Trails committee readies MassTrails/CPA materials as bridge decking, quotes and letters of support are sought

Satiandra Sharma, a member of the Town of Southborough Trails Committee, told the group on June 11 that the committee must finalize updated cost estimates and gather letters of support for a MassTrails/CPA application due June 30.

Sharma summarized earlier minutes that described phase-one work and noted the committee’s interest in possibly changing bridge decking from composite to wood — partly to reduce cost and partly because an engineer’s report indicated a composite-deck project in another town had experienced electrical conduction problems that project leads later corrected by switching decking materials. "Beals and Thomas… were working with a project in Worcester who used a composite bridge modular bridge and the composite material was conducting an electricity so people would get a little shock as they walked across," Sharma said, citing the engineer firm’s account.

Committee members agreed the next steps are to obtain updated bridge costs and to ask Beals and Thomas whether they will provide a quote for bid preparation or for review services the committee can include in the application. The committee will also compile letters of support from partners, including site security/MWA and other municipal or state contacts; DCR was discussed as a potential partner but noted to be on a different side of the site area.

Why it matters: The application deadline — and the scale of the bridge procurement — make timely, accurate cost and scope estimates critical for a competitive grant submission. The committee set a tentative follow-up meeting for June 25 to finalize the application materials and to ensure quotes and letters are assembled.

No formal contract awards or final design decisions were made at the meeting; members treated Beals and Thomas as a vendor to be asked for a quote and planned to include any provided estimate in the application packet.