Trails Committee - Special Meeting

You might as well call this meeting to to order. We have uh two new people here tonight. Uh and Ted and uh they are both guests technically tonight, but They are both welcome to become members and if you want to I think I need to get that arranged. So awesome. I'd love to be a member. Okay. Absolutely. Would you like to be a member too? What's that? I think they both submitted. Oh, have you done an interest form? No. No. Uh town hall. How do you do that? Well, you can get

do it online.

Okay. Okay. Good. Um so coming to order. uh roll call. Um we are deficient in me. This is this is a split committee where we have uh members of town. It's a council council committee technically which means that the only voting members are council because somebody pointed out you couldn't have a mixed committee. So we we've come up with this arrangement. We have the same thing for our golf course uh where uh we have have in the past at least um had members of the council who are the voting members technically and members of the uh public are here and they end up voting on things but they're voted only counts if you're going. It doesn't matter. But our main purpose is to push trails community and and we can do that. And our our usually our agent that we work with is our there he is.

He's so u I think I've achieved all call but I've got to get some counselors members. my problem and Tony's. What's that? The mayor has I think he does. Yeah. I'm not sure of that. It it depends. Different mayors make it different ways. I used to be able to appoint my own committee members, but I haven't been able to. Um so I we can't have a vote on approval because we still I'm the only councilman here. So um I'm sorry. And so then we it comes right down to the town engineers report. So Rob,

so um I already spilled the beans to a couple of you on on the latest and greatest thing I've been working on. And and Ted, nice to meet you, by the way. Um this

Yeah, that Yeah, that's the one I'm I'm looking at. Um Ted, this is right up exa exactly what you were asking me about. So, um, you know, I was looking for deep Connecticut Deep has a, um, grant solicitation out now for their recck trails program and I had a few ideas that kind of fell through for one reason or another. And and and you know, Kevin had um told us about this idea he had, how long ago, Kevin? Maybe almost a year ago, maybe. And then we and then we walked it and it and it just happened to be that that Terry Plains Road. So I know I mean literally since you sent me that first email, Ted, I I reached out to um the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and collaborated with them to include Terry Plains Road Trail as a project on their application. So I had considered submitting my own application. I talked to Claire Kaine at Connecticut Forest and Parks and she said, "Why don't you let us put it in our application?" Um, you know, we, you know, we're almost guaranteed to get the funding and um if if you put it in our application, we can build the trail with our volunteers. Um, we could even down the road consider making it part of the blue trail system so that it gets maintained. So, past few days, that's all I've been working on or mostly been working on is getting the ride up together, getting some plans together, getting out there, taking some pictures. Um, and and I'll show you I can share my screen if you guys want um to show you what this is going to look like. It's not it's not a lot to see, but at least it it'll give you a picture. Please do.

You all see the map? Yep. Okay, great. So, so what's shown in red is the approximate alignment that um you know I'm thinking is going to work best. Um it it it you know it starts up at the Blue Trail um at the end of Wittenberry Road in Simsbury where the where the little parking area is up there and and heads east into Bloomfield along the old Terry Plains Road rightway road. Excuse me. Is that what it was called? Terry Plains Road.

It's hard to I I I don't think it was originally called Terry Plains Road. Um, and I'll show you if you guys are interested. Yes, there is a Terry plane road in Simsbury. There that Terry's plane, right? Yeah. But I I suspect it was just a difference in I think the two probably were connected hundreds years ago.

So So I'll show you a couple maps that that I found. So this this plan, it's it's a Bloomfield Fire District plan. It it calls it the Windsor Simsbury Road. What what's now Adams Road was called the Windsor Simsbury Road. And that's look that looks like what once went up over the mountain. So I'm not exactly sure, you know, what name was assigned to that road um at one point, but as you can see on this plan, it did go straight through and that evidence is out there. um you know, the evidence is out there and that's that's why I decided to to kind of go straight here instead of sweeping around. Um it it it you know, for this first phase of of what I'm calling the first phase, it it it gives closer access to people in the area since there won't be any parking there to to get to the trail without having to walk down this section of Hoskins Road. Um and and you know this there are there are several large washouts um that might make getting a trail through um you know this section of Terry Plains Road difficult. So this this alignment straight down to Adam's Road just seemed to work better.

Is is there a trace of the old road there? There there is. I'll show you some pictures. I mean, this was news to me and I I grew up going up and down that. So, I was surprised.

