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Welcome to the homepage for Wareham's Community Pathway!
Why a Community Pathway? By the end of the 19th century, cycling was growing from a hobby to an established form of transport in various countries. Cyclists began to campaign to improve existing, often poorly surfaced, roads and tracks. With the advent of the motor car, it became apparent that there would be serious safety issues. Because of safety concerns cyclists have lobbied all over the world for segregated bike paths. Quality of life, health benefits, environmental improvements and safety are certainly positive advantages to construction of bike paths throughout the country.
People living in the suburbs are forced to use automobiles for their everyday transportation needs. Schools, shopping and workplaces are often too distant to be reached by walking and public transit is not always available. A bicycle provides personal transportation which is available when needed without waiting or adapting to a schedule. The major impediment to cycling is a lack of connectivity. In a sprawling community such as Wareham all the "villages" could be effectively connected.
In today’s economics, if cycling is used more for transport, people could use the saved automobile costs elsewhere.
Southeastern Regional Planning Economic Development District (SRPEDD) Recommendations
Introduction:
The Town of Wareham enlisted SRPEDD to help determine a route for a proposed bikeway through the town. A connection between Marion and Buzzards Bay was sought, as there is a planned bikeway in Marion and an existing one in Buzzards Bay. A town-appointed Bike Committee was formed in order to explore possible bike routes, costs, and sources of funding.
SRPEDD staff and the Community Pathway Committee developed a proposed route with alternatives that was presented to the Board of Selectmen in May of 2008, which they approved, pending the results of a feasibility study.
The report outlines the process for selecting a desired route through the town based on cost effective engineering, construction and maintenance measures. Analysis of existing right-of-ways in the town, maps and photographs of the recommended route are included along with potential funding sources and Mass Highway Design Guide standards.
Bikeways Explanation:
The term "bikeway" can be used to describe any facility for use by bicyclists. There are three classes to bikeways, Classes I, II and III. Class I bikeways are bicycle paths that exist separated from roadways or in their own right-of-way. They are two directional and typically 10-12 feet wide in pavement. Class II bikeways are bicycle lanes on existing roadways. They are typically 5-6 feet wide and are located between the outside travel lane and either the edge of the paved roadway or the parking lane. Class III bikeways are shared travel lanes, where automobiles and bicycles share the same lane. These lanes are usually at least 14 feet in total width and are usually the same as normal lanes except they may be signed as shared routes. Generally, Class I and II bikeways are preferred in all cases over Class III bikeways.
Wareham Community Pathway:
The proposed Wareham Community Pathway will be approximately 12 miles in length, and will connect the Marion Bike Path on Old County Road, through Wareham to Buzzard’s Bay Town Line at Cranberry Highway. The proposed route will follow County Road to Fearing Hill Road. It will then follow Fearing Hill Road until it reaches the old abandoned rail road tracks (Fairhaven Industrial right-of-way), turning north to the active rail-line of Buzzards Bay Secondary right-of-way (the trash train). An alternative would be to continue on Fearing Hill Road to the active rail in Wareham.
Within the Buzzard Bay Secondary right-of-way the path would turn Souteast and run along the Southern side of the rail road tracks to Wareham Center. It would then cross over Sandwich Road, follow the right-of-way to Depot Street Crossing and continue along the right-of-way to the Cohasset Narrows at the Buzzards Bay town line.
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