Assabet River National Wildlife 

Refuge Transportation Study

Existing Conditions Report

Submitted to

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division

21400 Ridgetop Circle

Sterling, VA 20166-6511

Submitted by

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Assabet River National Wildlife 

Refuge Transportation Study 

Existing Conditions Report 

 

Prepared For: Federal Highway Administration 

 Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 Northeast Region 

Prepared By: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. 

April 2012 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

i

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1-1 

1.1 Refuge Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1-1 

1.2 Purpose of the Transportation Study ............................................................................................................................................... 1-4 

1.3 Study Area ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1-5 

1.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission and Goals ........................................................................................................................... 1-5 

1.5 National Wildlife Refuge System Mission and Goals ....................................................................................................................... 1-5 

2 Activities and Visitation ............................................................................................. 2-1 

2.1 Activities .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.2 Visitation Summary and Profile ....................................................................................................................................................... 2-3 

3 Regional Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics .................................................. 3-1 

3.1 Demographic Profile ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3-1 

3.2 Socioeconomic and Community Features ....................................................................................................................................... 3-2 

4 Habitat and Cultural Resources .................................................................................... 4-1 

4.1 Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4-1 

4.2 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4-3 

5 Existing Transportation Conditions ............................................................................... 5-1 

5.1 Adjacent Land Uses ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5-1 

5.2 Entrances to the Refuge .................................................................................................................................................................. 5-3 

5.3 Visitor Travel Mode .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5-5 

5.4 Pedestrian Access to the Refuge .................................................................................................................................................... 5-5 

5.5 Bicycle Access to the Refuge ......................................................................................................................................................... 5-6 

5.6 Vehicle Access to the Refuge ......................................................................................................................................................... 5-9 

5.7 Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure within the Refuge ....................................................................................................... 5-13 

5.8 Major Transportation Issues and Challenges at the Refuge ........................................................................................................ 5-21 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

ii

List of Figures

1.1 Project Location ...................................................................................................... 1-2

1.2 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 1-3 

2.1 Monthly Visitation Patterns (2011) ............................................................................... 2-3 

2.2 Average Daily Visitation (2011) .................................................................................... 2-3 

3.1 Share of Area Population by Town ................................................................................ 3-1 

3.2 Area Population by Age and Gender .............................................................................. 3-2 

3.3 Median Annual Household Income ................................................................................ 3-4 

4.1 Habitat .................................................................................................................. 4-2 

4.2 Historic USGS 1940-1941 (pre-military era) .................................................................... 4-4 

4.3 Historic USGS 1950 (military era) ................................................................................. 4-5 

4.4 Ammunition Bunkers ................................................................................................. 4-6 

5.1 Nearby Land Uses ..................................................................................................... 5-2 

5.2 Rail Trails ............................................................................................................... 5-7 

5.3 Hourly Traffic Volumes on Hudson Road (Weekday) ........................................................ 5-10 

5.4 Hourly Traffic Volumes on Hudson Road (Weekend day) ................................................... 5-11 

5.5 Access Easements .................................................................................................. 5-16 

5.6 Roadway Condition ................................................................................................. 5-18 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

iii

List of Tables

2.1 2011 Hunting Seasons ............................................................................................... 2-2 

2.2 Average Daily Visitation at ARNWR Visitor Center (2011) .................................................... 2-3 

3.1 Area Housing by Occupant Type ................................................................................... 3-2 

3.2 Unemployment Rate ................................................................................................. 3-3 

3.3 Employment by Industry ........................................................................................... 3-3 

4.1 State-listed Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles .................................................................... 4-3 

5.1 Vistitor Travel Mode ................................................................................................. 5-5 

5.2 Roadway Classification .............................................................................................. 5-9 

5.3 Average Daily Traffic Volume (weekday) ...................................................................... 5-10 

5.4 Average Daily Traffic Volume (weekend) ...................................................................... 5-10 

5.5 Crash Frequency at Entrances to ARNWR ..................................................................... 5-11 

5.6 Crash Frequency at Key Intersections ......................................................................... 5-12 

5.7 Sight Distances at the Main Entrance ........................................................................... 5-13 

5.8 Parking Inventory ................................................................................................... 5-14 

5.9 Peak Parking Lot Occupancy, October 13-23, 2011 ......................................................... 5-14 

5.10 Winterberry Way Traffic Volumes, November 12-18, 2011 ............................................... 5-15 

5.11 Roads and Ways on which Bicycles are Allowed .............................................................. 5-19 

5.12 Walking Trails in the ARNWR ..................................................................................... 5-20
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Introduction 1-1 4/10/2012

1 

Introduction 

1.1 Refuge Overview 

The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge 

(ARNWR) is one of eight refuges comprising the 

Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Complex. 

The locations of the ARNWR and the other refuges 

are shown in Figure 1.1. The Refuge is relatively 

new. It was established in 2000 and first opened to 

the public in 2005. 

The Refuge is located in the communities of 

Hudson, Stow, Maynard and Sudbury, 

Massachusetts. The property had been under the 

control of the U.S. Army since 1942 and used for a 

variety of training and research purposes until it 

was transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) in 2000 as a result of the Base Closure 

and Realignment Act of 1990. 

The Refuge was established for the purpose of 

having “particular value in carrying out the national 

migratory bird management program.” The large 

areas of wetlands and forest that comprise the 

Refuge provide feeding and breeding areas for 

migratory birds as well as other wildlife. 

As detailed in the Assabet River National Wildlife 

Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan1

, the 

Refuge is home to more than 135 bird species, 25 

mammals, 20 reptile species, and 20 fish species, as 

well as over 650 different plant species. 