Yeah. Can if I could just say seeing that old map because I've walked this Paul and I have walked this a number of times and you get to the point where those arrows are and it is confusing but you look at that old map and it appears there were two roads and that's why you know because you're looking for the road you can find it but that old map shows that oh well this is where there was a sort of triangle and there were two roads and that makes a lot more sense. And this is, you know, what I, you know, recognized as evidence of that old road that went straight west from from Adam's Road. You can see the wall, the stone wall on the right. This is looking up the hill, obviously. And you can see that stone wall on the right that continues um quite a distance. And then this is the this is looking back towards Adam Road.

Can I jump? I don't know if this mic is on, but um there was a tavern built in 1750. Yeah. Right on the corner of Adams and Hoskin. You can see the remnants of the foundation. Yes. Yeah. So, there probably were two roads probably. One from the tavern and one from Terry Plains Road. That old map is the first time I've ever seen that. That No, the map. Yeah, the map u the earlier map you showed of the Yeah, it's the same. So here this is a this is a a quadrangle map, you know, published by um the USDA in in 1906.

And you can you can see, you know, the old Adams House here on the corner and then you know what I guess Ted what you're calling the tavern across the street. Yeah. Wow. Amazing. Yep. Yep. Pretty pretty cool stuff. But but that really explains why when you get to that little area, it's sort of confused. Well, like the road I can see the road going up here, but then I see this wall.

Yeah, I I was curious myself self. That's why that's why I looked and and you know, the the the old rideway, you know, the the assessor must have dropped it off at some point. I I don't know. I don't know how it evolved, but um doesn't matter. It's it's it's either in the old Terry Plains Rightway or it's on, you know, uh Willox Park land. So, you know, it's all under our control. That that isn't that section steeper than the old uh thing that went over towards Terry P?

A little bit steeper because it's it's across a shorter distance, but not much. Not much steeper. It's I mean, you know, if you look at the picture, if you look at the picture, it's it's it's not that's So, do you do you have any thoughts about the greatest incline? I know East Coast Greenway is limited to 5% or 5°. That's right. Yeah. So, this being a hiking trail really has no, you know, limit. No limit, but I'm just curious what it is. Is it probably some 10°?

I mean, so this this um I mean, I'm guessing this is probably up to 20% slope in some in some in the upper section there. Um, you know, you know, if you walk the blue trail, you know, there's there's, you know, sections that are well in excess of 20, 30, 40% grade. So 50% is like a 45 degree angle. That's that's pretty steep. You can't walk on that.

So we had somebody I think from Simsbury wanted to put a trail in along the other right angles to that halfway up the mountain for for biking. And I don't know what ever happened to that because I think we told Eden we didn't want him to do it but I'm not sure. And u I'm just curious is are there other trails there that you noticed crossing that? Um not the top close to the top. Yep. Yeah. You guys probably know better than I do. That's the only place. Yeah. Yeah.

Yep. Nothing down low. And you know I talked to Carol who lives behind the mans. Um, she I mean, and I'm sure David and Sharon used to walk up here all the time. Um, I'm sure you guys probably did, right? You have they put a little bridge in, I think. Yeah. Yep. Right. So, it was used, but, you know, without it being maintained, you can see all the trees that have fallen. It It just people couldn't navigate anymore.

Yeah. And just just one other note in terms of the Pinwood side. Um you have the blue trail in there, but this is also where the what I call the white trail system of Pinwood. There's a trail system back in that part of Pinwood. And there are other pieces that come out on this trail. So it's not just mountain bike trails. I mean there, you know, there there are some other trails. And what's great about this is opening this up would give people access to that because otherwise you have to walk in from one of the entrances of Pinwood, even if you take Stout Family Fields, you know, the T the TRLC property and go in, you know, it takes you a mile just to get up to Lake Louise or mile and a half just like le to access this.

Do you think we should be thinking of a parking lot for people to Well,

phase two. Let me So yeah, my my plan is um you know, maybe the next round of of wreck trails is to apply for a phase two um you know, maybe try to approach the gun club, make sure you know, they're they're not um going to object too much. Um but what and this, you know, we walked it with Kevin. This was his idea. You know, we want this trail to extend all the way down to the, you know, the end of the gravel section of Terry Plains Road. Terry Plane Road, which is right here. And and there's already a place with a turnaround there. And that that could even be enlarged if we wanted. You mean Duncaster?

Yeah. Uh just just, you know, just off of Duncaster where planes would go through Dun, you know, crossing. Yeah. Yeah. But that's about the area you're talking about. Yeah, that's interesting. I had thought of that. Yeah, right in here. So, I I think and and that's, you know, that's easier to access. It's it's closer to a a more densely populated area of Bloomfield. It's it's it's easy to access. Um you know, it provides um you know, parking for people to to use the trail. It's a great spot. Isn't there another trail that branches off? I maybe were looking at it there. That white line that comes down straight. Oh. Oh, the yellow lines are property lines.

