The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail in Westfield, Massachusetts exemplifies historical preservation and community enhancement through exceptional engineering. VHB proudly announces that the project has been selected for the American Public Works Association (APWA) 2024 Public Works Project of the Year in the Historical Restoration/Preservation category for projects costing between $5 million and $25 million.
Initiated by the City of Westfield and completed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), this 3.1-mile trail extends from the Westfield River to the Southwick town line. It revitalizes a historical link by repurposing the long-defunct New York/New Haven/Hartford Railroad corridor, now serving as an active transportation route connecting to the larger New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway, which leads to New Haven, Connecticut.
Featured in the July issue of the APWA Reporter magazine, the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail sets a standard for historic preservation and modern sustainability. The project, carried out in phases from 2012 to 2023, transformed underutilized and abandoned railroad properties into a multi-use, paved trail for cyclists, pedestrians, and nature enthusiasts. It includes six new bridges, three rehabilitated bridges, safety lighting, access ramps, emergency vehicle access points, and landscaped areas, all designed with environmental and community benefits in mind.
Key to its success were meticulous construction management, robust public safety measures, and effective public relations efforts. Through strategic phasing and coordination, the VHB team minimized public inconvenience and emphasized environmentally conscious practices, such as a permeable parking area and sustainable landscaping.
VHB’s transportation, structures, landscape architecture, and environmental permitting teams collaborated with the City of Westfield and MassDOT to tackle the challenges of rehabilitating century-old bridges. The Elm Street Bridge, one of the nine bridges in the project, required significant collaboration and innovative solutions to restore its historical structure while providing contemporary functionality and safety. The project was driven by team members such as Kris Kretsch (structural engineering), Bill Desantis (active transportation), Gene Crouch (environmental), and Alex Schultz (construction oversight), among others.
Christine Champeau, PE, and Greg Russell, PE, will attend the APWA PWX National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, to accept the award on behalf of VHB. Christine stated, “The Columbia Greenway Rail Trail revives a historic passage and provides a sustainable recreational space that enhances public well-being and urban connectivity. This project vividly embodies history and innovation, making it deserving of the APWA’s 2024 Public Works Project of the Year Award.”
