Surface Options Currently Being Discussed
- Limited Access Trail - a soft surface (e.g., stone dust) trail that would exclude or limit many current users of the Minuteman Bikeway
- Full Access Trail - a paved surface as used on the Minuteman Bikeway
Recommendation
Based on the Town's Comprehensive Plan, the 2008 Surface Study funded by the Town, the expected users, and an examination of other bike paths in the region, the Bedford Friends of the MM Bikeway is recommending a paved surface for the Extension.
Reasons for a paved surface:
- Most cost effective
- Permits a wider variety of users
- More friendly to those with special needs
- Best meets the role the Town has outlined for it in its Master Plan, i.e., serving transportation and recreation needs
- It would be injudicious to use public tax dollars to construct a Minuteman Bikeway Extension that is not a full access trail
- Encourages more bike commuting which promotes a healthier community and helps lower congestion, pollution, and CO2 emissions in Town
- Best at containing rail bed contaminants
- Most weather resistant
- Least maintenance
- The most popular trail (and arguably the most popular recreational amenity) in Bedford is the (1.1 miles) paved Minuteman Bikeway. Extending it will benefit many. Those who desire a more solitary trail experience have over 20 miles of maintained trails available.
Documentation:
The VHB (consultant) Surface Report (2008) and Letter (2009), state that:
- Maintenance costs for a non-paved surface are 10 times those of pavement
- A 'hard' surface is more effective in containing the contaminants in the rail bed
- A paved, smooth surface is more durable and weather-resistant
Bedford trail user surveys compiled for the state (2007-2009), show:
- The paved trail is more popular for all types of users (e.g., walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers) than the gravel and stone dust rail trails in Town
- Bike commuters make up a large percentage of the Bedford MM Bikeway users during the early morning hours
- Small wheeled devices (rollerblades, scooters) which require a hard surface trail, are very popular on the MM Bikeway