Concord TAC Unanimously Endorses Six-Space Parking Trade-Off for Assabet River Trail

CARLISLE — May 26, 2026 — Concord's Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously endorsed removing six parking spaces from the West Concord commuter rail lot to advance the Assabet River multi-use bridge and trail project. Town Engineer Steve Dupin told the committee that a field meeting with roughly 12 MassDOT, MBTA, and Keolis representatives identified the trade-off as the best available option: keeping six spaces avoids relocating utility poles, preserves large trees, and allows stormwater detention to be repositioned. Dupin said the lot has not reached capacity since COVID. The committee also heard a design-progress update on the $500,000 MassDOT-funded Walden Street sidewalk project from John Vancore of engineering consultant IMAG, who flagged that traditional excavation would damage tree roots and said a meeting with the town tree warden is needed before design is finalized — with a grant construction deadline of December 31, 2026 creating schedule pressure. Public commenter Gina Stark of 512 Thoreau Street noted existing asphalt berm on the road has already cracked and raised concern that Thoreau Street residents still lack safe pedestrian access to the planned sidewalk.