Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials on June 12 presented a notice of intent for a paved, 10-foot shared-use path along the west side of Route 5 (Mount Tom Road) from the Manhan Rail Trail/Atwood Drive area to the East Hampton town line and then north to the I-91 interchange. The Northampton Conservation Commission closed the hearing and, later in the meeting, voted to apply the commission’s standard conditions to the project’s order of conditions.

Erica Larner, MassDOT wetlands and water-resources coordinator for linear projects, opened the presentation, saying the work would make “that connection” between the Manhan Rail Trail and recently constructed bicycle accommodations under an I-91 bridge project and would improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along a corridor that now lacks safe sidewalks. Keith Lincoln (Chapel Engineering) and other project engineers presented maps and cross sections showing resource areas, proposed impacts and mitigation measures. The project crosses bank, land under water, buffer zone, bordering land subject to flooding and floodplain along the Connecticut River/oxbow area.

Project specifics discussed in detail: the shared-use path is proposed at a 10-foot width for most of its length (MassDOT cited current Complete Streets guidance and internal design review as reasons to avoid narrowing); a 72-inch culvert that equalizes flows between the oxbow and the river will be extended about 10 feet with a new headwall to carry the path section; and the vast majority of the Northampton portion is within the mapped floodplain. MassDOT said the culvert cannot practically be upsized because roughly half of the existing culvert is under private railroad property and cannot be accessed; the department described the extension as a flood-equalization measure intended to reduce washouts.

Commissioners and staff asked technical questions about flood elevations (FEMA datum vs. NAVD88), elevations of roadway and catch basins, erosion controls for heavy precipitation events and whether construction would remain feasible when the river is high. MassDOT responded that survey and design use NAVD88 (a different datum than the FEMA 1927 datum), that standard MassDOT prequalified erosion-control practices will be used, and that some inundation in large storms is unavoidable. MassDOT also described stormwater controls where space allowed: grass conveyance swales with check dams in Northampton and an infiltration basin in East Hampton adjacent to the new parking lot.

Commissioners raised safety questions about the 10-foot width and whether an 8-foot width could reduce impervious area and disturbance. MassDOT and its engineers said they had considered narrower sections but that Complete Streets and MassDOT design review favor 10 feet to accommodate the range of users and to avoid design exceptions; where guardrail exists the path will normally run behind it, and where no guardrail is present the path will have a minimum 5-foot buffer from the roadway.

Right-of-way and property impacts were discussed: the largest permanent acquisition will be at property owned by Packaging Corporation of America, and a small acquisition near Atwood Drive for a bus shelter area is required. MassDOT said most other impacts will require temporary construction easements and that takings are in process and expected to be recorded at the 100% design stage. MassDOT said the project will be state-maintained once built.

MassDOT provided a timeline: advertisement is anticipated in late 2025 (November–December 2025), with construction beginning roughly six months after advertisement and the full project duration estimated at about two years. The department also noted invasive plants dominate much of the alignment and that construction would remove many invasives; MassDOT said it will follow statewide vegetation-management procedures.

At the meeting’s close, the commission voted to close the hearing (roll call unanimous) and later took a vote to apply its standard special conditions to the project’s order of conditions. The roll call on the standard-conditions motion recorded: Paul — yes; David — yes; Jeff — yes; Downey — no; Anne Mason — yes. The motion passed and the commission chair and staff noted staff will draft the final order for issuance within the 21-day period allowed under local procedures.