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Resident urges Northampton to plow rail trails, press enforcement of sidewalk ordinance
Summary
At the Dec. 10 Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee meeting, Alex Bowman urged the city to plow rail trails through winter and to enforce the sidewalk ordinance to keep sidewalks passable; DPW said crews have demobilized contractors for winter but are treating the new separated bike lane with sidewalk equipment and salt.
Alex Bowman, a resident who spoke during public comment at the Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee meeting on Dec. 10, urged Northampton to “plow all rail trails in winter,” saying the paths are "an essential resource for transportation, recreation, health, and basic safety" and that winter maintenance is necessary so people on foot and on bikes are not forced closer to traffic.
The request extended to sidewalks: Bowman asked the city to use existing enforcement tools under the sidewalk ordinance so sidewalks are clear for people using mobility devices, parents with strollers and children walking to school. "We don't need new rules. We just need to use the ones we already have," he said.
Donna, a Department of Public Works representative, told the committee that the city's sidewalk contractor has been demobilized for winter and that crews completed most work on Florence Road and some work on North Elm Street. She said mill-and-overlay paving finished on many streets and that DPW is monitoring a trial separated bike lane near the high school where jersey barriers remain in place.
On winter clearing specifically, Donna said crews clear the roadway and "we're actually plowing it and we are de-icing it. We're treating it the same way we would treat a sidewalk." She asked committee members to solicit user feedback on how the barrier-separated lane is functioning in winter so staff can evaluate how the approach performs under snow and ice.
Committee members discussed how residents should report uncleared sidewalks. Donna said reports can be made to DPW or to the police and that an officer will follow up. Chair Carolyn Nish said the city's Disability Commission will include a reminder in upcoming tax-bill mailings about property owners' responsibility for clearing sidewalks.
The subcommittee did not adopt a new policy at the meeting. The record shows a mix of requests and operational updates: residents called for expanded winter maintenance on rail trails and stricter enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance, and DPW described current practices and asked for user feedback on the high-school separated lane trial. The committee will receive further updates as DPW and planning staff post UMass path-counting data and assess winter performance.
