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Planning director debuts interactive transportation story map; BWALT consultant work re‑scoped to examine alternative routes and wetlands
Summary
Planning Director Jenny Gingris showed an interactive 'story map' of current, design‑phase and future transportation projects and said the BWALT consultant's scope has been shifted to evaluate alternative routes and wetlands impacts near the wastewater treatment plant; staff expect the regulatory analysis in the coming months and said grant applications for 100% design were submitted.
Planning Director Jenny Gingris presented an interactive story map that catalogs current and proposed transportation projects across Westborough, grouping projects by phase (concept, design, construction, future opportunity) and including funding sources, parties involved and links to project pages.
Gingris highlighted downtown improvements, Fisher/Smith Valve Parkway works, East Main Street corridor design work and sections of the BWALT shared‑use path. On BWALT specifically, she said the development team and staff agreed to re‑scope the remaining consultant work to evaluate an alternate route around the solar field adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant and to examine approaches to minimize bordering vegetated wetlands impacts. Gingris said the consultant (GM2) is confident the project can be kept under allowable wetland impact limits but that staff require detailed analysis to confirm that and inform next steps.
The board asked for a clear funding and invoicing summary of the BWALT work and for updates to be shared with the planning board and the Select Board; staff said they will prepare a concise funding status, show what remains in the contract with the consultant, and present regulatory findings when available. Gingris noted a MassTrails grant application has been submitted to fund 100% design and that the board would need to authorize any subsequent contract execution and town‑match appropriations if the grant is awarded.
Board members praised the interactive map and asked for usability improvements (color and accessibility, filter options, visible status labels, and links to project budgets), and staff agreed to follow up.
