Rails to Trails Committee starting to make in roads
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham Rails to Trails Committee has sent basic plans to the Massachusetts Highway Department for review before preparing for the next step in the process of designing a trail from Willard Road to Turnpike Road.

"We are proceeding along," Paula Gorrell, a member of the Rails to Trails Committee, said. "It's been surveyed and mapped out."

The trail plans runs from Willard Road, moving behind the Cushing Academy Field, and will cross Cashman Hill Road to run behind the Public Safety Building and the Post Office. The trail will then cross Williams Road to run by the Municipal Light Building and the town's soccer fields and then to Turnpike Road.

Members of the committee have had the trail mapped out, and wetlands, plants and parking areas have been determined.

A concrete bridge similar to the new Oakmont access has been designated to provide safe passage for trail users over the gorge washout, which interrupted the trail's path. The engineers have designed walled banking along steeper areas, according to Gorrell.

The designs also include scenic areas which can accommodate benches as well as safety access for rescue vehicles and emergency personnel, according to Gorrell.

"If you want to get state or federal funding, you must get MassHighway's approval," said Town Planner Eric Smith.

MassHighway has a set up the regulations for these projects, including regulations in regards to surface material, safety barriers and structural stability.

Smith said after the town gets and makes any revisions requested by MassHighway, the next step is to determine the funding for the project. He said the main funding through the state and the federal governments require a 20 percent local contribution and 80 percent through the state and federal grant systems.

This section of the project is expected to cost $1.7 million, said Smith.

Smith said he and the committee will start discussing funding once they receive the approval from MassHighway.

The money for the design phase of the project was appropriated at the town meeting in January 2006 along with money from previous fundraising efforts and donations.

Gorrell said the committee is talking to Mark Demek, an Ashburnham developer, about connecting his proposed development to the designed trails.

"We are talking with him about access to Briggs and possible coming out on Meliee Road," she said.

The committee would like to connect the paths to the South Ashburnham area and then into one of the recreation areas.

"We are working on creating other various parts of the rail trial with Gardner and Winchendon," Gorrell said.

The committee members say they are looking for volunteers to with technical skills and people with a passion for the outdoors.

The Committee holds their meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at the Stevens Library. They invite people to come to their meetings, or contact Sallie Thoma at (978) 827-4202 or Gorrell at (978) 827-1183.

A public information session about the project will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Overlook Middle School.