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Chelmsford BPAC hears $7 million award for Yankee Doodle extension; easement questions linger
Summary
At its March 19 meeting, the Chelmsford Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee heard that the Yankee Doodle extension received $7 million in state funding but noted that no formal easement has yet been secured from the ProAV (Bishops) property; NMCOG will open a public comment period on the Greater Lowell plan.
At its March 19 meeting, the Chelmsford Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee was told the Yankee Doodle rail-trail extension has received $7 million in state funding and is expected to extend toward Billerica High School and potentially toward the dam. D. Chandler reported the funding and related regional planning updates to the committee.
The update also noted that the Friends of the Regional Trail Taskforce (FORTT) expressed support for the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments’ (NMCOG) Greater Lowell Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and urged prioritizing off‑road multi‑use paths, including a connection from the Rourke Bridge to Crosspoint Towers. Chandler said NMCOG will open a public comment period when it releases the plan.
Committee members flagged a legal and logistical gap: no official easement has yet been secured from the ProAV (Bishops) property owners. The minutes record only an intent to secure access, not a recorded easement. J. Warhurst said he would follow up with the Town Clerk to clarify the process for obtaining formal easements and to coordinate with DPW and the Assessor’s office as needed.
The discussion did not record a decision or vote on project alignment or easement action. NMCOG’s upcoming public comment period is the next formal opportunity for local input; committee members and residents will have a chance to review and comment when that notice is issued.
The meeting approved routine minutes and adjourned; no formal action on the Yankee Doodle project was recorded at this session.
