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Community Path Project Committee Meeting Recap: May 14, 2020

Posted on June 9, 2020July 6, 2020 by admin

On Thursday evening, May 14^th, 2020 the Community Path Project Committee (CPPC) held a virtual meeting and invited Nitsch Engineering to provide an update on the Preliminary Design for Phase 1 of the Belmont Community Path. We identified how feedback received from the community, MassDOT and the MBTA to date has been integrated into the design. Community comments such as the desire to maintain the existing vegetated screening and address existing flooding issues on properties along Channing Road have guided the development of the proposed path location and proposed drainage improvements. Comments from MassDOT and the MBTA were extremely helpful in understanding the MBTA’s preferred process for constructing the Alexander Avenue tunnel and providing guidance regarding the MBTA’s minimum offset requirements to accommodate railroad maintenance activities.

The next step in the design process is to prepare preliminary design plans that will be presented at an information meeting. The CPCC intends to hold a virtual Public Information Meeting at the end of June or early July for the design team to present the preliminary design.

We are very interested in receiving public comments. More information will be provided in the coming weeks about the Public Information Meeting, where to view the preliminary plans, how to provide comments, and how to complete the survey about the Community Path Project. The presentation from the May 14^th CPPC Meeting can be viewed here:

Belmont CPCC Meeting: May 14, 2020Download

Please note: The Concept Design Report dated February 6, 2020 was prepared prior to meetings with the MBTA and does not necessarily reflect the current design shown on the Preliminary Design Plans.

COVID-19 Project Update

Posted on April 2, 2020 by admin

The health and safety of our community is our top priority. As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to spread, we are following the recommendations of health experts and the Governor regarding “social distancing” and stay-at-home practices to help flatten the curve of the disease. All of us in Massachusetts have an important role to play in order to slow the transmission of the virus.

In terms of the Belmont Community Path Project this means:

The Public Information Meeting for the Belmont Community Path is on hold; we will provide an update once it has been scheduled.
The call for art has been extended until April 27^th. We are looking forward to receiving many creative ideas for the logo. https://belmontcommunitypath.com/2020/03/contribute-art/

For the most up to date information about COVID-19 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts text “COVIDMA” to 888-777 and for the state’s recommendations on maintaining your emotional health and well being during this time please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/maintaining-emotional-health-well-being-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

We hope you all stay healthy and safe!

Contribute Art for the Belmont Community Path Logo!

Posted on March 5, 2020April 2, 2020 by admin

The Belmont Community Path Project Committee is seeking artwork for a project log to be used on various materials throughout the project. All entries will be acknowledged on this website! Students are encouraged to submit art as an individual or as a group.

Deadline: April 29, 2020

How to Submit your Work:

Complete the form located at this webpage
Send an email of your work to pathcommitteelogo@gmail.com

For more information regarding this opportunity please see the original flier below:

Project Updates: What’s Been Done to Date

Posted on February 27, 2020 by admin

We are pleased to report that the Belmont Community Path project is well under way! Officially the project kicked-off back in September and since then we have made some major progress. The Field Survey is over 50% complete and continues to progress as we coordinate with the MBTA regarding right-of-way (ROW) access surrounding the train tracks. Thus far, we have conducted property line and deed research, contacted utility companies and acquired existing utility plans, and finished up acquiring the topography of the site. Meanwhile, we are working to prepare survey base plans and compiling all the information we have gathered into one plan that has the most up to date topography, property lines, and utility infrastructure within the project area. In mid-December we finalized the Wetland Delineation Report which was conducted along the north side of Royal Road. Throughout this initial information gathering and analysis stage of the project, we have been meeting with stakeholders and public officials in the Town of Belmont. Some groups we met with include The Belmont Historic District Commission, Middle/High School Building Committee, Department of Public Works, and the Fire / Police Department. In early February, we participated at a meeting with the student focus group at the Belmont High School to discuss the community path. The meeting generated some interesting ideas around biking and other modes of transportation within Belmont, path user groups and ideas for the path design including a possible installation of art i.e. near the school ground. We will be meeting with the MBTA shortly to discuss some project alternatives.

Stay tuned as we prepare for the first official public meeting later this spring in which we will share updates on the project design and the alternatives that will likely move forward in the design.

Recap of November 2019 Abutter Site Walk

Posted on February 27, 2020 by admin

Thank you to everyone who joined us on our site walk on November 16^th. About 30 neighbors abutting the future Community Path came out to gain an understanding of the project scope while also having the opportunity to voice their concerns about the project. Privacy, security, noise, drainage issues, and parking were the primary concerns that attendees mentioned. We’re working on design solutions some of which include setback requirements, screening, and vegetation. For those of you who were not able to attend, we were able to spend time investigating the site and neighboring properties, making longer stops at three points along with the project site. The walk began at the western end of the site at 17 Channing Street and continued to the Alexander Ave Underpass and concluded at the eastern end of the project area around 321 Channing Street. Several abutters invited the project team into their back yards to view the planned community path from their yards. Overall, this site walk offered a great opportunity for us to listen to the concerns of those neighboring the project and to address them as best we can. If you were not able to attend this event, there will be additional opportunities to voice concerns and gain a better understanding of the Belmont Community Path project in the near future. If you want to get in touch with us or have any more design questions or would like to keep updated on any news, please send us a message or subscribe for updates in the sidebar on the right!

Views of Project Site

Join Us for a Site Walk!

Posted on November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 by admin

Have you wanted to know more about the proposed Belmont Community Path? Join us for a site walk to give feedback, ask questions, and learn more about ways to get engaged in the design process for Phase 1A (Brighton Street to Clark Street Bridge) and Phase 1B (Alexander Avenue Underpass) of the Belmont Community Path.

When: Saturday, November 16th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Rain Date: Saturday, November 23rd, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Who: Abutters to the proposed Belmont Community Path & representatives from the Town and Nitsch Engineering.

Where: Meet us for the whole walk or just a portion, at the following locations:

9:00 – 10:00 am: 17 Channing Road
10:30 – 11:30 am: At the crossing of 159 Alexander Ave & Channing Rd
1:00 – 2:00 pm: 321 Channing Road

Please note that, for safety reasons, we will not be walking along the train tracks. We will walk along Channing Road instead.

Welcome to the Belmont Community Path Website!

Posted on November 7, 2019November 11, 2019 by admin

As the Belmont Community Path will help connect your community, we hope this website will connect you with the project information you’re looking for.

Project updates and information about ways to get engaged in the project will be posted regularly, so stay tuned!

To receive an email when the website is updated with new information, please subscribe via the mini-form in the sidebar.