Committee eyes $2,500 feasibility study, ConnDOT constraints for Lakeville sidewalk extension

The Salisbury Pathways Committee on Dec. 15, 2014, moved from formation work to project planning, reviewing state agency constraints and an engineer’s cost estimate as it prepares to request town funding for a feasibility study.

Pat Hackett summarized a conversation with ConnDOT representative Peter Talarico, who told the committee there is limited state funding for sidewalk work and that local funding plus an encroachment permit through District IV is a likely path forward. Hackett reported ConnDOT sees Route 44 as a candidate for resurfacing within about five years and noted design constraints including a required 2% cross slope and typical minimum lane widths; restriping after an overlay may allow added shoulder width for pedestrians.

Natalia Smirnova presented a good-faith emailed estimate from Robert Gilchrest of Allied Engineering Associates (AEA). The firm estimated a schematic feasibility/design fee of $2,500 (about 3.7% of project cost) and provided a potential pre-design cost for roughly 800 linear feet of 5‑foot sidewalk totaling about $67,000; that figure excludes contingency, design fees, surveying, permitting, taxes and contractor overhead.

Katherine Kiefer said she will seek Selectmen approval on Jan. 5 to allocate $2,500 to fund the feasibility study; she noted that the consultant who provided the estimate would still be eligible to bid on later work. Committee members agreed to pursue potential grants (STEAP or Main Street Investment Fund) and regional partnerships as possible funding or technical support.

Citizens attending urged timely action to meet grant deadlines and recommended outreach to Salisbury Central School parents to build support for the Selectmen request. Dan Bolognani, executive director of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, encouraged partnerships with BikeWalkCT and inclusion in regional greenway planning to boost safety, tourism and local commerce; Frank Shinneman said he would pursue connections with those organizations.

The committee set a Jan. 26 agenda to report on the STEAP schedule, the Selectmen funding request outcome and outreach to walking/biking organizations. The meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m.; minutes were submitted by Secretary Natalia V. Smirnova.