Appendix A2 - Replace_Pole__Swamp Locks to Wye - NEPA.pdf

LOWE 1.A.2

February 7, 2020

Ms. Brona Simon, Executive Director State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125-3314

Re: Consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the Lowell National Historical Park – Trolley Rehabilitation Projects – #236138 Replace Power Station; #256837 Replace Wood Poles with Steel Poles – Swamp Locks to Wye; #256838 Repair Trolley – Swamp Locks to Wye

Dear Ms. Simon:

Lowell National Historical Park requests a Section 106 Review of our plans for moderate rehabilitation of our electrified trolley system. In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations (36CFR Part 800) regarding Protection of Historic Properties, the Lowell NHP is initiating Section 106 consultation with the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC). We specifically request your review and concurrence with our finding of no adverse effect for our planned trolley rehabilitation projects and agreement that the NPS has fulfilled its obligations for compliance under 36 CFR Part 800.

BACKGROUND

Lowell NHP owns and operates a 1.5-mile electric trolley system which we use to transport school and tour groups between our scattered park museums and boat launch sites. The system itself is not historical. Trolley vehicles and certain aesthetic details, such as ornamental bell-style pole caps, were fabricated to match the appearance of Lowell’s industrial era street cars, but the right of way in which the system operates was historically used for freight rail and the current system was developed in the 1980’s for national park operations.

The park recently completed a condition assessment for the trolley system which concluded it is critical for NPS to implement a crosstie and pole replacement program as soon as possible to continue to safely operate the trolley. Additionally, Lowell’s trolley system is powered by a single power substation, which has surpassed its functional equipment life span and its replacement is necessary to prevent a major system failure. Funded in three separate projects, the 2020 trolley rehab work includes replacing the system’s power substation in-kind;

performing critical track work along the most used ½ mile extent of the system from Swamp Locks to the Wye (along the Merrimack Canal between Swamp Locks and Lowell High School); and replacing 38 wooden poles with steel poles, removing 5 wood poles, and repainting 9 existing steel poles along the same core ½ mile extent of the system as the track work.

AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT

The area of potential effect is from Swamp Locks along Dutton Street and the Merrimack Canal to French Street – or from pole 001 to 043A in the attached Track Plans.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES

The Merrimack Canal (Swamp Locks to Eastern Canal – LCS #040576), which is a contributing feature of the Lowell Locks and Canal National Historic Landmark District is immediately adjacent to the work zone. The railroad right of way is owned by the National Park Service. The canal walls batter back, and the base of the Merrimack Canal wall is located ~10 feet beneath the property owned by the United States. The Merrimack Canal construction was completed in 1823. The original railroad operation began service in 1835. The existing trolley right of way has been used exclusively for railroad operations since 1835. Because the railroad right of way is immediately adjacent to the Merrimack Canal, we suspect that the ground beneath the tracks are likely a mixture of rock and soils that were redeposited at the time of canal digging. There are no known building foundations in the project area. The 1975 Lowell Canal System HAER references “The Merrimack Canal, although narrow and shallow, was very hard to build. A tough rock ledge between the present Merrimack and Market Streets caused a great deal of trouble. Few men were experienced in rock blasting, at that time, and the ledge apparently resisted many determined efforts. When completed… the canal still had very rough walls and bottom. Despite later efforts to improve the canal, its shape in cross section was still listed as irregular, at the end of the nineteenth century.” The 1976 National Register Nomination for the Locks and Canals District also notes, “It’s design was crude… most of the Merrimack Canal has simply been gouged out of the native rock.

The Canal is 10 feet deep, 2,580 feet in length, and 40 to 50 feet wide.”

The Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse (LCS #040581) and Merrimack Canal Guard Gates (LCS # 040607) are also located immediately adjacent to the project area.

UNDERTAKINGS

Power Station Replacement The electric trolley system is powered by a single 300KW rectifier power substation, which has surpassed its functional equipment life span. The power system is located on the southeast corner of the Ayotte Parking Garage (near pole 45B on attached track plans) This project will replace the trolley's current deficient power system with a modern, more energy efficient substation with upgraded safety features. The existing unit sits atop a concrete pad at the center of the trolley system. The new electrical unit will be built offsite. The construction phase of the project will consist of disconnecting and disposing of the existing system, hooking up and testing the new unit, and patching the concrete pad as necessary. We anticipate the electrical unit will be smaller in size than the current unit and will fit within the pre-existing concrete pad.

Repair Trolley Track Swamp Locks to Wye This project will replace approximately 700 timber crossties and 26,000 SF of fouled ballast (1/2 mile) which have surpassed their functional service life. Additionally, the project will remove 500 LF of unused and unnecessary rail spurs and install frog guard rails and jumper cables at the Swamp Locks turnout for safety.