Oh, they're not Yeah, they're not trails. Oh, okay. Um, but I I thought there was a an old road that used to go along What was What's the gun? What's Yeah, that that's that's Can you That's along this property. That's along the east edge of Penwood. Okay. Yeah, that's that shows up on some of the maps. Some of the That doesn't connect as Yeah. See, there it is. Well, it was called Will Cox Road actually on this map. Okay. Interestingly, so so that's another potential bypass. Yeah. I mean, that could be it could be a trail. Sure. I want I don't know.

You got to deal with people on Gunmill Road. That's a private road and they don't like people. They're they're not real friendly. There's a lot of very aggressive pointed signage on that road that says, "Hey, this is a private road. don't come down here. I don't know how legal that is, but Well, it's a private road. Yeah. I mean, and and that's what that's why the land trust actually uh acquired the Stout Family Fields so that we could have access to Pinwood from the Bloomfield, you know, from internally in Bloomfield off Duncaster. Yeah. Because because of the issues with Gunmill used to be a town road. Well,

it goes all the way up to Pinwood. So, it's um but you have to have per special permission to drive on it. So, so yeah, that's that's um where I'm at with that. I'm probably going to be sending out, you know, all this information to Claire tomorrow. Um let them it'll give them time to review it. Kevin, I I sent you a draft copy of this. You know, feel free if if anyone else wants it, I could forward it to them. Ted, maybe you you'd be interested. I I'll I'll get Well, I'll send it to Lynn and she can distribute.

Yeah. send it to the group. Great. Great. Um, you know, if you have any suggestions, let me know right away so I can can incorporate it. But, you know, I probably got a little more carried away than than we needed to on this, but um, you know, sometimes the stars align. Yeah, I I got carried away, too. And if I can jump in for a second, do you mind if I do? Go ahead. Okay. So, would this be purely hiking or would mountain bikers be allowed to use this trail? Well, initially, um, you know, it's until it gets designated as part of the blue trail system, I don't think there would be any restrictions on it. Okay. If we decided Guy is a mountain biker, you're my favorite.

That's my best answer right there. Yeah. From a purely selfish standpoint. Right. Right. Un understood. I'm with you. Yeah. I'd love to be able to bike up that trail and down into Simsbury and back into Oh, yeah. Yeah. Right. For sure. Well, it's my selfish goal, but in the last couple of days, maybe a week and a half, the the online research and the phone calls and the emails that I've done to people, it's pretty clear there's this is a historical route. I mean, yeah, it could have been a stage coach route. Yeah, that's that article that Kevin, you know, forwarded to me had it's the notch. It's the notch.

Yeah. So there I I've been in contact with a guy who wrote the book about colonial roads and stage coach routes. His name is Richard Duca and he wrote a book called I I don't remember the title. I ordered it on Amazon. It hasn't hasn't arrived yet, but I've been emailing with him and he bring it to the next meeting. I will. And but he's very interested in this. And that could could have been from the tavern over the top down into Simsbury because that's the we Oh, that's the LO. Yeah, it's the notch. It's the notch. It's the It's the easiest way. So like um um the Barnard brothers, all seven of them probably Vista Gardens, they probably marched over that gap down into Simsbury to drill very terrorist plane.

Exactly. So there's a huge historical significance here. It's a bridge between communities and historically to the past almost 300 years of usage. And then if you go back to the Native Americans, you know, they were using that gap to they had to for trade and communication for sure. That I I I included a pretty decent section in in the write up on the history of it. So it speaks to all of that actually. Awesome. Awesome. Hi, I'm Paula. I'm Kevin's wife. Nice to meet you. Um and actually I think you've just answered um or answered the question I was going to ask. So, you're aware of the historical society and the resources they have?

Vaguely. I'm I'm new to Bloomfield. Good. Okay. Well, ju just FYI. Yeah. The Whittenberry Historical Society, Old Farm School, they have um the Fanny Gabriel kind of research center behind there. And in terms of the things you're talking about and obviously your interest, they've got tons of stuff. Okay. So, that's all I wanted to say. Across Tungstus Trails is their book. I should say that the part of Boomfield that we're talking about at the Anders Road that's that was part of Simsbury back 100 years ago. So I mean that's Yeah. It's amazing. It's amazing how many Oh, there are. Yeah.