Figure 1.2 depicts the two primary areas comprising 

the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The 

Refuge contains about 2,300 acres. The north tract 

is approximately 1,900 acres and the south tract is 

approximately 300 acres. There are also some 

parcels along the nearby Assabet River that are part 

of the Refuge. 2

The north tract contains 12.5 miles of trails, the 

Visitor Center, parking areas, a canoe launch and a 

fishing area. The Main Entrance to the Refuge is 

along Hudson Road. The south tract of the Refuge 

is undeveloped and has 2.7 miles of trails. 

The first settlers on the Refuge lands were Native 

Americans.3

 European settlement in the area began 

around 1650. For more than 200 years the lands 

were used primarily for farming. 

1 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, January 2005. 2

 Those outlying parcels are excluded from this transportation study 

and are not shown on Figure 1.2. 3

 Information about the history of the Refuge is taken from the 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan. 
P LYMOUTH

EDGARTOWN

BARNSTABLE

FA LMOUTH

SALEM

BOSTON

BURYPORT

WORCESTER

MAYNARD

HARVARD

FRAMINGHAM

TAUNTON

CHATHAM

CONCORD

PLYMOUTH

EDGARTOWN

NANTUCKET

BARNSTABLE

FALMOUTH

SALEM

BOSTON

NEWBURYPORT

WORCESTER

MAYNARD

HARVARD

FRAMINGHAM

TAUNTON

CHATHAM

CONCORD

90

95

395

95

93

95

95

90

495

495

495

195

1

1

3

44

44

6

6

3

24

9

2

Long

Pond

Watuppa

Ponds

Great

Quittacus

Pond

Wachusett

Reservoir

Nas hua R.

Oxbow 

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Assabet 

River 

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Massasoit 

National 

Wildlife Refuge

Great Meadows

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Concord 

Division

Sudbury 

Division

Mashpee

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Nomans CHILMARK

Land Island

National 

Wildlife Refuge

Monomoy

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Nantucket

National 

Wildlife 

Refuge

Eastern

Massachusetts 

National Wildlife

Refuge Complex

5 0 10 20 Miles

N

¬«117

¬«62

¬«62

¬«27

¬«117

STOW

ACTON

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

CONCORD

ARNWR

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 1.1

Project Location
Fairbank Road

Hudson Road

Sudbury Road

Main Street

Old Marlboro Road

White Pond Road

Assabet River Rail Trail

(Central Massachusetts Rail Trail)

Town of

Maynard

Public

Schools

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

City of Marlborough:

Desert Conservation Land

Sudbury Valley Trustees:

Memorial Forest

Town of Sudbury:

Hop Brook

Moore Road

Duton Road

Towhee Trail

Petapawag Trail

Tri-town Trail

Otter Alley

Hill Trail

Pine Garden Trail

Powerline

Trail

Fisher Loop

Fisher Loop

Sweet Fern Trail

Mink Link

Puffer Pond Trail

Patrol Road

Pond White

Road

Harry's Way

Taylor Way

Puffer

Pond

Winterberry

Way

Winterberry

Way

62 62

117

27

27

117

STOW

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD



N

0 1/4 1/2 Mile

Canoe Access

Fishing Area

Parking

Visitor Center

Trail Access

Trails (no bikes)

Roads and Ways (bikes allowed)

Town Boundary

Assabet River NWR Other Conservation Lands

Rail Trails

Trails

Parking

Active, Unpaved

Planned

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 1.2

Study Area

U.S.

Air Force

Department of 

Fire Services

North

Entrance

East

Entrance

South

Entrance

FEMA

Area

Closed

to Public
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Introduction 1-4 4/10/2012

By the start of the 20th century, some of the farms 

were being replaced by smaller homesteads and a 

few decades later vacation home lots were being 

developed on Puffer Pond. In 1942 the military era 

of the lands began when the private properties were 

acquired through eminent domain by the U.S. Army 

to support the war effort. 

The original purpose of the military facility was to 

store ammunition that was transferred between the 

site and the port of Boston via the Central 

Massachusetts Rail Line. Some fifty ammunition 

bunkers, and a series of railroad spurs to those 

bunkers, were constructed. New roadways, notably 

the perimeter Patrol Road, were built. 

For almost 50 years, the property was used for a 

variety of training and research purposes by the 

Army. During that time many of the original houses 

and farm buildings were removed, a few adapted 

for Army use, and some new Army buildings 

constructed. 

Management of the Army property was transferred 

in 2000. Most of the property was transferred to the 

USFWS. A small parcel inside what is now the 

Refuge was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and 

used until recently as a weather station. Some of the 

Army property was transferred to the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and now 

abuts the Refuge near the Refuge’s north and east 

entrances. 

Despite the impact of the Army activity, the long 

period of military ownership and restricted access 

allowed the lands to remain undeveloped, unlike 

much of the land in the adjacent suburban towns. 

During the past 10 years, there was environmental 

remediation of the site and most of the Army 

facilities, including the railroad lines, were 

removed. Only the ammunition bunkers remain. 

When the Refuge was first opened to the public in 

2005 there were minimal physical improvements 

constructed by the USFWS. The trail network was 

created primarily on old road and rail beds. The 

only significant USFWS construction projects that 

have occurred since then are the Visitor Center, and 

the construction of Winterberry Way to provide 

access to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center 

opened in the fall of 2010. 

