MassDOT Design Hearing - Canal Street Rail Trail Phase II

SSU Enterprise Center, 121 Loring Avenue
Event Date: 
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - 7:00pm

 

 

 

DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING

 

WEDNESDAY MAY 24, 2017

 

AT

 

Sullivan Room

The Enterprise Center at Salem State University

121 Loring Avenue

 

SALEM, MA
 

7:00 PM

 

 

FOR THE PROPOSED

 

CANAL STREET RAIL TRAIL PHASE II

 

PROJECT FILE NUMBER 608352

 

 PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECTION

 

 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

HIGHWAY DIVISION

 

 

THOMAS J. TINLIN

HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR

 

PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E.

CHIEF ENGINEER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING

Project File No. 608352

 

A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Canal Street Rail Trail Phase II project in Salem, MA.

 

WHERE:         Salem State University, Enterprise Center – Sullivan Room

            121 Loring Avenue

            Salem, MA 01970

WHEN:           May 24, 2017 @ 7:00 PM

PURPOSE:     The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Canal Street Rail Trail Phase II project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL:  The proposed project will construct 0.6 miles of shared use off road path closing the gap between the existing Marblehead Rail Trail and the shared use path constructed alongside Canal Street to Mill Street currently under construction in the Canal Street Rehabilitation project. The path will be 10 feet wide with 2 foot shoulders. The project includes the relocation of a railroad spur to accommodate the shared use path alignment within the MBTA Right-of-Way.

 

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The City of Salem is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this hearing.

 

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

 

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 608352. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us

 

This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.

 

In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/

 

THOMAS J. TINLIN                                                                         PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E.

HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR                                                      CHIEF ENGINEER

 

 

 

 Dear Concerned Citizen:

 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is committed to building and maintaining a transportation infrastructure that is both safe and efficient for all who use our roadways, bridges, bicycle facilities and pedestrian paths, while maintaining the integrity of the environment.

 

As part of the design process for this project, we are conducting this public hearing to explain the proposed improvements, listen to your comments and answer any questions you may have. At the conclusion of the hearing, MassDOT will review all of your comments and, where feasible, incorporate them into the design of the project.

 

We recognize that road and bridge construction can create inconveniences for the public. MassDOT places a great deal of emphasis on minimizing the temporary disruptive effects of construction.

 

MassDOT encourages input from local communities and values your opinions. Please be assured that we will undertake no project without addressing the concerns of the community.

 

 

Sincerely,

Patricia A Leavenworth, P. E.

Chief Engineer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING?

 

 

WHY A PUBLIC HEARING?

 

To provide an assured method whereby the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can furnish to the public information concerning the State’s highway construction proposals, and to afford every interested resident of the area an opportunity to be heard on any proposed project.  At the same time, the hearings afford the Commonwealth an additional opportunity to receive information from local sources which would be of value to the State in making its final decisions to what design should be advanced for development.

 

WHY NOT A VOTE ON HIGHWAY PLANS?

 

The hearings are not intended to be a popular referendum for the purpose of determining the nature of a proposed improvement by a majority of those present. They do not relieve the duly constituted officials of a State highway department of the necessity for making decisions in State highway matters for which they are charged with full responsibility.

 

WHAT DOES A PUBLIC HEARING ACCOMPLISH?

 

It is designed to ensure the opportunity for, or the availability of, a forum to provide factual information which is pertinent to the determination of the final alternative considered by the state to best serve the public interest, and on which improvement projects are proposed to be undertaken.

 

It is important that the people of the area express their views in regard to the proposal being presented, so that views can be properly recorded in the minutes of the meeting. These minutes will be carefully studied and taken into consideration in the determination of the final design.

 

 

 

RIGHT OF WAY ISSUES

 

 

A secure right of way is necessary for this project.  Temporary construction easements may be required.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all necessary rights in private or public lands.  If your property is affected, your rights are fully protected under law.

 

  1. REASON FOR PROJECT

 

The completion of this project will serve local needs.  The proposed enhancement will also be in the interest of others in the greater community, and provide for the public good.

 

  1. WHO CONTACTS ME?

 

Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have already contacted or will contact you.  They will explain the procedures used in acquiring any necessary rights in land.

 

3.         WHAT ABOUT DONATIONS?       WHAT IS A RIGHT OF ENTRY?

 

            Town officials will often seek donations, of parcels, where permanent rights are required.  This procedure will minimize the acquisition cost for your community.

 

            A Right of Entry is a document that is signed by the owner.  It allows the Contractor to perform certain types of work on the owner’s land.  The work is usually minor in nature and frequently consists of loaming/seeding behind sidewalks, new driveway apron work, grading/sloping, and wetland protection, etc.  The rights granted are temporary in nature.

 

  1. WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR THE ACQUIRED PARCELS?

 

In the event that donations are not considered, or completed, every effort will be made to ensure that an equitable value is awarded.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ appraisers will complete an appraisal.  Consideration is given to the type of rights needed, whether in fee, permanent or temporary easements.  The appraisal will be the basis for arriving at a fair price (for damages that result).

 

  1. MUST I ACCEPT THE COMMONWEALTH’S OFFER?

 

No, if the owner feels that the offer is not fair the owner may petition the courts.  This action does not stop or delay the acquisition.  The action must occur within 3 years.  The owner(s) may be paid pro tanto (for the time being).  The pro tanto payment will not prejudice the court’s final decision.