Upper Charles Trail

Upper Charles Trail - History

1993 

Holliston Seeks Creation of Bike Trail With Linkages to Surrounding Towns.

1994 

Upper Charles Conservation Inc. (Local Land Trust) Approaches MAPC for Feasibility Study.v     Letters of Support from town officials and Legislators.

1996

MAPC Awarded Grant To Conduct Study.v     Public Meetings Held in Milford & Hopkinton.

1997

Sherborn, Holliston, &  Milford Boards of Selectmen Sign Resolution Supporting Development and Maintenance.v     MAPC Completes Feasibility Study.v     Milford Water Company Agrees to Grant Easement to the Town.v     Milford Approves Acquisition Conrail ROW            -- (2250 ft.) Main Street to Cedar Swamp Pond.v     Milford Upper Charles Trail Comm. Formed.

1998

Holliston Awarded $500,000 Grant to Construct 2.6 Miles of Trail.v     Town Meeting Appropriated $145K (Phase 1 Design & Land Acquisition)          

1999

Phase 1- Trail Corridor Surveyed.v     Phase 1- Wetlands Identified.v     Phase 1- Private & Public Land Parcels Identified.v     Phase 1 - Abutters Meeting Held. v     MHD District 3 & MAPC Briefings.v     Phase 1- Land Acquisition Authorized by  Town Meeting.

2000

Phase 1- GPI Completed Boundary Plans.v     Phase 1- GPI Completed 75% Design Plans (Ready for MassHighway TEA-21 Funding Application).v     Phase 1- Division of Conservation Services Awards $116K Grant to the Town for Land Acquisition.v     Town Meeting Appropriated $3K( Phase 2 Land Appraisal Fees).v     Town Meeting Appropriated $150K (Phase 2 Design and Land Acquisition).

2001

Submitted Phase 1 TEA-21 Funding Application.v     Awarded Phase 2 Design Contract to GPI.v     Completed all Phase 1 Land Acquisitions.v     Initiated Phase 2 Discussions with New England Power Co.

2003

v     Executive Office of Transportation and Construction Approves Phase 1 TEA-21 Funding Application.

Added Senior Center Connection to Phase 2 Design.v     Metropolitan Planning Organization Programmed Phase 1 on the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

2002

MassHighway Completes Phase 1 Design Review.v     Initiated Negotiations with Phase 2 Private             Land Owners (Milford Water Co., Medway Road LLC, & NEP Co.).v     Phase 2 – Land Acquisition Authorized By town Meeting.v     Milford Water Co. Grants Phase 2 Easement.v     MassHighway concluded Phase 1 Public Hearing.

2004

Milford Conservation Commission  Issued Phase 1 Orders of Conditions.v     Phase 1 - GPI Completes 100% Design Plans and Bid Documents.v     Trail Use Guidelines Approved by Park Commissioners.v     Trail Use By-Law Approved By Town Meeting.v     Phase 2 Design and Construction Cost Estimates Substantially Increased.v     MassHighway Solicits Phase 1 Construction Bids.

2005

  March - MassHighway awards Phase 1 Construction  Contract.v     March - First “Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail” Meeting Held.

Phase 2 - Submitted request for additional Town Funds.

Upper Charles Trail Connecting Milford, Hopkinton, Ashland, Sherborn, and Holliston, Massachusetts