Naugatuck River Greenway Routing Study: Overview
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Regional Naugatuck River Greenway Routing Study Table of Contents 1. Overview ............................................................................................... 5 2. Mission and Goals ..................................................................................... 7 3. Study Methodology .................................................................................... 8 4. Study Area .............................................................................................. 9 5. Potential Greenway Routing Analysis ............................................................ 12 6. Obstacles to Access and Connectivity (Gap Analysis) ......................................... 18 7. Affected Property Data ............................................................................ 20 8. General Construction Feasibility and Cost ...................................................... 21 9. Brownfields and Environmental Constraints .................................................... 22 10. Safety and Security ................................................................................ 23 11. Permitting Issues .................................................................................. 24 12. Coordination with Other Studies ................................................................ 27 13. Community Input .................................................................................. 30 14. Opportunities and Challenges ................................................................... 31 15. Recommended Greenway Routing .............................................................. 36 15a. Recommended Greenway Routing – Thomaston ............................................. 37 15b. Recommended Greenway Routing – Watertown ............................................ 46 15c. Recommended Greenway Routing – Waterbury ............................................. 55 15d. Recommended Greenway Routing – Naugatuck ............................................. 62 15e. Recommended Greenway Routing – Beacon Falls ........................................... 72 16. Use of the Rail Corridor .......................................................................... 83 17. Recommended Trail Section Limits ............................................................. 88 18. Trail Section Prioritization ....................................................................... 88 19. Cost Estimate ...................................................................................... 91 20. Community Phasing Plans ........................................................................ 93 21. Greenway Zoning .................................................................................. 94 22. Funding Sources .................................................................................... 95 23. Next Steps .......................................................................................... 98 Appendices Appendix A – Community Input Detailed .......................................................... 102 Appendix B – Land Parcel Inventory and Maps .................................................... 104 Appendix C – Detailed Cost Estimate Tables ...................................................... 114 Appendix C1 – Thomaston Detailed Cost Estimate Tables ...................................... 116 Appendix C2 – Watertown Detailed Cost Estimate Tables ...................................... 140 Appendix C3 – Naugatuck Detailed Cost Estimate Tables ....................................... 143 Appendix C4 – Beacon Falls Detailed Cost Estimate Tables .................................... 193 List of Figures Figure 1: Map showing the five municipalities affected by this Study, though the alignment through Waterbury was determined separately. ......................... 5 Figure 2: Greenway Routing Analysis – Thomaston. .............................................. 14 Figure 3: Greenway Routing Analysis – Watertown. .............................................. 15 Final Regional Overview Report | 1 Regional Naugatuck River Greenway Routing Study Figure 4: Greenway Routing Analysis – Naugatuck. ............................................... 16 Figure 5: Greenway Routing Analysis – Beacon Falls. ............................................. 17 Figure 6: Opportunities and Challenges in Thomaston. .......................................... 32 Figure 7: Opportunities and Challenges in Watertown. .......................................... 33 Figure 8: Opportunities and Challenges in Naugatuck. ........................................... 34 Figure 9: Opportunities and Challenges in Beacon Falls. ........................................ 35 Figure 10: Recommended Greenway Routing Concept in Thomaston. ........................ 38 Figure 11: Existing (top) and proposed view looking southwest to the new at-grade crossing of Hill Road. ................................................................. 40 Figure 12: Site cross-section showing the recommended greenway alignment adjacent to the commercial properties between the river and South Main Street at far left. ................................................................... 41 Figure 13: View looking west to the Pine Hill/Waterbury Road intersection from below Route 8 (top) with proposed trail runs within the shoulder of the on ramp to Route 8 northbound. ............................................................... 43 Figure 14: Recommended Greenway Routing Concept in Watertown. ........................ 47 Figure 15: Trail cross-section north of Frost Bridge Road (Route 262) showing the greenway trail’s relationship to the Naugatuck River, the Naugatuck Railroad and Route 8. ............................................................... 48 Figure 16: Greenway trail intersection with Frost Bridge Road (Route 262) and the Naugatuck Railroad. Improvements include: a greenway-user activated traffic signal and railroad crossing warning lights, signage and gates. ........... 49 Figure 17: Trail cross-section south of Frost Bridge Road (Route 262) and potential new park space along the west bank of the Naugatuck River. ..................... 50 Figure 18: Potential greenway bridge between Watertown and Waterbury utilizing a rocky outcropping at the bend in the river adjacent to the intersection of Thomaston Avenue and Spruce Brook Road (not seen at right). ............. 51 Figure 19: Adopted Greenway Routing Concept in Waterbury. ................................. 56 Figure 20: Narrowing the wide travel lanes along Chase River Road provides the necessary space to accommodate the Waterbury NRG trail at the top of the river bank. ......................................................................... 58 Figure 21: Unique lighting is recommended at key locations along the Waterbury NRG such as at the Jackson Street underpass where vehicles and bikes will share the street space. ................................................... 59 Figure 22: The trail from Washington Avenue will run adjacent to Railroad Hill Avenue before crossing the river over the Eagle Street bridge. ................ 60 Figure 23: Low traffic volumes along South Main Street provides an opportunity to reconfigure the roadway with three travel lanes to provide space for the trail. ........ 61 Figure 24: Recommended Greenway Routing Concept in Naugatuck. ......................... 63 Figure 25: Cross-section showing the greenway trail at the edge of the Metro-North rail corridor. ........................................................................ 64 2 | Final Regional Overview Report Regional Naugatuck River Greenway Routing Study Figure 26: Proposed photographic simulation of the NRG trail alongside the Waterbury Branch rail line north of the Prospect Street Bridge, potentially as far north as the Bristol Street bridge in Waterbury. ............................ 65 Figure 27: New street trees, bike lanes and other sidewalk improvements will enhance the connection from the greenway trail to the train station along Water Street. .................................................................................... 66 Figure 28: Site cross-section of the Naugatuck River showing the NRG on the left, adjacent to the Borough’s proposed recreational fields. ......................... 67 Figure 29: Trail alignment at the south end of Naugatuck illustrating the proposed location for a new bridge across the Naugatuck River. (Note: Downtown Naugatuck is to the right, the State Forest to the left.) .................. 68 Figure 30: Recommended Greenway Routing Concept in Beacon Falls. ....................... 73 Figure 31: Cross-sectional view of the Naugatuck River Valley illustrating the large span bridge featured in the West Option. .............................................. 77 Figure 32: Existing and photo-simulation view of the west end of the long-span bridge over Route 8, the river and the railroad line. The structural piers are configured to accommodate a second track in the future. .......................... 78 Figure 33: Existing and photo-simulation view of the rail corridor adjacent to Lopus Road (at left) between the O&G wash plant (background) and Toby’s Pond and Recreational Park. ................................................................ 80 Figure 34: Rail with Trail Alignment Diagram for Watertown. .................................. 85 Figure 35: Rail with Trail Alignment Diagram for Naugatuck. .................................. 86 Figure 36: Rail with Trail Alignment Diagram for