Feasibility Study of the

McKnight Community Trail

September 9, 2014
McKnight Neighborhood Council
Daniel Biggs, RLA
City of
Springfield
Department of
Parks & Recreation

Who is Weston & Sampson?

Full-service multi-disciplinary consulting

Over 420 personnel, with areas of expertise including:
Landscape Architecture
Transportation/ Infrastructure
Master Planning
Site/ Civil Engineering
Construction Inspection

Water/ Wastewater Engineering

Environmental Compliance
Land Surveying & Mapping
Geotechnical & Structural

Why are we here tonight?

1. Review Goals & Objectives of Study
2. Existing Conditions along Route

Property Ownership
Environmental Resources
Structures & Utilities

3. Proposed Alignment

Segments
Amenities
Preliminary Phasing/ Costs

4. Next Steps

Project Goal & Objectives

To analyze and examine the feasibility of a rail-trail through the
McKnight Neighborhood along the former
Highland Division Rail line.
Objectives
1. Review existing corridor for opportunities and
constraints.
2. Develop overall masterplan with alternative alignments.
3. Develop preliminary costs, and phasing strategy.
4. Identify future steps and procedures for implementation.

Modes of Travel

Cost to commute for one year

$25,000
$20,904
$20,000
$15,000

Assumes:
4 mile trip at rush hour
$3/gallon gas
$100/month for car parking
$20/month bike expenses

$10,000
$5,000
$1,450
$0
car

transit

$240
personal bike

Chicopee
Five Mile Pond

1/2 mile

Medical Ctr
Springfield
College`

Forest Park

Why is this important?

1. A third of the population
dont drive cars.
2. 40% of U.S. adults say they
would commute by bike if
safe facilities available.
3. Walking is the most popular
physical activity in the U.S.
4. 43 million Americans ride
bikes (more than participate
in basketball, golf, running,
soccer).

But why is it REALLY important?

Over 50% of Mass Middle and
High School students are
overweight or obese.
Across the US, annually 300,000
deaths associated with being
overweight or obese.
Walking or bicycling for 30
minutes a day produces
measurable results.

McKnight Community Trail

Turn This

Into this.

McKnight Community Trail

From Armory Street to Rebecca M. Johnson School

Oak
Grove
Cemetery

Rebecca M.
Johnson School

Property Ownership

PanAm Railways Armory St. to Bay St.

True Vine Church Bay St. to Church
City of Springfield Church to Rebecca M. Johnson School.
Harding Brent Trustee Rebecca M. Johnson Sch to State St.
Oak Grove
Cemetery

Rebecca M.
Johnson School

Environmental Resources

Wetlands
Threatened & Endangered Species
Hazardous Materials
Historic/ Cultural Resources
Oak Grove
Cemetery

Wetland Area

Wetland &
Stream Area

McKnight Historic District

Rebecca
Johnson
School

Structures & Utilities

St. James Avenue Underpass

Glen Road Bridge
Sprint PCS Fiber line
Buckeye Partners Gas line
Oak Grove
Cemetery

Spring PCS
Fiber line
St. James Avenue
Underpass
Buckeye
Partners
Gas Line
Glen
Road
Bridge

Rebecca M.
Johnson School

Alignment Segments

Segment A Rebecca M. Johnson School to Bay Street

Segment B Bay Street to St. James Avenue
Segment C St. James Avenue to Glen Road
Segment D Glen Road to Armory Street
Oak Grove
Cemetery

Rebecca M.
Johnson
School

Segment A

Bay Street
Crossing

Rebecca M.
Johnson to
Bay Street

10 wide
Asphalt Trail

True Vine
Trailhead

Rebecca M.
Johnson
School

Rebecca
Trailhead

Rebecca M. Johnson Trailhead

Rebecca M. Johnson Trailhead

Bay Street Intersection

Segment B Bay St. to St. James Ave

Oak Grove
Cemetery

Oak Grove
Connection

`
`
St. James Ave.
Connection``

Berkeley St.
Connection

Bay Street
Crossing

St. James Avenue Connection

St. James Avenue Connection

Segment C St. James to Glen Rd.

St. James Ave.
Connection
Campus Pl.
Connection`

Glen Road
Connection`

Segment C Alignment Alternatives

Boardwalk

Terraced Trail

Segment D Glen Rd to Armory St

Glen Road
Bridge
Connection`

Glen Road
Trailhead
Armory St
Trailhead

Glen Road Bridge Area

Glen Road Bridge Area

Glen Road Trailhead

Armory Street Trailhead

Amenities

Trailhead

Fountains

Bike Racks

Benches

Trash/Recycling

Amenities

Lighting

Signage

Preliminary Phasing Strategy

Segment A Rebecca M. Johnson School to Bay Street

Segment B Bay Street to St. James Avenue
Segment C St. James Avenue to Glen Road
Segment D Glen Road to Armory Street
Oak Grove
Cemetery

Preliminary Cost Factors

Land Acquisition/ Easements

Environmental Constraints/Requirements
Utilities Avoidance/Relocation
Schedule - Timing of Implementation
Economic Conditions of Construction
Final Design

Preliminary Costs
Length

Budget
Cost

Segment A Rebecca M. Johnson School to Bay

Street

0.40 mi

$ 450,000

Segment B Bay Street to St. James Avenue

0.40 mi

$ 600,000

Segment C St. James Avenue to Glen Road

0.40 mi

$ 1,500,000

Segment

Inc. Boardwalk/Terrace Alternatives: $600,000 to 850,000 (0.30 mi)

Segment D - Glen Road to Armory Street

0.30 mi
Subtotal

$ 700,000

$ 3,250,000

Construction Contingency

$ 750,000

Design & Planning

$300,000

Preliminary Budget

$4,000,000 to
$5,000,000

Additional Recommendations
1. Develop a Friends of Group
2. Establish Maintenance Policy/Procedures
Trail Clean-up Days
Neighborhood Watch/Patrols

3. Invasive Species Management Strategy

Next Steps
Acquire Funding
Acquire Land/ Easement Rights
Prepare Field Investigations
Field Survey
Wetland Delineation
Geotechnical Investigation

Prepare Preliminary Design

Public Stakeholder Input
Final Design
Construction
Maintenance/Operations

Thank you for your time.

Questions?
Daniel Biggs, RLA
Weston & Sampson
biggsd@wseinc.com
518.463.4400
www.westonandsampson.com

Mike Tully
City of Springfield Parks Department
mtully@springfieldcityhall.com
413.886.5183
www.springfieldcityhall.com