Mary Byrne
The plans for Phase 2 of the Community Path bring the project into conflict with the Belmont Housing Authority because a critical piece of infrastructure encroaches on land owned by the Authority, which has plans for redevelopment.
The Select Board meeting Thursday night focused on finding a compromise to clear the way for the construction of Phase 2.
“The issue is the practicality of how do we get the path in such a way that we can also accomplish our affordable housing goals?,” asked Select Board Vice Chair Elizabeth Dionne. “It’s trying to weigh two goods against each other.”
In an initial layout feasibility study by path designer Pare Corporation, presented to the Community Path Project Committee last summer, the proposed route includes a bridge over the MBTA tracks from Pleasant Street onto the Belmont Housing Authority side of the tracks.
“It’s a pretty significant structure,” said Select Board Chair Roy Epstein. “The bridge has to be 22 ½ feet high when it crosses the track to meet MBTA height requirements. By the time that bridge gets over to the Belmont Housing Authority parcel, which is the intended destination of the bridge, the ground falls away a bit so you’re up at a considerable elevation, probably around 25 or 26 feet. … The biggest issue that arose from that proposal is the fact that there was, in effect, an encroachment on the Belmont Housing Authority land, the extent of which was not made clear to Belmont Housing Authority.”
That same summer, the Belmont Housing Authority shared its intention to redevelop that area. In a letter dated Aug. 18, the housing authority wrote, “Due to the high level of uncertainty surrounding Belmont Housing Authority’s plans for redevelopment of the Belmont Village site, the board is not currently able to vote in favor of a Phase 2 path alignment that passes through Belmont Housing Authority-owned land.”
Later that month, the Select Board asked Pare for ramp designs with specifically denoted elevations and how the land would be used. Pare responded to those requests the day before the Select Board’s April 18 meeting.
“They’ve provided two different scenarios, one has a ramp system a little steeper than the other one,” said Town Engineer Glenn Clancy. “The one that is less steep seems to be the more desirable of the two. … It’s important to note that one of the big constraints here for Pare, as the designer, is the need to stay 15 feet or more away from the active rail.”
Clancy acknowledged the timing is complicated. The authority plans to redevelop Sherman Gardens before Belmont Village.
“They control the property — we have to work with them,” said Dionne. “The challenge we have is that Sherman Gardens is the first priority in terms of redevelopment. Belmont Village is a few years down the road. It’s just tough. It’s just a timing issue. They’ve repeatedly expressed their support of the path, they want it to happen. I think we just have to find a way that we can get them comfortable.”
Vincent Stanton, a member of the Community Path Project Committee, advocated for more collaboration between the town and the committee.
“What I see is — starting several months ago — the committee is completely removed from the process. I think we could contribute to a solution here, but only if the Select Board wishes us to,” he said.
Years of Planning
The Belmont Community Path has been under discussion for more than two decades. In April, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) held a public hearing on its 25% design of Phase 1, which will go out to bid in February 2026.
Phase 1 will run from the Fitchburg Cutoff Path at the Cambridge line to the Clark Street bridge. When Phase 2 is finished, it will complete a 2-mile link in the Mass Central Rail Trail, which will eventually run 104 miles from Boston to Northampton.
According to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, Phase 1 will cost $21.3 million, with $17 million coming from the federal government and the balance from non-federal sources.
“We’re on the fourth decade of trying to do this path,” said Select Board member Matthew Taylor. “I think regardless of what housing costs, having access to a community path is a wonderful feature if we can find a way to make it happen. I’d love to find a way that we can do that.”