1.2 Purpose of the Transportation 

Study 

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the existing 

transportation system and infrastructure to 

understand current conditions and use, and to 

develop a plan of near-term and long-term projects 

to improve access to, and mobility within, the 

Refuge. 

This report presents the findings of the first phase 

of the study — the evaluation of existing 

conditions. 

The need for the study arises from several factors. 

One is the desire to determine the best means to 

accommodate the growing amount and changing 

type of visitation experienced since the opening of 

the Refuge in 2005 and the Visitor Center in 2010. 

Another reason for the study is that many of the 

then existent trails, roads and travelways in the 

Refuge were in disrepair at the time the property 

was transferred to the USFWS in 2000 and the 

roadway surfaces have deteriorated further since. In 

addition, the Refuge lands were isolated from the 

surrounding communities in the decades they were 

used by the Army and there are opportunities for 

better connectivity to the adjacent neighborhoods 

and communities. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Introduction 1-5 4/10/2012

1.3 Study Area 

The primary project study area for purposes of 

mobility within the Assabet River National Wildlife 

Refuge encompasses the entirety of the ARNWR’s 

north tract and south tract. The ARNWR outlying 

parcels along the Assabet River are excluded from 

this transportation study. 

An important element of the study is consideration 

of potential improvements to the existing pedestrian 

and bicycle access between the Refuge and the host 

communities of Stow, Sudbury, Maynard, and 

Hudson. The study area for pedestrian and bicycle 

access focuses on routes that provide a reasonable 

length of travel path to the ARNWR Visitor Center. 

The pedestrian evaluation includes access via trails 

in adjacent conservation and recreation properties. 

The evaluation of bicycle access considers 

connections to the Assabet Rail Trail, the Bruce 

Freeman Rail Trail, and the Central Mass Rail Trail. 

The study area includes roadways external to the 

Refuge that provide direct access to existing or 

proposed entrances and parking areas. This includes 

White Pond Road, Old Marlboro Road, and the 

Sudbury Road/State Road/Hudson Road corridor. 

1.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Mission and Goals 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is a bureau within 

the Department of the Interior. The mission of the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to “work with 

others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, 

wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the 

continuing benefit of the American people.”4

 

4 National Policy Issuance 99-01, United States Department of the 

Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 6/15/1999.

The goals of the USFWS are aimed at fulfilling this 

mission. Primary USFWS goals are to: 

 Sustain fish and wildlife populations including 

migratory birds, endangered species, 

anadromous fish, and marine animals. 

 Conserve a network of lands and waters, 

including the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

 Provide Americans opportunity to understand 

and participate in the conservation and use of 

fish and wildlife resources. 

1.5 National Wildlife Refuge System 

Mission and Goals 

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System is to “administer a national network of lands 

and waters for the conservation, management, and 

where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, 

plant resources and their habitats within the United 

States for the benefit of present and future 

generations of Americans” 5. The primary goals of 

the National Wildlife Refuge System are to: 

 Preserve, restore, and enhance threatened and 

endangered species in their natural ecosystems. 

 Perpetuate the migratory bird resource. 

 Preserve a natural diversity and abundance of 

fish and wildlife ecology. 

 Provide the public an understanding and 

appreciation of fish and wildlife ecology. 

 Provide visitors with wildlife-dependent 

recreation. 

5

 The National Wildlife Service Administration Act of 1966, as 

amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act 

of 1997. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Introduction 1-6 4/10/2012

Legislative history recognizes the importance of 

providing for wildlife-oriented recreation for people 

on National Wildlife Refuges. The Refuge 

Recreation Act of 1962 provided guidance for the 

USFWS to provide wildlife-oriented recreational 

opportunities for the public if deemed compatible 

with the primary purpose of the refuge. The 

National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act 

of 1997 specified that the refuge system must focus 

on wildlife, and it defined the following six 

wildlife-dependent recreational uses as priority 

public uses of refuge lands. 

 Hunting 

 Fishing 

 Environmental education 

 Environmental interpretation 

 Wildlife observation 

 Wildlife photography 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Activities and Visitation 2-1 4/10/2012

2 

Activities and 

Visitation 

2.1 Activities 

The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is 

open daily, from sunrise to sunset. The Refuge 

offers opportunities for walking, bicycling, 

canoeing, fishing, hunting, as well as educational 

activities at the Visitor Center. 

2.1.1 Visitor Center 

The 5,000 square foot Visitor Center opened in the 

fall of 2010. The Visitor Center houses interactive 

educational exhibits and is used for a variety of 

Refuge-sponsored events throughout the year. Such 

events include talks, film nights, and nature walks 

and tours. The Visitor Center also serves as a 

meeting venue for local environmental 

organizations. 

Educational outreach programs are an important 

and growing element of the Refuge’s visitation. 

There are programs for schools, scouting groups 

and similar organizations. 

Educational exhibits in the Visitor Center 

2.1.2 Walking and Bicycling 

The Refuge has more than 15 miles of trails. Use of 

those trails reflects the Refuge’s and USFWS’s 

missions of supporting compatible wildlifedependent public use. Most of the trail system is 

restricted to walking and hiking. 

Bicycles are permitted in the north tract of the 

Refuge, along more than 7 miles of roads and ways 

(Winterberry Way, White Pond Road/Patrol Road, 

Harry’s Way and Taylor Way). Bicycles are not 

permitted in the south tract of the Refuge. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Activities and Visitation 2-2 4/10/2012

Except for Winterberry Way, which provides access 

to the Visitor Center and parking areas, the Refuge 

is closed to motorized vehicles. Horses and dogs are 

not allowed in the Refuge. 