I mean this particular spot is just like it it almost seems like a historical kind of a nexus. You've got the Metaccom ridge which is geologically significant. You've got the two towns on both sides of the ridge. You've got Pinwood State Park to the south. You've got Willox to the north. It's there. It's just a really really interesting location, you know, and the Farmington River and the Farmington River. All of it kind of comes together and you've got current needs of people who want to be able to go over the ridge and then you've got this whole historical context. It's just it's fascinating. Yeah. Good.

Glad to have you with us. Can we move on to things that uh other than this? I think we've covered this pretty well. Yeah, for sure. And I I want to point out that our priority

has been and we want to keep working on it is the East Coast Greenway through Bloomfield. And uh this is a side thing and I I I'm hesitant to to our uh Rob has been so effective in making the East Coast greenway happen um in Bloomfield that I hate to have him diverted to other things and but he is anyway. So, and uh so I I would you talk about what what we're looking at for this next year in in sections of the East Coast Greenway?

Sure. Um just just one thing before I move on to that. I asked Lynn if she would print out I I had drafted a a support letter for the Oh, I've got to sign that. Yeah. Would you mind? Oh, I will. I'm sorry. And I forgot about that. Lynn, would you mind just scanning that to me when you have a chance? Thanks.

Trails committee is pleased to express strong and support for the Terry Plains Road Trail project. I guess it's now going to be called Terry Plains Road no matter what. Uh project. Um, this initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to expand and improve trail access for residents and visitors while preserving the natural and historical character of our community. Wow. Okay. The proposed trail will create a critical link between the Metaccom Trail and Bloomfield, offering a safe and scenic route for hikers, walkers, and natural nature enthusiasts. It doesn't mention bikers. I didn't want to put that in there. Just remember who's helping us with this. We'll keep it on the download.

Yep. Exactly. Just tonight. Just tonight.

Okay. The project will minimize environmental impact while showcasing historical significance. Rich boomfield rich history. Anyway, stone bridges and walls. Is that okay? This trail will provide numerous benefits to our community, including enhanced recreational opportunities and improve connectivity to regional trail systems. It will also encourage healthy lifestyles and foster appreciation for our local environment. Boomfield Trails Committee fully endorses this project and looks forward to collaborating with partners to ensure its successful implementation. We believe the Terry Plains Road will become a treasured resource for generations to come. Wow. Thank you for considering this important initiative. Please feel free to contact Robert Tate uh Boomfield Town Engineer Such and additional information. I'm going to sign this right now. Is everybody approve of this?

Absolutely 100%. All right. Fine. I've been working on this for years. He see he he made this thing happen overnight. Actually, you know, someone working on it 300 years ago. Yeah. Good point. Good point. Good point.

I'll give you the 10. Okay. Okay. Well, my my big concern is one of the biggest trail priorities we've had in town is was it was actually a sidewalk going from the center of town to the uh Bloomfield High School. And this is something it's a safety thing because kids walk all the street there and have for years and everybody's been concerned about getting a sidewalk there. Well, some few years ago we decided it was a much smarter thing because most of Did we lose our Here he is. Um most most of our the money to pay for that block would be coming from the east coast from the state or federal sources if we call it a bike pass. So, why not make it part of the East Coast Greenway? It doesn't exactly go in the right direction, but we made it happen and they've approved it. So, uh, now the problem is how to get it done. Apparently, there's a big problem, uh, uh, going across the railroad tracks. And I'll, um, I I hope that that can take priority straightening that out. Now, I'll ask for Rob if he'd elaborate on that. Yes, absolutely. So, so, so we have actually three projects that are in design right now um that are directly connected to the East Coast Greenway, you know, that that's that's the northernmost one. Um the other two, you know, are are basically from there, south and east. Um but but that that project we call the the town center to high school. It's it's funded um by the state of Connecticut through the Krag region um through a lot grant. Um and and you know the we've we've got the trail um you know laid out and and we're very comfortable with with the

alignment on the north side of Park Avenue. Um but but crossing the Griffin line is is going to be a big hurdle. And and one of the hurdles right now is that the DOT is in the middle of negotiating uh with a new operator on that line. And and um they they asked me not to not to divulge who they're dealing with. I think I might have told you guys in the past, but um that's that's part of the problem. It's hard. It's hard. I I can't negotiate with the new operator because there's no agreement in place. So, that that's part of the problem. Um, you know, we're waiting for that agreement, but but in the meantime, we're we're still moving forward designing the rest of the trail and we're still collaborating with the DOT rail folks. In fact, I have a meeting, a pretty a pretty significant meeting on Monday with DOT Rails and our designers um you know to to talk about kicking off, you know, what's needed for the rail crossing um to to try to get a head start on it so that we're ready to roll when the operator actually does sign the agreement. Um does that make sense to everyone? You have any questions on that? I I would also point out to them if you would please that this is an urgent safety project for town of Bloomfield not just for the bike path but for kids walking uh to town. So

absolutely absolutely this is not some this isn't just for the east coast greenway. This is our safety project. Yeah. Absolutely. And kind of urgent. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, just a comment. Uh, now the what is necessary for crossing a Gri Griffin line, can that be incorporated in the agreement presented to the future operator?

