Ayer Road TIP Project

Resources for Harvard's Transportation Improvement Program Project for Ayer Road Reconstruction (Updated to April 12, 2022)
TIP Alternative 3
TIP Alternative 3 (Preferred)

These pages include the resources for the proposed Ayer Road Reconstruction Project which will repave the road and add a 10' wide multi-use pedestrian/bicycle path. Currently this project is not programmed in the regional TIP but the Town is working diligently to get it programmed as soon as feasible. The design for the project has commenced, seeded with the $300,000 allocated by STM in 2019. It is currently at the 25% design phase and will progress to 75%, and 100% as milestones are met.

NEW: The 25% design public hearing sponsored by MassDOT was held on March 30th. The MassDOT PowerPoint presentation has been received and you can download it HERE. Please contact Chris Ryan at cryan@harvard.ma.us for any questions on this hearing. See latest 25% design drawings below.

 

NEW: Before & After - A drawing set showing existing paved area (orange) versus proposed (blue) so citizens and other stakeholders can see what is being changed.

 

The Harvard Select Board voted in December 2020 to authorize the Town's engineering consultant TEC to transition to the 25% design stage. 

 

The 25% Design letter has been submitted by the Town via engineering consultant TEC. You can view the letter HERE. The 25% design plans have been submitted by the Town to MassDOT. MassDOT reviewed these plans and provided feedback in June of 2021. The Town reviewed these comments with TEC and prepared a response which had been submitted to the MassDOT.

 

The Harvard Planning Board conducted a follow up listening session with the public on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00 pm as a Zoom Webinar. You can view this listening session HERE. Please contact Chris Ryan at 978.456.4100 x.323 or cryan@harvard.ma.us or ayerroadproject@harvard.ma.us if you have any questions.

 

For more information on the Transportation Improvement Program Process, go to MRPC's website HERE. For information on transportation planning in the Town of Harvard, please refer to the Circulation and Traffic chapter of the 2016 Master Plan HERE

The Harvard DPW and Planning Board hosted a first listening session for the public on Monday, June 22nd on Zoom and the video of this meeting can be found at THIS LINK. This meeting discussed the 10% design plans for public review and the three alternatives under consideration including a focus on the currently preferred Alternative 3. A second listening session for the public was held on Thursday, December 17th also on Zoom and the video of this meeting can be found at THIS LINK and using "Ayer Road TIP" in the search box.

MassDOT held a public hearing at the 25% design stage on March 30, 2022. However, please feel free to continue to submit comments and questions. You are also welcome to submit comments in regard to the update of the townwide Transportation Plan currently underway and expected to be completed in April 2022.

New 25% Designs (received 2/16/2022)

Pre-10% Design Alternative 3 Plans (Preferred - Updated 3-25-2020)

  • Widen Ayer Road on both sides to provide 11’ travel lanes with 4’ shoulders and a 10’ shared use path with a buffer on the west side of Ayer Road.
  • Realign Gebo Lane to intersect perpendicular with Ayer Road.
  • Slight realignment of Poor Farm Road to improve sight distance.
  • Close access at Lancaster County Road to/from Ayer Road.
  • The shared use path will run north parallel to Gebo Lane then east along Lancaster County Road to bypass the constraint of the existing bridge.

Alternative 3 was selected as the preferred design based on probable easier right-of-way acquisition and least disturbance to wetlands and was the alternative used to develop the 25% design.

Roundabout

The reconstruction of Ayer Road has in the past involved discussion of adding a roundabout and the Town had retained a consultant to assess this component. However, as current Town consulting engineer TEC has indicated, the location does not currently meet the requirements for a roundabout and the 10% design does not include one. As TEC states, "A roundabout at this location was suggested in the traffic calming study prepared by Bristol Traffic to improve some of the deficiencies at the intersection of Gebo Lane/Ayer Road/ post office driveway and to slow traffic.  However after further evaluation it was determined that a roundabout did not meet the applicable traffic warrant analysis and would create permanent impacts to conservation restricted land, requiring legislative action." Please refer to the Q&A page for MassDOT final assessment of the roundabout.

For more information on this project, please contact Chris Ryan at cryan@harvard.ma.us or AyerRoadProject@harvard.ma.us and it will be answered by the consultant and/or Town officials. It is recommended that before you ask your question or make your comment, that you scroll through the questions that have already been posted as it may include the information you are seeking.