2.1.3 Hunting and Fishing 

Hunting and fishing are allowed in accordance with 

Refuge, state and federal regulations. Hunting is 

allowed in much of the Refuge, including a section 

west of White Pond Road that is not otherwise open 

to the public. 

Table 2.1: 2011 Hunting Seasons 

Activity Open Season 

White-tailed Deer 

 Archery Oct. 17-Nov. 26 

 Shotgun Nov. 28-Dec. 10 

 Primitive Firearms Dec. 12-Dec. 31 

Ruffed Grouse Oct. 15-Nov. 26 

Gray Squirrel Sept. 12-Jan. 2,2012 

Rabbit Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 

Oct. 15-Feb. 29,2012 

Woodcock Oct. 5-Oct. 29, 

Oct. 31-Nov. 19 

Turkey Apr. 25-May 21 

Source: 2011 Massachusetts Guide to Hunting, Freshwater 

Fishing and Trapping: Quick Reference List; MassWildlife 

Migratory Bird Regulations for 2011-12 Season 

Catch and release fishing is allowed on Puffer 

Pond. There is a designated fishing area located at 

the end of Carbary’s Trail. 

Handicapped accessible fishing pier on Puffer Pond 

2.1.4 Other Activities 

During the winter, cross-country skiing and 

snowshoeing are allowed on the trails. This includes 

the section of Winterberry Way north of the Visitor 

Center. That part of the road is closed during the 

winter and left unplowed. 

Canoeing and kayaking is allowed on Puffer Pond. 

Access to the pond is located at Sandbank Trail, 

approximately 500 yards north of the Visitor 

Center. 

The canoe launch site on Puffer Pond is unimproved and not 

handicap accessible. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Activities and Visitation 2-3 4/10/2012

2.2 Visitation Summary and Profile 

Counts are made by Refuge staff and volunteers of 

people who enter the Visitor Center. These counts 

include individuals and families who enter the 

Visitor Center during their visit to the Refuge and 

those attending organized group activities hosted at 

the Visitor Center. 

Actual visitation levels at the Refuge are 

undoubtedly higher than the visitation recorded at 

the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center counts 

include only people who enter the Visitor Center, 

which is only open Thursdays through Sundays 

from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Yet, the Refuge is open 

from dawn to dusk seven days a week. In addition, 

even on days when the Visitor Center is open many 

visitors simply walk or bicycle among the trails and 

never enter the Visitor Center. 

2.2.1 Seasonal Visitation Patterns 

The visitation at the Visitor Center in calendar year 

2011 was 9,717. The monthly totals are illustrated 

in Figure 2.1. April is the busiest month, with May, 

June and July all above average. The months of 

March, September, October and November are each 

near the monthly average of about 800 visitors at 

the Visitor Center. 

Figure 2.1: Monthly Visitation Patterns (2011) 

Source: USFWS, ARNWR Visitor Center counts 

Included among the 9,717 visitors at the Visitor 

Center in 2011 were 2,051 attendees from 81 

groups or events held at the Refuge that year. 

2.2.2 Daily Visitation Patterns 

Average daily visitation for each month in 2011 (at 

the Visitor Center) ranged between 42 and 62. The 

only exception is for December when visitation 

averaged 27 people per day. As shown in Table 2.2, 

most of the Refuge visitation occurs on weekend 

days. 

Figure 2.2: Average Daily Visitation (2011) 

Source: USFWS, ARNWR Visitor Center counts 

Table 2.2: Average Daily Visitation at ARNWR 

Visitor Center (2011) 

Day of Week Visitors 

Thursday 16 

Friday 22 

Saturday 62 

Sunday 77 

Source: USFWS, ARNWR Visitor Center counts 

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Individual Visitation Group Visitation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Regional Demographic and Socioeconomic 3-1 4/10/2012 

Characteristics

3 

Regional 

Demographic and 

Socioeconomic 

Characteristics 

The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is 

located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and 

covers parts of the towns of Maynard, Stow, 

Sudbury, and Hudson. Demographic data for the 

county and the towns from the 2000 and 2010 

Census were reviewed and are presented in the 

sections that follow. 

3.1 Demographic Profile 

Hudson, with a population of 19,063 in 2010, is the 

largest of the four towns. Sudbury has 17,689 

residents and Maynard has 10,106 residents. Stow 

is the smallest of the four towns and as of 2010 had 

a population of 6,590 residents. 

Despite having a relatively small population, the 

Town of Maynard has the highest population 

density, 1,929 residents per square mile, among the 

four communities. Population density in Hudson is 

1,656 residents per square mile. Sudbury and Stow 

have a much lower population density at 725 and 

374 residents per square mile, respectively. 

Figure 3.1: Share of Area Population by Town

Source: 2010 census data. 

The population of the area has seen modest growth 

during the past decade. As a whole, the four towns 

saw a total of 4.2% growth in population from 2000 

to 2010. Despite the relatively low population 

growth rate among the four towns, it exceeded that 

for Middlesex County and the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts. Middlesex County had a population 

of 1,503,085 in 2010, which is a 2.6% increase 

from 2000. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

had a population of 6,547,097 in 2010, up from 

6,349,097 in 2000, a 3.1% increase. 

Maynard (19%)

Stow (12%)

Sudbury (33%)

Hudson (36%)
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Regional Demographic and Socioeconomic 3-2 4/10/2012 

Characteristics

The distribution of the population among the four 

towns by age and gender is shown in Figure 3.2. 

