EASTHAMPTON – The city of Easthampton received a $330,000 grant from the MassTrails Grant Program to enhance the Manhan Rail Trail.
The grant is part of the Healey-Driscoll administration’s announcement of $12 million that was awarded to 65 trail improvement projects across Massachusetts.
“The MassTrails Grant Program expands and links the state’s networks of off-road, shared-use pathways and recreational trails through matching grants, technical assistance, and resources available to municipalities, non-profits, and other public entities,” read the state’s announcement about the grant program. “These grants will significantly bolster community and recreational trail networks, supporting the creation of new multi-use trails, enhancing accessibility, establishing connections between towns, constructing boardwalks and bridges, implementing signage and expanding trail corridors across the state.”
In Easthampton, the grant will fund the removal of trees and roots heaving the trail and causing disrepair to pavement conditions on the Manhan Rail Trail.
“The pavement in these areas is hazardous to users,” the project description says.
The pavements repair in the area will include minor crack repairs and sealing, asphalt repairs through a mill and overlay, full-depth trench repairs with tree removal, tree root removals and root barrier installations and other tree removal and root barrier installs to protect pavement.
“We are thrilled with the announcement of this award, which will help us continue our mission of providing a safe and accessible facility for Easthampton and surrounding communities,” said Barbara LaBombard, chair of the Manhan Rail Trail Committee, and Wendy Hammerle, the president of the Friends of the Manhan Rail Trail, in a joint statement.
The Manhan Rail Trail, which connects to the Northampton system of trails, has a total length of 6 miles in Easthampton and was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2020.
Easthampton was one of many communities in the area to receive money from this grant program.
Northampton received $500,000 to help fund the rehabilitation of the city’s portion of the Mass Central Rail Trail.
According to information from the state, the money will be used for a planned city project to rehabilitate 2.6 miles of the “Northampton Bikeway” section on the Mass Central Rail Trail, which is located from State Street to Bridge Road.
This section receives routine maintenance like pothole repairs, according to the state, but there has been no structural maintenance since 1982, which is when the trail was first constructed.
The grant will help fund asphalt resurfacing, pavement markings, signage and ADA-compliant at-grade rail trail crossings.
In early June, the city announced that the Mass Central Rail Trail between Jackson Street and Stoddard Street will be closed until the end of August, most likely.
According to the announcement on the city website, the lengthy closure is accommodating a drainage reconstruction project at Adare Place. The project will be completed as preparation for a future repaving project in the area.
In a statement to Reminder Publishing, Donna LaScaleia, the DPW director, said that the project is needed to make sure the road is draining properly, and the long-term integrity of the bike path is maintained.
“This is a significant project that we’ve spent considerable time designing and permitting, and we are pleased to see it moving forward,” LaScaleia said. “After this work is complete, we will be paving the bike path from Stop and Shop to the Look Park roundabout.”