I I I'll have that conversation on Monday with with uh Rob Bradway from from DOT. Yeah, it's not it's not it's a good idea actually. I I you know I I don't I think we're still going to go need to go through it's it's a much larger rail operation than than you know New Central New England Rail is. You know we we know AJ I have his cell phone number. It would have been ideal to just deal with him directly on this crossing but you know he he's on a month-to-month extension um right now and and you know DOT there wouldn't be time to initiate a project with him and order them. I mean, these rail the rail equipment that needs to be purchased, you know, has a 6 month to one year lead time to get it. So, by the time if we tried to do something with AJ right now, it just wouldn't happen before he's no longer the operator.

I really this news that somebody else was going to take it over kind of takes away from Boomfield's hopes that we'd be able to track rip the tracks up and put a bike path there. Yeah. Yeah. really too bad. So may maybe we can we can say Boomfield wants to become the new operator. Yeah, I know. So Rob, just can you can you remind us um this the crossing for the high school piece, you know, the high the the town center connector was I I know we had several designs on that. Where did where will that crossing finally be? Will it be close to Park or will it be uh more up on Woodland? Remind me of where that crossing

where where where does it cross the Griffin Line? Oh, it's it's on Park Avenue. The north side of Park Avenue. Uh the north side of Park. Okay. Yes. Yes. And the trail because initially at one point we were up on Woodland, I think. Okay. Okay. It's it's going to be a roadside multi-use trail. It'll be right up against the north side of Park Avenue just because of the limitation of right away. Isn't there a sidewalk on the other side of the street that crosses the tracks? There is. Yep. Why? Why would this make any difference? Yeah, because it's not there now. Just tell them you're moving it to the other side of the street.

I know. I know. Tell me about it. They don't. Okay. I I didn't want to press you hard on that, but I really would appreciate if you you push these people a little bit before we rip the tracks up on them. I'm all for that. Could I just ask a simple question since I'm new to the area? Uh can they considered like a pedestrian overpass over the tracks or can you cost too much? Huh? Well, they can't cost that much.

But anyway, uh there's other ways. Can there be automatic uh gates for pedestrians? Like there is automatic uh gates that stop traffic, car traffic. Yeah.

So any anyway and and the other thing u I've spent 30 30 years out west and we've had issues with Union Pacific which is got tremendous uh strength of laws behind it that you have to get permission for uh you know even widening a road to enough to get a bike lane across a railroad track. Yeah. And uh it it takes years to get this approval, but eventually we did get these Union Pacific to agree to these kind of things.

Yep. Thank you. Um Yeah. Did Did you want to ask anything specific or just just comment? Well, I I think I think you've answered all the questions for now. Okay. Can you guys see the map I just pulled up? Go ahead.

Yeah, just I think it would really be be good if in the new new agreement it specifies maybe in in kind of a general way that uh that that that that will be done. So, so that the new operator doesn't have a choice, but only has a choice to work with the town on how we do it rather than if we do it.

I mean, they're they're going to work with us. It it's just their process is is cumbersome. You know, it's the same rail company I I worked with in New Britain. I I did a a crossing in New Britain and and um did a project across the um you know the Waterberry line which which ran through New Britain and I mean just an example they they wanted $4,000 just to review our plans and and they were simple plans and that that's just the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Um, so yeah, better you put it up front before they take it over. So that'd be good.