While the exact means and methods will not be known until the contract is awarded, we anticipate the ballast and crosstie removal and replacement will be performed largely using a tamping machine, a heavy-duty specialized piece of railroad equipment. The existing crossties lay within 12-18 inches of ballast. All repairs will occur within previously disturbed areas and deposits. NPS will require a pre-construction survey of the canal walls and vibration monitoring as part of the contract requirements.

M

ARKET

ST.

DUTTON STREET

B R

O A

D W

A Y

S

TR

EE

T

"SWAMP LOCKS"

TROLLEY STATION STOP

BUMPING POST

PS #8 SMSG LH T/O

WITH 16'-6" FLOATING

HEEL SWITCH. RACOR

17 HIGH SWITCH STAND.

MERRIMACK CANAL

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: HI-RAIL RUBBER, L=46'±)

CROSSBUCK

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: OMNI PRECAST CONC., L=70'±)

PS SPECIAL RH T/O - FROG ANGLE=15.32°±

RACOR 17 HIGH SWITCH STAND

OPEN BALLASTED TRACK OPEN BALLASTED TRACK

"SWAMP LOCKS TO WYE" TRACK

"DUTTON ST. SPUR AT SWAMP LOCKS"

115RE Rail 132RE Rail

85 ASCE

Rail

115RE Rail (Mostly Welded)

115RE Rail (Mostly Welded)

85 ASCE Rail

85 ASCE Rail

115RE Rail

005 006 007 008 009 010 011 011A 012 013 014 015 016 017 018

019 020

FATHER

M O

RISSETTE

BLVD.

LUCY LARCOM PARK

M

ERRIM

ACK

ST.

DUTTON STREET

AR

C

AN

D

D R

VE

NATIONAL STREETCAR MUSEUM

"MACK PLAZA"

TROLLEY STATION STOP

BOSTON & MAINE

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE AND

COACH DISPLAY

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: PREMIER CONC. PANELS, L=85'±)

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING (CONC.)

PS #7 SMSG LH T/O

15' POINTS,

RACOR 22 SWITCH STAND

PS #4 1/2 LH T/O

RACOR 19 SWITCH STAND

PS #6 LH T/O

16'-6" SWITCH RAILS

RACOR 22 SWITCH STAND

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: ASPHALT & FLANGEWAY RUBBER, L=66'±)

MERRIMACK CANAL

PS #6 SMSG RH T/O

16'-6" SWITCH RAILS,

NEW CENTURY ADJUSTABLE

SWITCH STAND.

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: ASPHALT & GIRDER RAIL, L=78'±)

GRADE CROSSING

(MAT'L: ASPHALT AND GIRDER RAIL, L=70'±)LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL

LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL

END OF USABLE TRACK

OPEN DECK BRIDGE TRACK

OVER FORMER CANAL

OPEN BALLASTED TRACK

O

PEN

BALLASTED

TRACK

"SWAMP LOCKS TO WYE" TRACK

"MOODY STREET FEEDER GATEHOUSE SPUR"

"SUFFOLK MILLS TO WYE" TRACK

MOODY STREET FEEDER

GATEHOUSE STATION

115RE Rail 107 NH Rail

115RE Rail (Mixed Lengths, 39 & 78 Ft.)

115RE Rail (Mixed Lengths, 39 & 78 Ft.)

128RE7A Girder

Groove Rail

(both sides)

M ixed

Rails

(115R E

112R

E

Tee R ail )

85 ASCE Tee Rail

Inside Rail: 149RE7A Girder Guard Rail Outer Rail: 115RE Tee Rail

"WYE TO CARBARN" TRACK

Inside Rail: 149RE7A Girder Guard Rail

Outer Rail: 115RE Tee Rail

5 R

E Te e R ai l

WYE

026 027

028 029

030 031

033 034 035

032A 032B

032C

032D

036 037 038 039 040 041

043A

044 045

047A

046A

045B

045A

CONT'D

ON

SHEET 3

SHEET 1 OF 3

Track and Pole Project Area in Relation to Merrimack Canal near Swamp Locks

Merrimack Canal wall area of concern: No heavy equipment permitted near pole 7. Wall near this location will be closely monitored throughout construction. Contractor to flip pole to opposite side of track at this location or respace poles 006/008 to avoid.

Track in relation to Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse – Vibration monitoring required and no heavy equipment permitted in this area.

Existing Track and Poles near French Street

Historic Street Car Pole Aesthetic

Existing wood poles to be replaced by steel poles with ornamental bell cap matching historic style

Power Station – 300 KW Rectifier and Concrete Pad