WATERBURY NAUGATUCK RIVER GREENWAY ROUTING AND FEASIBILITY STUDY WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT FINAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2010 This project has been funded by a grant from the United Way of Greater Waterbury Waterbury Naugatuck River Greenway Advisory Committee Ronald A. Napoli, Chair Kathleen McNamara, Vice-Chair Kristen M. Bulkovitch Theresa A. Caldarone Kenny Curran Joyce DeCesare Lawrence V. DePillo Samuel Gold Senator Joan V. Hartley John P. Lawlor, Jr. John Murray Miriam Niederman Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. Michael A. Ptak James M. O’Rourke M. Catherine Smith William Wesson Kevin R. Zak For additional information about the Naugatuck River Greenway, please contact: Waterbury Development Corporation 24 Leavenworth Street Waterbury, CT 06702‐2121 203.346.2607 www.wdconline.org Table of Contents I. OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Public Process ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................................. 3 II. EXISTING CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 PHYSICAL FEATURES MAPPING ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Length, Dimensions, Boundaries and Topography ................................................................................................................. 6 Composition of Soils and Geology .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Surrounding Land Uses ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Erosion and Drainage ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Traffic and Roadway Capacity ......................................................................................................................................... 10 NATURAL FEATURES ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 CULTURAL, HISTORIC AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................ 16 Structures in the Potential Routes ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Huntingdon Avenue ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Utility Assessment ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Utility Poles ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Signalized Intersections .................................................................................................................................................. 20 Bridges ............................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Utilities on Other Properties ........................................................................................................................................... 20 LINKS/CONNECTIONS ................................................................................................................................................... 21 IMPACTS TO ADJACENT LAND USES ................................................................................................................................. 21 BRIDGES, INTERSECTIONS AND ACCESS POINTS .................................................................................................................. 22 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................... 26 EXISTING CONDITIONS SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 27 References ...................................................................................................................................................................... 28 OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS DIAGRAMS ................................................................................................................. 29 III. ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 37 IV. PROPOSED GREENWAY ROUTE ..................................................................................................................... 43 North End ............................................................................................................................................................................. 43 Thomaston Avenue Section .................................................................................................................................................. 46 Downtown Section ............................................................................................................................................................... 50 South Main Street Section .................................................................................................................................................... 56 V. CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 63 Green Construction ............................................................................................................................................................... 63 Construction Methods .......................................................................................................................................................... 63 Construction Materials ......................................................................................................................................................... 64 VI. COST ESTIMATE ........................................................................................................................................... 65 Right‐of‐Way Acquisition Costs ............................................................................................................................................ 65 Engineering Costs ................................................................................................................................................................. 65 Construction Costs ................................................................................................................................................................ 65 Remediation Costs ................................................................................................................................................................ 69 VII. FUNDING SOURCES ..................................................................................................................................... 71 Municipal Bonds ................................................................................................................................................................... 71 Greenway Trust Fund ........................................................................................................................................................... 71 Adopt‐A‐Trail Programs........................................................................................................................................................ 71 Federal Transportation Funding ........................................................................................................................................... 71 Recreational Trails Program ................................................................................................................................................. 72 State Funding ....................................................................................................................................................................... 72 Design Arts Program ............................................................................................................................................................ 72 VIII.