Yeah. Yeah. So I think it's best if maybe if I pull up a plan. Um, so so the the project we were talking about is is the black line over here. Um, that's the location of it. Um the the next East Coast Greenway project um similar to this is is we're we're we're in design but very early in design. It's it's it's this red section. It's a very it's it's two miles of of multi-use trail. You know, funded by um 80% funded by FHWA, 20% funded by DOT for design and construction. Um, it's taken DOT over four months just to comment on our designers scope. I reviewed it in one day. It it's literally taken them four months. Um, so that that's kind of where that's at. I think we got the last of their comments. So now the designer is putting a fee to the scope. Um, that's just the process. It's it's how um you know FHWA works. So I mean with any luck you know in a couple months we'll actually you know kick off design on that you know true design. They they'll be out on the ground surveying. Um that's where that's where that project is at. That's that's known as the high school to Toby Road um section of the greenway. The next section um is is this black line over here which is from Tyler Street to Blue Hills Avenue with a connection at Rockwell Park. And um that's that's similar to the high school to town center project. It's it's funded by DOT through Crag with a lot

grant. Um and there's there's more information on on the map here um regarding the the you know the funding sources and such. Um so that project is is in design um with a consultant uh one of our consultants VHB and they are scheduled to submit preliminary design to Prague next week. So we'll we'll um we actually have a what they call an onboard review meeting. So the Prague's consultant will review um their comments with us. I think it was January 6th is that date. So, so this project is moving along nicely. We're we're we're concurrently. So, so since this entire project is located on the old trolley line, which is owned by Eversource and they have an active um transmission line there. Um, we're working we've been working with Eversource for for several months as well to to make sure that we can get a license agreement in place in time to advertise this project for construction. Um,

this this is I just say this is an interesting part of this. It was here. There used to be a trolley line that served Longfield um what hundreds years ago I think and it's been long since disappeared but used to go into the center of town and followed that right away. So that was an interesting thing that we could grab to use for the bike path. I'm sorry to interrupt.

Yeah. No, no, no problem. Um and I mean it was it's a great place for a trail. We we think it screams for a railto trail. Um, you know, there was a potential opportunity to um utilize the rest of the trolley corridor, which which my cursor is over here, but um you know, it made more sense for the trail to connect the human resources building to a race middle school and the high school. So, that was really Yeah.

Yeah, that made more sense. Well, I I'm really worried about um the Tyler Street and how the neighbors react to having that go up alongside Tyler Street. Yeah, we'll get there. We So, that's one big concern before we pick which side of the road it goes up, which I suspect you want it on the northern on the west side of Tyler Street.

West side. Okay. Yes. And that and that's mainly well one it it it aligns with the existing 10- foot wide sidewalk that that's um to the driveway to the middle school. And there's also a culvert which Tyler Street crosses um at the south end of Tyler Street. Um the culver there there's there's limited space to get over that culvert on the east side. We have a lot of room to get over the culvert on the west side. I didn't know all that. Thank you.

Yep. Um so I'll jump back to the to the to the Tyler to Rockwell. Um so all of these projects will have public information meetings. Um the Tyler to Rockwell will be the first one and I anticipate, you know, holding that sometime in January. So, I'll I'll keep you guys informed. Hopefully hopefully you can all make it and and we'll we'll host it at the uh human services building just because it's the closest town facility. Yeah.

Yeah. Um that that that particular project originally was um funded to end at Rockwell. I I know I told you guys this. I I asked Crague to for some additional funding which they gave us to extend it to Blue Hills Avenue. Um and and this tying into that project um we've been meeting with Dave Melesco in the design of of the Rockwell Park project. So his design now incorporates a multi-use trail all the way through the park sort of shown here in purple. not not quite that that exact alignment, but but close um to bring the the uh multi-use trail out to Cottage Grove. And and what sparked that convers or what sparked that idea um the DOT I I had heard through the DO's review of the East Coast Greenway study that they were looking at doing something in Bloomfield and they came up with the idea for a multi-use trail on Cottage Grove Road. It's it's what's shown in blue here, light blue, from Tyler Street all the way to the commuter lot in Windsor. Um, so I I I saw that comment. I reached out to the person um, you know, who made the comment and and got him and a bunch of other folks from DOT to come to Bloomfield to meet with us and and we talked about this project and and you know, our plan to connect the East Coast Greenway to it and and they're um, you know, in the early stages of scoping that project right now at DOT. So that's a a very, you know, real project. um coming up in the future that that DOT is going to design and administer. Okay,

before you go too far with them, we have always talked about having something going all in Cottage Grove all the way to the bridge to South Windsor and because connectivity being thing and going the other direction to West Hartford across Seg's campus

or by it some and interesting because it the most of the employees at Seg come from either South Windsor is one of the main places they come from and in West Harford. So it's it would be very convenient for them to walk or or bike to work and so and it's also a very logical cross trail to have we we have intersecting the east co our main east coast greenway. So we're we're obviously going to want to have a whole network of crossrails and that's the most obvious one. So maybe they should talk about the possibility of continuing that uh Kaiser Grove road all the way to South Windsor because there is a bike path across the river on that bridge.

