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363 NORWOTTUCK TRAIL NOTICE OF INTENT package NOTICE OF INTENT Pursuant to MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS Chapter 131, Section 40A City of Northampton Wetland By-law, Chapter 24 Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton, MA. Prepared For: City of Northampton Planning Department 210 Main Street Northampton, MA. 01060 Prepared By: MS Transportation Systems, Inc. Consulting Engineers and Planners 300 Howard Street, Building #1 Framingham, MA. 01701 Tel.: (508) 620-2832 Fax: (508) 620-6897 July 31, 2005 Table of Contents Narrative List of Documents Notice of Intent USGS Topographical Quadrangle Map Habitats of Rare Wildlife and Vernal Pools Map Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Communities Map Division of Fisheries and Wildlife letter Appendix A: List of Abutters & Notification Form Appendix B: Stormwater Management Form Appendix C: Erosion and Sedimentation Control Procedures and Detail Narrative This section of the Norwottuck Rail Trail will extend from the existing bicycle trail at Bridge Street in Northampton approximately 3,900 meters. Initially the proposed rail trail is within Look Memorial Park then runs along a former railroad corridor heading northward, crossing Florence Street and terminating in the vicinity of the Northampton City Line with Williamsburg. The right-of-way is under the control of the City of Northampton. MassHighway is proposing to construct this project (MHD file #602885). This project involves a section of the bike path extension along an existing abandoned railroad bed (formerly Mass Electric Right-of-Way) starting from its link with the Manhan Rail Trail at Bridge Street (Sta. 0+07), and ending north of Florence Street (Station 38+90) in Northampton, MA a distance of 3.97 km (2.481 mi). This section of bike trail includes one (1) new bicycle/pedestrian bridge superstructure (#N-19-073) at an entranceway to Look Memorial Park and minor maintenance of existing masonry arch bridges at Arch Street and Beaver Brook that it crosses over. The bike path will be 3.0 meters wide with 0.6 meter graded grass shoulders on each side with 0.3 meter to 0.6 meter offsets to bike rails at select locations where slopes warrant the bicycle railing for safety purposes. In other select areas the graded shoulder is eliminated on one side at a time to reduce impacts on adjacent wetlands. The trail will cross at-grade the following existing streets: North Main Street (Route 9), and Florence Street as well as driveways within Look Memorial Park in Northampton. The project includes the rehabilitation/reconstruction of one existing railroad bridge superstructure (#N-19-073) and repointing of the stone masonry substructures. The two existing stone arch bridges will be reused as bicycle/pedestrian bridges to cross Arch Street and Beaver Brook in the City of Northampton. The rehabilitation of these bridges is limited to repointing (repairing the joints) of the existing masonry of the parapet walls, abutments and wing walls, installing timber bicycle railing. Bridge N-19-073 is a single span bridge with masonry abutments that will be repointed and the superstructure will be constructed using a timber deck and timber pedestrian safety rails. The project will include excavation, trail construction and paving with hot mix asphalt, bridge work, installation of safety railings, traffic signs and markings, installation of steel bollards, seeding unpaved graded areas, installation of erosion controls, and other appurtenances and incidental items as set forth in the proposal and required to complete the work. The project involves work within the 100’ Wetland Buffer Zone, which will consist of approximately 172,650 square feet of work. Refer to the summary sheet on the next page for the affected locations (station designations) and areas. The work in the 100’ Buffer Zone includes the construction of the 3.0 Meter wide paved bicycle trail and the associated clearing and grubbing, site grading, paving and loam and seeding. In order to mitigate any silt and erosion, hay bales and silt fence are being placed along the down slope side of the fill slopes. Additionally, calcium chloride and water will be applied as necessary to the exposed surfaces during the grading operations (prior to paving) to reduce the effects of wind erosion. The detail for the construction of the hay bales and silt fence erosion protection is shown on the plan. All disturbed areas adjacent to the paved trail will receive a 100mm layer of loam and be seeded. Document List Plan and Profile of Norwottuck Rail Trail July 2005 SHEET NO. DESCRIPTION 1 TITLE SHEET 2 LEGEND 3-4 KEY SHEETS 5 TYPICAL SECTIONS 6-33 GENERAL PLANS/PROFILES 34-35 DETAILS 36-37 SIGN & STRIPING PLANS 38 SIGN SUMMARY 39 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN 40-41 BRIDGE PLANS 42-60 CROSS SECTIONS Notice of Intent July 31, 2005 USGS Topographical Quadrangle Map Habitats of Rare Wildlife & Vernal Pools Map Division of Fisheries and Wildlife letter Appendix A List of Abutters & Notification Form Appendix B Stormwater Management Form Appendix C Erosion and Sedimentation Control Procedures and Detail Norwottuck Rail Trail Northampton, MA. Stormwater Management Standards 1. The proposed work has been designed to minimize stormwater runoff and avoid any point source discharges by not using any curb, edging, or berm at the edges of the paved bicycle path. Most runoff from the impervious surface will be in the form of sheet flows. Where runoff may be concentrated in ‘cut’ sections a ditch has been added on the low side of the trail. At the low end near the transition to ‘fill’ or embankment section inlets with deep sumps have been designed to intercept the runoff and discharge into leaching pits for recharge into the groundwater table. 3.e) Embankment Sections: Sheet flows which shed to the grassed shoulders and side slopes for surface infiltration. Cut Sections: A ditch has been added on the low side of the trail. At the low end of the profile near the transition to ‘fill’ or embankment section inlets with deep sumps have been designed to intercept the runoff and discharge into leaching pits for recharge into the groundwater table. 4.b) The proposed bicycle path has been designed to minimize any point source discharges by not using any curb, edging, or berm at the edges of the path. Any runoff from the impervious surface will be in the form of sheet flows which can shed to the grassed shoulders and stabilized side slopes allowing for surface infiltration. The existing vegetation beyond the limits of reconstructed slopes will also act as a natural buffer to the wetland area. Storm water runoff from cut sections will be collected in a ditch, conveyed to an inlet with a deep sump which will be connected leaching pit. 8. Sedimentation fence will be used between the limit of proposed slope work and the wetland area during construction.