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Northborough selects letter of support for Beewalt Trail MassTrails feasibility grant
Summary
The Northborough Select Board unanimously authorized the chair to sign a letter supporting a MassTrails feasibility grant for a 1.3-mile Beewalt Trail extension to Shrewsbury, with the planning director proposing a 20% local match of roughly $14,000 partly covered by $10,000 already budgeted.
The Northborough Select Board voted unanimously on Jan. 26 to authorize the chair to sign a letter supporting the town’s application to the MassTrails grant program for a feasibility study on a Beewalt Trail extension from Westborough to Shrewsbury.
Planning Director Laurie Connors told the board the segment within Northborough is a relatively short section — “the full extent of this trail that is shown on the screen right now is approximately 1.3 miles” — and that the grant application is due Feb. 2. Connors said engineering estimates put the feasibility study cost at about $65,000 to $70,000 and that MassTrails requires a 20% local match, “which would be $14,000.” She said she will offer $10,000 from her contractual services budget and count staff time and volunteers toward the remainder.
Board members pressed on route details, property-owner consent and maintenance. Connors said she has spoken with relevant property owners and that formal easements would be sought during later design phases once the feasibility study pins down an alignment. On long-term upkeep, she said sections built off the state right-of-way would likely fall to the towns that own them but that the feasibility and design work will clarify maintenance responsibilities.
The motion to approve the letter, made by Mike Teegan and seconded by Laura, passed by roll call vote. Connors and the board said that, if awarded, the grant decision is expected this summer and design and construction would follow later phases of statewide grant opportunities and potential CPA or other local matches.
