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Concord's Choice
Rural Trails in Linear Parks
Mass Highway Specs
Highspeed Asphalt Bikeways
If Concord goes with the default Mass Highway spec, a paved surface capable of supporting bicycle traffic at speeds of 20-30 mph will be constructed, cutting a swath over 20 feet wide through the wetlands and woods of rural Concord.
The Massachusetts standard urban automobile lane minimum width is only 9 to 12 feet!
We don't have to accept a high speed asphalt highway in our very special environment and community. You have a choice if you let your voice be heard. We can preserve the historic, environmental and rural feel of our town. The Communities First provides us the right and responsibility to make the the right decisions for Concord.
Join us and help ensure Concord's rural trails are preserved. You don't have to settle for the Mass Highway default.
Clearing a 21 foot wide swatch will take down many trees along the existing rail bed through West Concord. This picture shows the startlingly amount of trees and clearing required to install the default Mass spec rail trail project.
Contrast a relaxing rural trail with a paved roadway. Each has it's place and our wetlands and rural town environs deserve an appropriate natural surface.
High speed bikeways require large clear cutting at intersections for safety; bikes traveling at speed don't often stop even with barriers and an attempt to minimize the risk of accidents with street traffic results in large areas of clearcutting to increase line of sight.
Natural surface trails offer a more relaxing experience and limit bike speeds naturally. The need and amount of tree cutting is greatly reduced and in some cases, simply not required.
Natural surfaces are not only more attractive but can actually resist the impacts of weather (frost heaves, etc) better than pavement. They provide much better drainage, preventing unhealthy runoff issues for wetland areas like those found in Concord. Natural surfaces are more friendly to wildlife as well as providing broader potential usage by being jogger, hiker, biker, cross country skier, and family friendly. Numerous studies have shown a much lower cost of construction and trail upkeep is less harmful to the environment than paving and pavement repairs.
The difference in experience is obvious; a relaxing family bike trip as contrasted by the traffic on a higher speed bikeway.
It's not hard to see the difference between a greenway and the Mass spec clearcutting.