Yep. I mean so I mention I've ridden my bike that way. So Oh well I've me I mentioned this to Kevin today. Um also at that meeting I had with DOT I invited Suzanne Chot who's the town engineer in Windsor. Um so so she's aware. So, she was aware of the project and and you know could plan accordingly on the Windsor side. Um what I don't have is the east coast greenway plan to pull up to show you how this would eventually connect to Keiny Park to the east. Um

and and that may be a poss we don't know where the Hartford East Coast Greenway is going to end. So, we don't know where we're going to connect and so it's still a question.

All indications all indications right now are that the city of Hartford is going to build multi-use trails in Keiny Park before they do anything on the Griffin line. Um so so to get this to get this you know to get this in now really solidifies um the alignment the east coast greenway alignment and and you know it'll push push Hartford to make a connection and and and and hopefully you know if the DOT doesn't do it if the DOT doesn't extend this to the east and then then maybe Windsor will pick it up. Thank you.

Yeah. The the only really negative thing here on that map or not for that connector is my understanding is they will not D will not entertain anyone going through the dunes area. Yeah. Um the mana the natural area there that's dunes and there are lots of um there are lots of um threatened species of things in there. So they don't want people riding their bikes. So you're going to have to go across that and then connect to Kenny Park rather than sort of just going straight down. Right. I mean know the ideal connection Yeah. would be right at the east end of the cemetery and just go straight through.

Right. And that and I think that connects into the old um the old uh what um race racetrack of Keeny Park. Oh wow. Yeah. Yeah, because we we walked this one time when someone was doing a sort of historic historic areas of Keeny Park that are now overgrown like the zoo and the racetrack. And I think that we when we did the racetrack then you come out in that that preserved area now. It's really it's neat because it's old Glacial Lake Hitchcock. It's it's it's dunes. I mean it's it's just a completely different environment. Okay,

I wanted to pull up the East Coast Greenway plan. It's such a large plan, it's going to be hard to find the right map, too. Um, so so that that, you know, that kind of summarizes where we're at with with all our ongoing projects. Obviously, always on our radar is is the gap between Town Center and Dehill Road. Um, but I was telling Joe today, um, you know, that really screams for what what's known as the transportation alternatives funding source, which is what we just got for the high school, the Toby Road. So, you know, we're just going to have to wait for that solicitation to come out again. It's it's it's probably, you know, another I think they I think they solicit for that every two or three years. Um, so that's really the only funding source that could that could um cover the cost of that long a section of trail

and that's going to be a rails with with trails um section and that could be a problem too uh that maybe you ought to bring up with DOT with to let their new

they know they know what we want to do on the Griffin line. Um, you know, I think I mentioned to you guys my my my idea to avoid having to deal with the railroad on on this project in red. So, so you know, there's there's this whole stretch that parallels the rail line. So instead of since since DOT does all the rights away acquisition for us on that project, um what I what I asked them to do is instead of you know trying to squeeze the trail in the rail right away, let's just take let's just get an easement or take the land on the adjacent property. Then we won't have to talk to the railroad. So that's what we're doing. So, we may be able to do something like that, you know, you know, along that that gap section heading north from town center. That that that's a possibility. Depends on, you know, I haven't looked at it yet, so I don't I don't know what the what the options are.

We may look harder alternative route we have for that northern part, too. So, yeah. Yep. So, yeah, that's that's a that's a that's my update on all the greenway projects. Any any questions on on any of those or anything else regarding the greenway? I have two questions. Two quick simple questions. What is FHWA? Federal Highway. Okay. Federal high. So, federal funds. Yep. All right. Is that rails to trails? Federal Highway Association. Yeah. It's it's it's basically the US DOT. US DOT is under the FHWA hat of transportation.

All right. Thank you. And then I'm um going back to the Terry Plains Trail. Who did you say would be doing the actual work on the trail? The um what is it called? They're called the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. So they are the managers of the entire Blue Trail system in Connecticut. Okay, great. All right. So, if I wanted to volunteer to be on that trail crew, I would contact them.

Yep. You know, just you could they have a great website. They're very responsive. Um they have Yeah. Yeah. They they have a huge I mean, you know, when when when I talked to Claire Kaine, who's the director, um you know, she said, "Well, if we put it under when we put it under our application, cuz the deep recck trails have a 20% match, which I I really don't have funding for." She's like, "Oh, we we get so much match in in services with all our volunteers. It's never a problem because they they they do so much work and it and it's um it's never a problem on these grants that have a match." Awesome. Thank you.