The towns have a combined population of almost 

50,000 persons. The distribution by age and gender 

is similar to the county and state data. Among the 

four towns there are almost 14,000 people (28%) 

under the age of 20 and almost 9,500 (19%) over 

the age of sixty. 

Figure 3.2: Area Population by Age and Gender 

Source: 2010 Census data for Hudson, Stow, Sudbury and 

Maynard 

3.2 Socioeconomic and Community 

Features 

The socioeconomic and community features 

described in this section include households, 

education, employment, and income. 

3.2.1 Households 

Area housing statistics shown in Table 3.1 are 

illustrated by town and by occupant type. 

Occupants are categorized as either owners or 

renters. The towns of Maynard and Hudson each 

have the highest rates of renter occupancy at 

29 percent and 28 percent of households, 

respectively. The Towns of Stow and Sudbury 

have rates of renter occupancy at 11 percent and 

8 percent, respectively 

Table 3.1: Area Housing by Occupant Type 

Owner 

Occupied 

Renter 

Occupied 

Total 

Households 

Hudson 5,454 2,074 7,528 

Maynard 3,018 1,221 4,239 

Stow 2,158 271 2,429 

Sudbury 5,327 444 5,771 

Total 15,957 4,010 19,967 

According to the 2010 Census, the four towns had 

19,967 total housing units with an average 

household size of 2.55 persons per household. 

Among the households, 14,628 dwellings (73%) 

were considered “families” while the remaining 

27% of households are considered “nonfamily.” 

Twenty-two percent of households are one-person 

households, 32% of households are two person 

households, 17% are three person households, and 

19% are four person households. 

3.2.2 Education 

Within the four study area towns, nine percent of 

the adult population does not hold a high school 

diploma. Twenty-two percent have a high school 

diploma or equivalent. Fourteen percent of the 

population has some college education while 34% 

have an associates or Bachelors’ degree and 21% 

have an advanced educational degree. Men and 

women have comparable levels of education with 

21% of men and 24% of women holding a high 

school diploma or equivalent, and 33% of men and 

34% of women holding associates or Bachelors’ 

degrees. 

The levels of education in the four towns are 

comparable to those in Middlesex County. In the 

county, 23% of the population has a high school 

diploma or equivalent (23% of men, 22% of 

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Male Female
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Regional Demographic and Socioeconomic 3-3 4/10/2012 

Characteristics

women), 30% have an associates or Bachelors’ 

degree (29% of men, 30% of women), and 20% 

have an advanced degree (22% of men, 18% of 

women). 

3.2.3 Employment 

Twenty-eight percent of the total population and 16 

and over in the study area were not in the labor 

force in 2000. The percent of women not in the 

labor force was greater than the percent of men 

(18% of men, 37% of women). 

Table 3.2 shows the unemployment rates for each 

town in 2000 and in 2011. The unemployment rate 

in Maynard exceeded the average for Middlesex 

County in both years, and the unemployment rate 

for Hudson exceeded the county average in 2011. 

Table 3.2: Unemployment Rate 

Unemployment Rate 

Town 2000 2011 

Maynard 2.6% 5.8% 

Stow 1.9% 3.9% 

Sudbury 1.3% 4.1% 

Hudson 2.0% 6.0% 

Middlesex County 2.4% 5.1% 

Source: 2000 Census data and 2011 data from the 

Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce 

Development 

In 2000, 26,777 workers in the study area were 16 

years or older and commuted to work; of which 

77% worked in Middlesex County, 22% worked in 

Massachusetts but outside of Middlesex County, 

and less than two percent worked outside of 

Massachusetts. 

As shown in Table 3.3, the category of “Education, 

Health and Social Services” presented the largest 

single employment sector at 18.1%, followed 

closely by “Professional, scientific, management, 

administrative and waste management services” at 

15.8%, “Manufacturing” at 15.7% and “Retail 

Trade” at 14.3%. These four employment categories 

collectively represent approximately 64% of the 

total employment of area residents. 

Table 3.3: Employment by Industry 

Industry Employed 

Population 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and 

hunting, and mining 

0.4% 

Construction 5.7% 

Manufacturing 15.7% 

Wholesale trade 2.2% 

Retail trade 14.3% 

Transportation and warehousing, 

and utilities 

1.9% 

Information 3.6% 

Finance, insurance, real estate, 

and rental and leasing 

7.1% 

Professional, scientific, 

management, administrative, 

and waste management 

services 

15.8% 

Educational, health and social 

services 18.1% 

Arts, entertainment, recreation, 

accommodation and food 

services 

4.8% 

Public administration 4.3% 

Other services 6.2% 

Total 100.0% 

Source: 2010 Census data for Hudson, Stow, Sudbury and 

Maynard 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Regional Demographic and Socioeconomic 3-4 4/10/2012 

Characteristics

3.2.4 Household Income 

The 2010 median household income for the four 

towns was $80,800. The household income for 

Stow and Sudbury exceeded the state and county 

median income, while the household income for 

Maynard and Hudson were essentially the same as 

for the state and county. 

The 2010 median income was $60,800 for 

Middlesex County and $61,700 for the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Figure 3.3 

shows how the median income compares by town. 

Figure 3.3: Median Annual Household Income 

Source: 2010 Census data. 

$‐

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

Maynard Stow Sudbury Hudson
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Habitat and Cultural Resources 4-1 4/10/2012 

4 

Habitat and Cultural 

Resources

The following information regarding habitat and 

cultural resources in the Refuge is taken from the 

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan.

4.1 Habitat 

The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge 

contains a diversity of wetland and upland habitat. 

The mix of habitat supports a wide variety of birds, 

mammals, reptiles and amphibians. 

