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The Nature
Trails and Sidewalk Commission is an advisory commission to the Board of
Selectmen, created in January 2006. In the
broadest sense, the Commission’s function is to assist in the
development of a more pedestrian friendly Marlborough. As the name of the Commission implies, two of its specific purposes are
to provide input and guidance regarding the development of a trail and
sidewalk network in Marlborough.
Commission Members:
E. Russell Johnston III, Chair
Robert Wilcox, Vice Chair
Louise Concodello, Secretary
Sherry Newman
Betty O’Brien
Cathy Phelps
Mike Malloy
Vacancy
Alternates:
Vacancy
Vacancy
Non-Voting Members:
Owen McGaughey
Contact: Peter Hughes, Planning and Development Director, Town Hall,
860-295-6202
Meeting Information: Meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the Town
Hall on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except as noted).
2010 Meeting Dates: January 27, February 24, March 24, April
28, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, October 27,
November 17, December 15
Completed Projects:
School Drive Sidewalk
 A
new sidewalk along the south side of School Drive from the elementary
school to the library was completed in 2008.
Two concrete block retaining walls with a natural stone look and
metal railing was constructed to minimize the impacts to the wetlands
near the library. The sidewalk was extended eastward along
School Drive connect to the trailhead of the Elementary School Nature
Trail system at the edge of the school parking lot.
This sidewalk will enhance pedestrian safety along School Drive and
encourage walking between the library, senior center, and elementary
school. The project was funded as part of the $775,000 received
from two Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grants the Town
received from the State of Connecticut.
Projects in Construction:
Town Center Improvement Project
 Work
is currently underway on the Town Center Improvement Project consisting
of the relocation of Jones Hollow Road further away from Route 66, Town
Green enhancements, sidewalks, stonewalls, and landscaping. This
project is being primarily funded by a $900,000 State STEAP grant that
the town has received. Completion is anticipated in late fall
2009.
The Town Center Improvement Project includes
- Larger Town Green, unbroken by Jones Hollow
Road.
- Moving the War Memorial from the Town Hall to
the Town Green
- Transfer of the land of the former roadbed of
Jones Hollow Road from the State to the Town
- Increased traffic queuing space on North Main
Street.
- Enhanced parking at the Town Hall
- Sidewalks within the Town Green and on
North/South Main Street from the Town Hall to the Congregational
Church to provide for pedestrian access to the commercial
developments along South Main Street.
- Pedestrian signals and crosswalks at the Route
66, North/South Main Street intersection.
- Addition of left turn lanes and signals on
both North and South Main Street at the Route 66 intersection.
Elementary School Nature Trail
 Over
two miles of paved and stone dust nature trails have been designed,
approved, and are ready to be constructed on Town open space to the
south and west of the Elementary School. Existing footpath trails
constructed in the early 1990s will be enhanced and new trails and
interconnecting loop trails will be added. Using existing
State grant funds, 4,400 feet of trail has been constructed as of spring
2009, including trails adjacent to a vernal pool.
The Town has applied for additional State grants to fund additional
segments of the network. In April 2009, a Marlborough Eagle
Scout project installed twenty interpretive signs along these trails
depicting notable landmarks and natural elements.
Other Projects:
Blackledge River Greenway – West Road to North Parker Road
 The
Blackledge River Greenway will eventually be an eight mile long
north-south trail that will extend from Glastonbury to Colchester.
It has been designated as an official Connecticut Greenway by the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (ConnDEP).
Construction of the 9000 foot long West Road to North Parker Road
section of this greenway consists of three phases extending through Town
open space and existing public-access conservation easements.
The design for all three phases is complete and construction has begun.
Phase I of this section will begin at West Road where a small parking
area will be constructed, and the trail will then continue about 3,300
feet south and east through Town open space. It will utilize a
public-access conservation easement west of Fox Meadow to a new bridge
across the Foot Sawmill Brook. The Town has received a $48,000
grant from the ConnDEP and construction of this phase is currently
underway which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2009.
Phase II will begin at North Parker Road and extend north and west
about 2400 feet. The Town has applied for an additional ConnDEP
grant for construction which is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2010
Phase III will complete the approximately 3300 foot long center
portion to connect Phase I and Phase II. The Town anticipates
making a future grant application with construction potentially in 2012.
Recreational Trail Master Plan
 This
commission has developed a master plan to help guide future trail
development in Marlborough. Connections to existing/planned trails
in all four surrounding Towns are sought, and the usage of natural
corridors is preferred. Many of the trails would be located in
existing State Forest and/or Town open space, while other trails would
utilize conservation easements through new and existing developments.
Click on the image of the
cover to view the plan.
Exit 12 Bus Stop Safety Improvements
 The
afternoon eastbound CT Transit commuter bus that serves the “park and
ride” lots at Route 2 Exit 12, presently stops on the side of North Main
Street just south of West Road to discharge passengers. These
passengers then cross North Main Street in front of the bus while cars
are trying to pass the bus. The Town’s Engineering consultants
have designed safety improvements to provide a designated bus stop area
and sidewalks extending from the bus stop to the commuter parking lots.
This will encourage people to cross North Main Street at a new crosswalk
in back of the bus where visibility for both the pedestrians and cars is
available. The project is anticipated to be bid in January 2010 with
construction during summer 2010.
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