Yeah. You're welcome. You're welcome. My battery is running low on my computer. Hope I don't I'll be quick. I'll be quick so I don't so my computer doesn't shut off. Um the only other things to talk about, so Blue Blue Hills Avenue complete streets project, that project's complete. Um, you know, we're just doing some project closeout paperwork there. There'll be some touchup in the spring, but for for for the most part, that project is done. Um, does that have a bike the bike lane?

Bike lanes. Yes, it does. They're in they're actually there now. you you can if you drive down there, you'll see the bike lanes, you know, sprayed on the ground and drive through there at night. Um, all of the pedestrian lighting we put in made a huge difference. It's it's it's quite transformative. Um, school street and Wittenberry complete streets. So, um, VHB, our consultant is is designing that project. Um, as they were, you know, getting into the preliminary design, they realized that there's a whole bunch of properties that we need easements from to locate sidewalk there. There's not enough room in the town right away, not enough space. So, the sidewalk has to cross onto private property. Um, so many properties that we decided to ask DOT to handle the rightway acquisitions for us. Um, so that project is going to be held up with with this rightsaway component right now um until we can get all the easements in place with these property owners. But that that I mean

that again. What project is this? It's the school street complete streets project. It's it's um school street from from is it from Cottage? It's from Cottage Grove up to Winintonberry Avenue. Wow.

Right. It may not be all the way down to Cottage Grove. Haven't looked at it in a while. Um but yes, it's it's it's basically installing um traffic calming and sidewalks where there are no sidewalks on that section of School Street. Actually, Rob, if it goes all the way up to Wittenbury, is there any talk about doing a, you know, traffic circle at Windbury and school? We're the project includes a realignment of the intersection to normalize it. Um, you know, basically tee it up. So, I've had one car total there and it's a very dangerous situation.

Wow. Wow. Yeah. So yeah, the project does include a realignment of the intersection to to normalize it to make it make it 90 degrees so sight lines are better. Um, you know, stop stop signs. Um, it it'll be stopped on the side street will just like it is now. We're not changing we're not changing the stop control. It should be sign roundabout would also make sense. Roundabout would be Yeah, roundabouts are really expensive. Yeah, it's better than the accents we have there.

Yeah. Uh, you know, I I I don't This project was already um, you know, applied for and funded when I got here, so I didn't I didn't didn't ever see or look at the the crash data to know, you know, how bad the the crash history is there. Um, so that's that's School Street. Um, Tungstus Avenue Sidewalk Project. Um, you know, similar to Blue Hills though, that was another project in construction this year. Um, and and that pro we just had a we just had a final inspection on that project last week. Um, and the contractor has completed all the work. Um, the 30k test period has started on that traffic signal because we made um improvements to the signal, pedestrian improvements to the signal. We added a um crosswalk there um with with what's known as an LPI crosswalk. They call it lead pedestrian interval. So it's it's not exclusive like like you'll see downtown. Um but it what it does is it gives the pedestrians 4 seconds to get into the crosswalk with with um all red on the intersection. And that way cars pulling out of the plaza can see the pedestrians um in the crosswalk and and yield to the pedestrians in the crosswalk before they make their turn.

I have a question on the sidewalks proposed for School Street up to Wittenberry. Uh are they going to be wide enough to accommodate bicycles? They're just it's just a five-ft sidewalk. There's not there's not there wouldn't be room to to go a little wider than that for for real. It's it's not what was approved. It's not what was scoped. Um and we're already we're already acquiring, you know, easements on on private property to to accommodate the 5- foot sidewalk. Um, so yeah, no, at this point I think I don't think we could could accommodate

even even if sections of of it were wider than five foot because you and you can be writing down a you know something that's six or eight foot and Okay, if you've got a section that's only five foot, you can deal with that. Yeah, but I don't think you want to mix bikes and pedestrians on sections of five foot sidewalk. But but it's too dangerous for the bikes to be on uh I know. I know. And they're they're they're unless we ban them, they're going to use it. Uh even uh electric scooters from Seabberry getting down to the East Coast Greenway.

Yeah. Yep. I know. It's it's it's it's there's no good answer for that. There's, you know, there's only so much room in the rideway um to accommodate all the things that need to be there. you know, utility poles, underground utilities, sidewalk, turning lanes, you know, for for motor vehicles. It's it's not easy. Um, I think I have what else? Um, Tus Avenue I just talked about and oh, Maple A. So, Maple Avenue traffic calming is the last item on my list. And

and you ran out of power. Well, that's Thank you, Rob. Thank Thank you. He gave his last breath for me.

Okay. We will adjourn. All right. Thank you, Joe. Public comments.