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Refuge lands were 

dominated by farms and pastures. Since then much 

of the area has succeeded back to forest. Most of 

the Refuge is now forested, with mixed white pine 

and oak hardwoods dominating. Only a few 

meadow areas remain. 

As shown on Figure 4.1, much of the Refuge, 

particularly in the north tract, is forested and 

emergent wetland habitat. Due principally to beaver 

activity, the amount of wetlands has increased since 

the property was transferred to the Fish and 

Wildlife Service. 

The one-time Army Taylor Drop Zone is now the largest area 

of grassland habitat in the Refuge. The forested hill in the 

background was once pastureland. 

The Refuge contains a significant amount of 

priority wildlife habitat. Approximately 50 vernal 

pools have been identified on the Refuge. The 

vernal pools are critical breeding habitat for 

amphibians. Large sections of the Refuge are 

designated as Priority Habitats of Rare Species 

under the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries 

and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered 

Species Program. The entire Assabet River NWR 

has been designated as a Massachusetts Important 

Bird Area due to the habitat it provides to breeding, 

wintering and migratory birds. 
STOW

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

0 1,500 3,000 Feet

Legend

NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

Potential Vernal Pools

Parcels

Roads

National Wetland Inventory Rivers and Streams

Assabet Boundary

Town Boundary

NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species

National Wetland Inventory

WET_TYPE

Freshwater Emergent Wetland

Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland

Freshwater Pond

Lake

Riverine

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 4.1

Habitat
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Habitat and Cultural Resources 4-3 4/10/2012 

The Refuge is home to more than 135 bird species, 

25 mammals, 20 reptile species, and 20 fish species, 

as well as over 650 different plant species. 

There are no federally-listed threatened or 

endangered species known to be in the Refuge. 

State-listed birds, amphibians and reptiles at the 

Refuge are shown in Table 4.1. Among them are 

the Blanding’s Turtle, a State-listed threatened 

species. A repatriation program involving 

transplanting hatchlings from the nearby Oxbow 

NWR is underway at the Assabet River NWR. 

Table 4.1: State-listed Birds, Amphibians and 

Reptiles 

Common Name Status 

Blue Spotted Salamander Special concern 

Spotted Turtle Special concern

Eastern Box Turtle Special concern

Blanding’s Turtle Threatened 

Sharp-shinned Hawk Special concern 

Cooper’s Hawk Special concern

Blackpoll Warbler Special concern

Northern Parula Threatened 

Source: Assabet River Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

4.2 Cultural Resources 

Some prehistoric sites have been identified in the 

Refuge and there is a likelihood of others. Although 

no buildings remain, the historic period of European 

settlements dating from the mid-1600s through the 

mid-1900s is evident in the many stonewalls 

running throughout the Refuge and the occasional 

building foundation or chimney remnants. 

Most buildings and facilities from the military 

period have been removed, but the military period 

from 1942 through 2000 is readily apparent in the 

network of roadbeds and rail beds that remain. 

Figure 4.2 and Figure 4.3 present USGS mapping of 

the area shortly before and after the acquisition of 

the property by the Army. Comparison of the two 

illustrates the railway network and additional roads 

constructed by the Army. 

The most visible of all the historic resources are the 

former ammunition bunkers. Figure 4.3 shows their 

locations. Many are along trails that were once the 

rail spurs to the ammunition bunkers. The 75 foot 

by 40 foot concrete bunkers were heavily earth 

covered and that cover now supports trees, bushes, 

and other vegetation. Some of the bunkers are 

opened occasionally for public tours. A few of the 

ammunition bunkers are being used for bat habitat. 
\\mawatr\ts\35010.05 ARNWR\GIS\Project\Historic_USGS.mxd

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 4.2 

Historic USGS 1940-1941 (pre-military era)

ARNWR Boundary 
ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 4.3 

Historic USGS 1950 (military era)

ARNWR Boundary 
Fairbank Road

Hudson Road

Sudbury Road

Main Street

Old Marlboro Road

Assabet River Rail Trail

(Central Massachusetts Rail Trail)

Town of

Maynard

Public

Schools

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

City of Marlborough:

Desert Conservation Land

Sudbury Valley Trustees:

Memorial Forest

Town of Sudbury:

Hop Brook

Moore Road

Duton Road

Towhee Trail

Petapawag Trail

Tri-town Trail

Otter Alley

Hill Trail

Pine Garden Trail

Powerline

Trail

Fisher Loop

Fisher Loop

Sweet Fern Trail

Mink Link

Puffer Pond Trail

Patrol Road

Pond White

Road

Harry's Way

Taylor Way

Puffer

Pond

Winterberry

Way

Winterberry

Way

White Pond Road

62 62

117

27

27

117

STOW

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

ARNWR

Ammunition Bunkers



N

0 1/4 1/2 Mile

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 4.4

Ammunition Bunkers

North

Entrance

East

Entrance

South

Entrance

Area

Closed

to Public
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-1 4/10/2012 

5 

Existing 

Transportation 

Conditions 

This chapter describes existing transportation 

conditions at the Assabet River National Wildlife 

Refuge. The evaluation covers external access, 

internal circulation and internal transportation 

infrastructure. 

5.1 Adjacent Land Uses 

Much of the Refuge is adjacent to other 

conservation properties. The other adjacent land 

uses are several single-family residential 

neighborhoods and two institutional properties. 

