human-
powered vehicles
Others on the CTF Board who contributed to writing this
proposal include Joel Bard, General Counsel of the Metropolitan
Area Planning Council, Cathy Buckley of the Central
Transportation Planning Staff, Dave Fisher of the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Management, Tom Fortmann of Bolt
Beranek & Newman Inc , Dick Fryberger of the Harvard University
Planning Office, Alan McClennen, Director of Planning and
Community Development for Arlington, John Scalley and Howard
Gilbertsen of Transportation Consulting & Construction Inc , Eric
Vogt of the Boston Consulting Group, and Rich Withers of the
M.I T Lincoln Laboratory
20
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Mr Thomas Fortman APPENDIX B
5 Harrington Rd. EXPERIENCE WITH CAPE COD RAIL TRAIL
Lexington, Mass 4
Dear Tom.
As requested, I reviewed the current status of the Cape Cod Rail
Trail (C C R T ) in view of useage, maintenance and management I
believe that there are valuable parallels between the CCR T and
the Minuteman Bikeway Project A few points should be remembered
when reading the following summary First, the C C R T is a
recreational bike trail, over 95% of its use is for day time
recreation There are only a few handful of commuters Second,
the trail is brand new, so we have not had to face the larger term
maintenance problems, and finally, only 7 9 of the total 19 6 miles
is officially open at this writing
Useage. The CCR T received exceptional use this summer Head
counts by patrols totaled 12,431 users for the month of July alone
This averages out to a little over 400 users per day over the entire
month As the trail becomes more well known and the second half of
the trail is completed, use may increase
A breakdown of the individual users evidenced 11,123 bicyclists,
1,288 walkers and 20 equestrians Obviously the head count is an estimate
of use because the patrols were not able to cover the entire trail all day
The linear aspect of the trail with unregulated access and entry points
will yield conservative use estimates
Maintenance Maintenance is performed by the Department of Environmental
Management from the Division of Forests and Park's Nickerson State Park in
Brewster One supervisor and two summer conservation helpers patrolled the
trail daily this summer The patrol found most of their duties to be
"clean-up" oriented. Picking up litter, branches and sweeping sand washed
onto the trail were the major maintenance responsibilities
21
Again, since the trail is new, no major maintenance problems were
experienced In the future, pavement replacement and patching, fence
repair, erosion control, clearing (vegetation), sign replacement and
road painting will probably be needed.
All maintenance problems are officially the department's responsibility
We are, however, looking into local aid and assistance from community
groups We have found that local and neighborhood support can be an
invaluable asset in the delivery of recreational services Local garden
clubs on the Cape have volunteered to help with plantings along the trail
Management C C R.T is owned and managed by the DEM's Division of
Forests and Parks All day to day maintenance is handled by the staff
at Nickerson State Park in Brewster and all management policy and
decisions are coordinated through the Boston Office
The Cape Cod Rail Trail Advisory Committee, a subgroup of the Cape
Cod Joint Transportation Committee provides the official avenue for
local input and representation in the decision making process on C C R.T
related issues All the towns through which the trail passes are
represented on the committee
The Department maintains a good working relationship with all the
involved towns but we shoulder all the responsibility for policing and
emergency calls The local police will respond if assistance is requested
by DEM after an initial DEM response
At every road crossing there is .a single locked post designed to prevent
unauthorized vehicular access The Department has keys to the posts , as
well as, the local police, fire and emergency agencies This system does
not keep out motorcycles , but regular patrols and citizen enforcement helps
to reduce occurrences
Law Enforcement The enforcement of all the rules and regulatiops for
the Rail Trail are the immediate responsibility of the Commonwealth. DEM,
as the Commonwealth's agent enforces the rules as much as possible The
state police can be called on in the event of an emergency
Local law enforcement agencies handle requests from DEM, and respond
to phone calls when necessary Captain Chester A. Landers, Orleans Police
Department and a member of the Rail Trail Advisory Board, would be happy to
talk to concerned officials about the trail and its impacts on his town.
He can be reached at 617-255-0117 in Orleans
To snmmArize local enforcement efforts, the level of effort has
been relatively small. The need for response to illegal vehicular use has
dropped since construction of the trail,as off road vehicles prefer unpaved
surfaces and have had to look elsewhere for off road trails The number
of complaints from abutting landowners concerning niose problems hail not
increased due to the trail
-3- p
Attached for your information is acopy of the ,agreement between D E M.
and the five local communities As you can see, there was a specific acknowledge^
ment of the trail's importance to the region and a general offer of assistance
in enforcement and emergency matters
Sincerely,
David W Fisher
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AugustO27, 1981 ![
APPENDIX C
Cathy Buckley COST FIGURES FROM CAPE COD RAIL TRAIL
Central Transport' Lion Planning Staff
27 School St !,
Boston, Mass, 02108
Cathy
In response to your inquiries concerning a cost breakdown for
clearing and construction of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, excluding
acquisition costs , a summary follows
Total trail mileage 19 6
Total off road mileage 17 9
Total bikeway 1 7
Clearing Contract $18,328 51
Clearing/mile $ 1,023
Contract #1 (7 9 miles total; 6 3 bikepath, 1 4 roadside)
Nickerson S P North to Locust Rd including underpass at Rte 6A
Total contract $369,209 53
cost/mile $ 58,601
Contract #2 (11 4 miles ; 11 bikepath, 4 roadside)
Nickerson S.P South to Rt 134, S Dennis
Total Contract $660,000
cost/mile $ 57,894
Average cost/ft $12
With rising costs of materials and labor, the estimate $60,000 per
mile for development cost will inevitably increase I would recommend a
$62,000 per mile cost estimate
24
In response to your inquiry concerning DEM's possible management of
the bikepath, we would require enabling legislation giving us jurisdiction
over the path within the Metropolitan Parks District Also staffing
and money for maintenance would have to be funded.
I hope this blear-down ot costs helps If I can help in any way,
please do not hesitate to call
Sincerely,
David W Fisher
4
APPENDIX D
LIGHTING ESTIMATES
Lighting of a commuter bikeway in New England is essential
because of the early darkness during nearly half of the year
Moreover , lighting can play an important part in discouraging
vandalism and other offenses On the other hand, because the
Minuteman Bikeway bikeway passes through a variety of residential
areas , the lighting must be sufficiently unobtrusive that
abutters will not be disturbed by it
In order to satisfy these conflicting aims, we are
recommending relatively low-intensity lighting at a somewhat
lower height than the 30-foot standard for streets and highways,
with placement and shielding designed to light only the bikeway
and minimize the effect on nearby residences In addition, the
lights should be shut off early in the evening in order to
conserve energy and avoid annoying neighbors
Just as this proposal was being published, we made contact
with the Engineering Department in Davis , California, where a
variety of bike path lighting has been installed in recent years
Mr Chris Schneiter made available some figures that are about to
be incorporated in a comparative study of lighted bike paths in
that area, and he will send a copy of the full report as soon as
it is published The examples range from very bright (at the
University) to inadequate ( in a park) , and it appears that
acceptable intensities and uniformity ratios can be obtained
relatively easily with 70-watt, high-pressure sodium lamps in
Type II luminaires mounted approximately 17 feet high and 125
feet apart
The installation and maintenance costs per mile of this new
option are similar to those quoted in the body of this proposal
As more information is obtained, we will revise the estimates
accordingly
26