A linear trail and park

The Town of Belmont has retained Pare Corporation and Toole Design to recommend the final alignment and to design Phase 2 which will connect from the Clark Street bridge to the Waltham city line with a linear trail and park. The Belmont Community Path is a generational off-road, multi-use path that will provide recreational opportunities and a safe, walkable, and bikeable route to cultural, economic, and social anchors. It will also serve as a critical piece of the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) which will connect Boston and Northampton.

Project Summary

The scope of work for Phase 2 of the Belmont Community Path (from Clark Street Bridge to the Waltham city line) broadly includes the recommendation of a final path alignment, public engagement, design development and construction documents. Phase 2 of the Belmont Community Path will have a connection to the proposed Phase 1 segment as well as the recently constructed Waltham component of the MCRT, which was designed by Pare.

In December 2017, the Town Select Board voted unanimously to approve the recommendations of the Feasibility Study conducted by the Pare Team. With the initiation of Phase 2, the Town is seeking to reaffirm the constructability of the route as well as continued community and agency support. Since some elements in town have changed, new information is being gathered, and lessons have been learned through the design of Phase 1, it is possible the ultimate path may differ from the one recommended in the Feasibility Study. The confirmed, recommended route will be determined in May when approval by the Select Board will be sought.

  • Public participation is very important to the design development of Phase 2. A public engagement plan need developed and will include: ongoing updates on this website, the public survey, an intercept activity, and several public meetings during the project timeline. Please take the survey! And look for updates with important dates and opportunities to provide input. You can always ask questions or make comments on this project – just use the form below.

    Upon approval by the Select Board, the Pare Team will begin design development of Phase 2. This work will generally include a field topographic survey, traffic counts, additional soil borings, continuing coordination with state agencies, preliminary design through the development of construction documents, permitting, and opportunities for public participation throughout. Significant milestones will include completion of the survey and due diligence through the summer of 2023, 25% Design near the end of 2023, and documents ready for bid by the end of 2024.

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We welcome your comments.

BELMONT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING DIVISION

COMMDEV@BELMONT-MA.GOV

(617) 993-2666