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Sudbury seeks CPC design funds for accessible parking on Mass Central Rail Trail
Summary
Interim Trail Coordinator Marcia Rasmussen told the joint Rail Trails and CPC meeting that the town is seeking CPC funding for design and a cost estimate to add accessible parking and access to trails west of Dutton Road on the Mass Central Rail Trail; construction funding would need separate grants and the proposal will include ADA and Commission on Disability review.
Marcia Rasmussen, Interim Trail Coordinator, told the joint Rail Trails Advisory Committee and Community Preservation Committee on Dec. 10 that the town is seeking CPC funding for design and a cost estimate to provide accessible parking and access to trails west of Dutton Road on the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT). Rasmussen said the current application is for design work only; construction funding would be pursued later.
Rasmussen said that funds already allocated to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) “have been specifically allocated by the CPC and Town Meeting only for the BFRT,” and therefore cannot be reallocated to the MCRT proposal. She added the BFRT monies are being used for construction and amenities not covered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation contract.
The proposal includes design work for a handicapped parking area and access to trails in Memorial Forest. Rasmussen said Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) may seek separate grants to cover construction once a design and cost estimate are available. She also assured the committees that the ADA Coordinator would review plans for compliance with ADA and the cited “521 State” requirements and that the Commission on Disability would be included in the design process.
Rasmussen noted that maintenance responsibilities would not change under the proposed work: the Department of Public Works and the Conservation Department currently handle upkeep at Hop Brook Marsh Reservation, and SVT maintains Memorial Forest trails.
The next steps are CPC review of the design request and a more detailed permitting analysis. Rasmussen said permitting questions should be clearer by spring 2026 and that construction funding sources would be explored once a design and estimate exist.
