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Sudbury rail-trails committee hears Phase 3 design update; Broadacres ramp, maintenance remain unresolved
Summary
At its Feb. 4 meeting the Rail Trails Advisory Committee reviewed Fuss & O'Neill's Phase 3 design progress and learned the town has not accepted maintenance of BFRT Phase 2D because the Broadacres Farm access ramp is not ADA compliant; staff said MassDOT will review revisions and schedule a grand opening.
The Rail Trails Advisory Committee on Feb. 4 received an update on design and maintenance work for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT) and the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) in Sudbury.
"Chair Drobinski emphasized the importance of interconnectivity between critical infrastructure, schools, parks, and sidewalks to the Mass Central and Bruce Freeman Rail Trails," the committee minutes say. Planning & Community Development staff member Marcia Rasmussen told the committee the town "has not yet accepted maintenance responsibility due primarily to the access ramp at Broadacres Farm that is not ADA compliant." She said MassDOT is responsible for making the ramp revisions and covering the cost, and that the redesign will require Conservation Commission review because of nearby wetlands.
Fuss & O'Neill has incorporated committee comments and is expected to submit 75% design plans to MassDOT by Feb. 13; the firm included a side ramp to enable viewing of a cattle crossing and inquired about leftover abutment stones that could be used at a pocket park near the Route 20 intersection. Rasmussen also said the town is preparing a partial reimbursement request from the 2024 MassTrails grant (total grant $250,000) to cover design services from July 2025 through January 2026.
The minutes note a related logistics issue: some trail signs fell off their granite posts and were delivered to Rasmussen's office; the contractor and MassDOT have been notified. A sculpture destined for Broadacres parking has been delivered to town property and is being stored in the Broadacres farm horse barn; Sudbury Lumber donated the transfer service.
The committee approved a proposed lawn-style sign to encourage trail users to press crossing-light buttons; the motion to accept the sign was moved by Chair John Drobinski, seconded by Laurie Eliason and approved unanimously. Member Glenn Pransky suggested producing a few signs with the MCRT logo for specific crossings.
Next steps: Fuss & O'Neill will submit the 75% plans for MassDOT review, the town will seek MassDOT's scheduling of a grand-opening timeframe, and Planning & Community Development will prepare the MassTrails reimbursement paperwork.