5.1.1 Adjacent Conservation Lands 

Figure 1.2, presented earlier, shows conservation 

lands adjacent to the Refuge. The north tract of the 

Refuge is bounded to the northwest by the Assabet 

River and the Assabet River Rail Trail, to the north 

by some Town of Maynard properties, and to the 

south by the Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest. 

Both the Town of Maynard and State Forest 

properties have walking trail systems that connect 

with the Refuge’s trail system. 

The south tract of the Refuge is bounded to the 

north by a section for the Marlborough-Sudbury 

State Forest. The trail connection between the 

Refuge’s north and south tracts travels through the 

State Forest. 

The south tract of the Refuge is adjacent at the 

south boundary to three conservation areas. One is 

managed by the Town of Marlborough, one by the 

Town of Sudbury, and the third by the Sudbury 

Valley Trustees, a non-profit environmental 

organization. The south tract of the Refuge is also 

adjacent to the proposed Central Massachusetts Rail 

Trail, the property of which is owned by the 

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and 

Recreation. 

5.1.2 Other Adjacent Lands 

Figure 5.1 shows the various types of 

non-conservation land uses near to the Refuge. The 

highest density of land uses is to the north in 

Maynard. Downtown Maynard is approximately 

one mile from the Refuge’s North Entrance at 

White Pond Road. 
Sudbury Road

Main Street

Hudson Road

27

62

117

62

\\MAWATR\ts\35010.05 ARNWR\GIS\Project\LandUse.mxd

Participation Recreation

Urban Public/Institutional

Refuge Boundary

Commercial/Industrial

Residential



N

0 1/4 1/2 Mile

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 5.1

Nearby Land Uses

Massachusetts Department

of Fire Services

FEMA

Downtown 

Maynard

129 Parker Street

Maynard Schools

Haskell Field

Fairbanks 

Community Center
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-3 4/10/2012

To the east of the Refuge, in Sudbury, is primarily 

single-family housing. The density of housing in 

Stow, to the west and northwest of the Refuge, is 

much lower than in Maynard or Sudbury. 

There are two institutional properties that are 

adjacent to the Refuge. There is a Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) facility 

at Refuge’s East Entrance on Old Marlboro Road. 

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services 

campus is located adjacent to the Refuge’s Main 

Entrance on Hudson Road. 

5.1.3 Future Development Projects 

Given the large amount of conservation and other 

protected properties, and the established residential 

land uses in the area around the Refuge, there is 

little opportunity for future significant land 

development projects that might have a noticeable 

impact on the Refuge. 

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services 

campus has expanded in recent years, but there are 

no active plans to expand further. The Federal 

Emergency Management Agency facility may add 

warehousing space in the future but this would have 

little impact on traffic. 

The development projects with the most direct 

impact on the Refuge may occur in Maynard. In 

2010, the town rezoned a large office property in 

the downtown to allow retail and hotel uses, and up 

to 200 live-work residential units. There are no 

plans proposed for the development at this time, but 

the residential units in particular could have a 

strong relationship to the Refuge. Downtown 

Maynard is only one mile away from the Refuge via 

the Assabet River Rail Trail. The other potential 

development in Maynard is at 129 Parker Street 

(Route 27). This 50-acre commercial property is 

located less than one mile from the Refuge’s East 

Entrance and has been vacant for approximately 15 

years. Several years ago, the property was rezoned 

to allow mixed-use office, retail and residential 

uses. However, there are no current proposals for 

development being considered. 

5.2 Entrances to the Refuge 

The Refuge has three primary entrances, each with 

vehicle parking and all on the north tract (see 

Figure 1.2 for locations). Visitors can also enter the 

Refuge via several formal walking trail connections 

on both the south and north tracts of the Refuge. 

5.2.1 Main Entrance 

The Main Entrance, located along the southern 

border of the north tract provides access via 

Winterberry Way to the Visitor Center. It is located 

on Hudson Road in Sudbury near the Sudbury/Stow 

town line. There is a small parking area adjacent to 

the gate. The Visitor Center is located 

approximately one-half mile up Winterberry Way 

from the gate. 

Assabet River NWR sign at Main Entrance (Hudson Road) 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-4 4/10/2012

5.2.2 North Entrance 

The North Entrance is located on White Pond Road 

at the Stow/Maynard town line. White Pond Road is 

accessed via Route 62/117 (Great Road) in Stow. 

The entrance to the Refuge is about one mile down 

White Pond Road. The North Entrance is adjacent 

to the Assabet River Rail Trail. 

A parking area is located about one-quarter mile 

inside the Refuge. There is no public vehicle access 

beyond the parking area. The Visitor Center is 

located approximately two miles from the North 

Entrance via the Harry’s Way trail. 

North Entrance at White Pond Road. The parking area is 

located approximately 1⁄4 mile up the road. 

5.2.3 East Entrance 

The East Entrance is located in Maynard on Old 

Marlboro Road off Parker Street (Route 27). The 

entrance is the end of Old Marlboro Road, about 

one-quarter of a mile down from the Parker Street 

intersection. 

The East Entrance is approximately one mile from 

the Visitor Center via Winterberry Way. There is no 

public vehicle access into the Refuge at the East 

Entrance. A small parking lot is currently being 

constructed at the entrance and drivers will no 

longer have to park on the public street next to the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency facility. 

East Entrance at the end of Old Marlboro Road, looking from 

within the Refuge (Fall 2011). The FEMA fence line is visible 

to the left

Visitors have begun to use the new gravel parking lot that is 

under construction at the East Entrance (Spring 2012).

5.2.4 Other Entrances 

In the north tract of the Refuge, there are trail 

connections to the Town of Maynard properties to 

the north and to the State Forest lands to the south. 

