Transportation Planning
Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway
View of the Deerfield River from the Mohawk Trail in Charlemont.
Project Overview
The National Scenic Byway Program is a federal transportation program that provides funding for eligible scenic byway projects. In order for a scenic byway to be eligible to receive funding, the road must be officially designated as a scenic byway and a corridor management plan must be completed. The Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway is one of four State designated scenic byways in Franklin County, and was one of the earliest scenic byways in New England receiving its designation in 1953. The Byway travels on Route 2 through Berkshire, Franklin and Worcester counties. In Franklin County, the Byway travels through the towns of Charlemont, Buckland, Shelburne, Greenfield, Gill, Erving, and Orange. A corridor management plan was completed in 2002 for the western section of the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway from Williamstown to Greenfield. This plan includes an inventory of the historic, cultural and natural resources; a scenic landscape assessment; an inventory of the heritage and recreational attractions; an evaluation of the existing land use regulations and resource protection measures for the towns along the byway; and a list of recommended future actions that are intended to balance future growth with the preservation of the Byway’s resources.
Work to complete a corridor management plan for the eastern section of the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway (Greenfield to Athol) is currently underway. A Byway Committee has formed and is meeting quarterly. The Byway Committee provides local insights about the Byway resources; reviews draft chapters of the report; and guides the plan development process. This comprehensive report will serve as a companion to the corridor management plan completed for the western section of the Byway. This plan will also include an inventory of the historic, cultural and natural resources; a scenic landscape assessment; an inventory of the heritage and recreational attractions; an evaluation of the existing land use regulations and resource protection measures for the towns along the byway; and a list of recommended future actions that are intended to balance future growth with the preservation of the Byway’s resources.
Current Activities
The FRCOG is working to implement the recommendations of the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan (June 2002). Funding has been secured through the National Scenic Byway Program to complete a number of the recommendations of the plan, and the FRCOG is advocating for the advancement of these projects. The projects include: completion of tourism and historic facilities improvements (including signs for historic sites, improvements to scenic turn-out areas and the development of an access point for kayaks and canoes along the Deerfield River); completion of a marketing plan to promote viable low impact year round tourism; the purchase of scenic easements along the Mohawk Trail; and improvements at the Upper Pioneer Valley Visitors Center in Greenfield.
Work is currently underway to complete a corridor management plan for the 29-mile eastern portion of the Mohawk Trail (from Greenfield to Athol). The study area for the Mohawk Trail East Corridor Management Plan includes Route 2 and/or Route 2A and a one half mile buffer strip along each side of the road within the towns of Greenfield, Gill, Montague, Wendell, Erving, Orange, and Athol. To date, four of the chapters of the report have been drafted including the Mission Statement and Goals, Scenic Resources, Land Use and Zoning, and Recreational Resources.
- Corridor Management Plan Vision Statement
- Corridor Managment Plan Goals
- Land Use and Zoning Chapter
- Outdoor Recreational Resources Chapter
- Scenic Resources Chapter
Four other chapters of the report (Natural Resources, Historic Resources, Tourism Services and Transportation) are actively being drafted.
Future Plans
The FRCOG will continue to work to secure funding to implement the recommendations of the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. The FRCOG will also work to secure funding for projects that are identified and prioritized in the Mohawk Trail East Corridor Management Plan.
Links
Federal Scenic Byway Program website (http://www.byways.org/)
Page last updated 5/7/08 .