Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch

Waltham, MA
Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch
Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch
Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch
Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch

Design of the Waltham Component of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch

Waltham, MA
Awaiting the Wayside
  • Coordinate with City officials and MADCR staff
  • Evaluate existing conditions
  • Public outreach
  • Roadway crossings design
  • Structural design
  • Permitting
  • Final design of bike path, access, and amenities
Overview

The City of Waltham retained Pare Corporation to provide professional design and permitting services for the middle segment of Waltham’s portion of the Mass Central Rail Trail – Wayside Branch. The design included development of the path, its access, roadway crossings, and associated amenities.

Inherent in the design of the linear trail were the assessment and design for repair and reconstruction of various structures, including a timber bridge, a steel truss bridge, and culverts that used to support the original rail. Additionally, slopes adjacent to the trail required the design of two retaining walls.

In addition to the linear trail design, the project included detailed design for each roadway crossing, inclusive of raised crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons, and High-Intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) beacons. Finer details, including wayfinding, mile markers and other amenities were developed through a public engagement process as well as coordination with the City and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Construction was substantially complete in September 2023.

Key Contacts
Key Contacts
Amy Archer, P.E.
Senior Project Engineer
Amy has led most of Pare’s recent multi-use trail study and design projects and also specializes in traffic analysis and design.
Contact
Contact
Key Contacts
Key Contacts
John Shevlin, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
John has over 35 years of experience on a variety of transportation projects, including bike paths, highways, bridges, and pedestrian and traffic safety.
Contact
Contact
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“I cannot overstate the complexity of this project; it had every challenge known in trail design/construction. Pare’s experience in trail design and ability to work well with people enabled the project to stay on track to construction. Our project manager, Amy Archer PE, was excellent. She was able to communicate and manage expectations of officials and residents but also DEP, MBTA, and DCR. Information was clearly and concisely presented no matter who the audience was. Her management style and technical expertise allowed decisions to be made and everyone to advance forward together.”

– Catherine Cagle, Former Director of Planning (retired), City of Waltham, MA