Spring Break
Town granted $300,000 for bikeway project
Zach Bzdyra
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
The town of Mansfield will receive $300,000 in federal stimulus funding for the Birch Road Bikeway project as a result of the Recovery Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in February of this year.
The project will create approximately 700 feet of paved pathway that will connect the existing bikeway on Hunting Lodge Road to the one on Route 44 and complete the pathway circuit through the woods.
"[The completed path] benefits all of the students at UConn and the local community," said Rep. Merrill.
The fact that trees have to be cut down and cleared has raised concern with some.
"I think the biggest issue when cutting down trees and removing plants and rocks is controlling natural water flows to prevent erosion," said Gregg Corso, a 4th-semester natural resources management major. "Erosion and the displacement of animals are probably the two biggest concerns with clearing a forested area."
Corso did admit that if proper measures are taken to redirect water flows with drainage systems there should not be too great of a concern about erosion.
As of a week ago, town officials expected the Birch Road Bikeway project to go out to bid within the month following further discussions to work out details with the state. The project could be completed in four to six months - just in time for the beginning of the fall semester and a walk or bike ride on the newly created path to bask in the waning days of summer or to enjoy the changing New England foliage.
The Birch Road Bikeway project was selected from over 2,000 other projects that had been proposed by towns and cities across the state in hopes of qualifying for federal stimulus funding. Charged with selecting which of these "shovel-ready" projects would be granted funding is the Recovery Working Group that was assembled by the state. "Shovel-ready" is a term used to denote a project that is ready to begin immediately, and will have the fastest turnaround from disbursement of funding to completion of the project.
According to State Representative Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield), this project was chosen during the first round of project selection for stimulus money because the Working Group was looking for projects that could be completed quickly and help stimulate the economy immediately, and the Birch Road Bikeway project "is exactly what they [the members of the Working Group] were looking for."
As stated on Rep. Merrill's Web page, it is important during times of economic decline that federal stimulus funding reaches small communities, such as rural Mansfield, and care is taken to not overlook them while the greater federal focus may be on populous cities and industrial areas.
In order to stimulate the economy, the plan will provide labor jobs for people to clear and remove trees, install drainage systems and lay foundations. But, just as important as the jobs that will be provided are the project's intentions of enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access in the area.
The project will create approximately 700 feet of paved pathway that will connect the existing bikeway on Hunting Lodge Road to the one on Route 44 and complete the pathway circuit through the woods.
"[The completed path] benefits all of the students at UConn and the local community," said Rep. Merrill.
The fact that trees have to be cut down and cleared has raised concern with some.
"I think the biggest issue when cutting down trees and removing plants and rocks is controlling natural water flows to prevent erosion," said Gregg Corso, a 4th-semester natural resources management major. "Erosion and the displacement of animals are probably the two biggest concerns with clearing a forested area."
Corso did admit that if proper measures are taken to redirect water flows with drainage systems there should not be too great of a concern about erosion.
As of a week ago, town officials expected the Birch Road Bikeway project to go out to bid within the month following further discussions to work out details with the state. The project could be completed in four to six months - just in time for the beginning of the fall semester and a walk or bike ride on the newly created path to bask in the waning days of summer or to enjoy the changing New England foliage.
The Birch Road Bikeway project was selected from over 2,000 other projects that had been proposed by towns and cities across the state in hopes of qualifying for federal stimulus funding. Charged with selecting which of these "shovel-ready" projects would be granted funding is the Recovery Working Group that was assembled by the state. "Shovel-ready" is a term used to denote a project that is ready to begin immediately, and will have the fastest turnaround from disbursement of funding to completion of the project.
According to State Representative Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield), this project was chosen during the first round of project selection for stimulus money because the Working Group was looking for projects that could be completed quickly and help stimulate the economy immediately, and the Birch Road Bikeway project "is exactly what they [the members of the Working Group] were looking for."
As stated on Rep. Merrill's Web page, it is important during times of economic decline that federal stimulus funding reaches small communities, such as rural Mansfield, and care is taken to not overlook them while the greater federal focus may be on populous cities and industrial areas.
In order to stimulate the economy, the plan will provide labor jobs for people to clear and remove trees, install drainage systems and lay foundations. But, just as important as the jobs that will be provided are the project's intentions of enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access in the area.
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