Construction/Design Update

July 2006

For additional information contact:

Mark C. Jewell, Outdoor Recreation Planner
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
One Depot Square
Woonsocket, RI 02895
401 762-0250
mark_jewell@nps.gov

Overview

The concept of a 48 mile bikeway through the historic Blackstone River Valley, connecting Worcester, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island, has been championed by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The highway and environmental agencies in both states have joined together to make the concept a reality. Currently, seven miles are completed in RI and three miles in MA. The twenty eight mile, Blackstone River Bikeway in Massachusetts was first given form in 1996 when the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (formerly DEM) published the Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study. Beginning in 1994, under an agreement between the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) and the Department of Environmental Management (now DCR), Cullinan Engineering Company, Inc., surveyed the potential bikeway route in Massachusetts and developed a preferred alignment. The route was divided into seven segments as indicated in the table below, from Segment 1 beginning at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island State Line to Segment 7 ending at the Worcester City Common. The proposed alignment passes through the Preserve America communities of Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Grafton, Sutton, Millbury, and Worcester.

Project Timeline & Status

• 1996 Conceptual Design/Feasibility Study Completed by MHD & DCR
• 2001 Blackstone River Bikeway Taskforce created by MHD
• 2001 MHD hires consultant for final design of segment 2 in Uxbridge/Millville (this segment is at 25% design, public hearing to be scheduled this summer)
• 2004 www.blackstoneriverbikeway.com was created by the BV Chamber of Commerce
• 2005 MHD completes Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF)
• 2006, June - MHD holds the Grand Opening of 2.5 miles of Bikeway within the Rt. 146 project area
• 2006 (April 7th) MHD advertised for EIR/Final design of segments 3-5. (16 miles)
• 2006 MHD anticipates awarding design contract summer 2006

Summary of Municipal Mileage

Blackstone – 2.0 miles
Millville – 1.5 miles
Uxbridge – 6.5 miles
Northbridge – 5.5 miles
Grafton – 3.0 miles
Sutton – 1.0 mile
Millbury – 3.5 miles
Worcester – 5.5 miles

Funding History

Current cost estimates for completing the remaining bikeway from the Rhode Island state line to the Worcester City Common are in the range of $30 million. In 1998, via TEA-21 legislation, Congress approved approximately $6 million in High Priority Project funding for the bikeway. In 2005, another $5.6 million in High Priority Project funding was secured via the reauthorization of TEA-21. Additional funding that has been utilized or is anticipated to be utilized includes state funds, Congestion, Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) funds and federal Alternative Transportation Funds.

What Happens Next

• Summer '06 - 25% design public hearing for segment 2 (Uxbridge/Millville)
• Summer '06 - MHD awards contract for EIR/Final Design of segments 3-5 (16 miles)
• 2006 - MHD & DCR continue to work out the details related to right-of-way.
• 2006- DCR anticipates discussing issues of policing/maintenance with each community.

Summary of Bikeway Segments*

Segment 1: Blackstone/Millville - Total Length 15,425 ft (4,701 m) (2.92 miles)
Segment 2: Millville/Uxbridge - Total Length 17,427 ft (5,312 m) (3.30 miles)
Segment 3A: Uxbridge/Northbridge - Total Length 29,474 ft (8,983 m) (5.58 miles)
Segment 3B: Northbridge - Total Length 18,528 ft (5,647 m) (3.51 miles)
Segment 4: Northbridge/Grafton - Total length 7,324 ft (2,232 m) (1.39 miles)
Segment 5A: Grafton/Sutton - Total Length 13,807 ft (4,208 m) (2.61 miles)
Segment 5B: Sutton/Millbury - Total Length 10,311 ft (3,142 m) (1.95 miles)
Segment 5C: Millbury - Total Length 7,715 ft (2,351 m)(1.46 miles)
Segment 6(Rt. 146 Project): Millbury/Worcester - Total length 4+ miles (6+ km)
Segment 7N (Northbound): Worcester - Total Length 7,082 ft (2,158 m)(1.34 miles)
Segment 7S (Southbound): Worcester - Total Length 6,710 ft (2,045 m)(1.27 miles)

* Based on Massachusetts Blackstone River Bikeway Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study, Mass. Dept. of Environmental Management and Mass. Highway Department, September 1996