There is no vehicle access to the south tract of the 

Refuge. There are several trail connections with the 

conservation properties and rail trail alignment to 

the south, as well as an entrance via Moore Road 

for the Sudbury neighborhood to the east. The north 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-5 4/10/2012

and south tracts of the Refuge are connected via a 

trail through the State Forest lands. 

Entrance to Assabet River NWR south tract via a trail through 

the Marlborough-Sudbury State Forest 

5.3 Visitor Travel Mode 

The proximity of the Refuge to neighborhoods and 

rail trails allows many visitors to access the Refuge 

by foot or bicycle, in addition to by car. There is no 

public transit access to the Refuge. 

A sample of the visitor travel mode is provided by 

data collected between dawn and dusk on each day 

of the three-day Columbus Day weekend in 2011. 

Cameras were used to identify the mode of travel 

for those entering the Refuge at the three primary 

gates. The data are summarized in Table 5.1. 

Although private automobiles are the dominant 

travel mode, accounting for about 72% of total 

observed visitation during this survey time period, 

bicycle and pedestrian access of, respectively, 17% 

and 11% were notable for a suburban destination. 

Indeed, at the North Entrance, 36% of all observed 

entering visitors used a bicycle and another 16% 

walked in, in contrast to only 48% arriving by car. 

At the East Entrance, the auto, bike, and walk 

access percentages were more balanced at 37%, 

32% and 31%, respectively. 

Table 5.1: Visitor Travel Mode 

No. of Access Mode 

 Visitors Car Bike Walk 

Main Entrance 460 377 51 32 

North Entrance 100 48 36 16 

East Entrance 65 24 21 20 

625 449 108 68 

 

No. of Access Mode

Visitors Car Bike Walk 

Main Entrance 460 82% 11% 7% 

North Entrance 100 48% 36% 16% 

East Entrance 65 37% 32% 31% 

625 72% 17% 11%

Source: Data collected by VHB on October 8-10, 2012 from 

6:30 am to 6:30 pm. 

5.4 Pedestrian Access to the Refuge 

There is generally good pedestrian access to the 

Refuge. However, the number of people who walk 

to the Refuge is limited by the total distance they 

would need to travel when also considering walking 

within the Refuge. 

5.4.1 North Entrance 

There are neighborhoods in both Stow and Maynard 

near the North Entrance. From Stow, the Refuge 

can be reached via White Pond Road. There are no 

sidewalks along the road but traffic volumes are 

low and people are generally comfortable walking 

along the road. However, vehicle speeds are a 

concern voiced by some residents at the project’s 

first public meeting. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-6 4/10/2012

Pedestrian access from Maynard to the North 

Entrance is via a section of the Assabet River Rail 

Trail. The rail trail extends directly to downtown 

Maynard, one mile away, and passes through 

several established neighborhoods. 

5.4.2 East Entrance 

The East Entrance has pedestrian access from the 

small neighborhood along Old Marlboro Road. 

Other, larger neighborhoods are located north the 

Old Marlboro Road/Route 27 intersection, but there 

are currently no sidewalk connections. Fortunately, 

the Town of Maynard is planning to construct 1,200 

feet of sidewalk on the east side of Route 27 

between Old Marlboro Road and Vose Hill Road 

during 2012. This project will connect Old 

Marlboro Road to a sidewalk network stretching 

into downtown Maynard. 

5.4.3 Main Entrance 

The Main Entrance for the Refuge is located on 

Hudson Road. There is no sidewalk along Hudson 

Road west of the entrance, but there are very few 

residential properties within reasonable walking 

distance to the west. 

There is a considerable amount of single-family 

housing in Sudbury starting about a half-mile east 

of the Main Entrance. There is an extensive 

sidewalk network in those neighborhoods and there 

is a paved path along the south side of Hudson 

Road that terminates at the Refuge. Unlike the 

sidewalks within the residential areas, the path 

along Hudson Road near the Refuge is not 

maintained during the winter. 

5.4.4 Sudbury Road 

Sudbury Road runs along the southwest boundary 

of the Refuge’s north tract. There is a trail 

connection from Sudbury Road through the State 

Forest that is within walking distance to a lowdensity neighborhood off Sudbury Road, but 

walking is not practical due to a lack of sidewalks 

and high vehicle speeds. 

5.4.5 South Tract of Refuge 

The south tract of the Refuge has an entrance at 

Moore Road that is accessible to pedestrians. Moore 

Road does not have any sidewalks but there are few 

vehicles on the road. Other pedestrian connections 

are via the trails among the conservation properties 

at the south end. 

The most important pedestrian access to the south 

tract is the trail from Hudson Road through the 

State Forest. Residents from nearby Sudbury 

neighborhoods can access the trail directly from the 

path along the south side of Hudson Road. Refuge 

visitors can walk from the north tract to the south 

tract via an unsignalized crosswalk on Hudson 

Road. During the public involvement process some 

people noted concerns with using the crosswalk due 

to the volume and speed of cars on Hudson Road, 

as well as vegetation obscuring walkers waiting to 

cross from the view of approaching drivers. 

5.5 Bicycle Access to the Refuge 

Bicycles are permitted only in the north tract of the 

Refuge. The pedestrian routes to the East, North, 

and Main Entrances are also used by bicyclists. 

More regional bicycle access will be available once 

nearby rail trails are fully constructed. There are 

three rail trails near the Refuge. The status and 

potential relationship to the Refuge are summarized 

below. The rail trails are shown on Figure 5.2. 
Fairbank Road

Hudson Road

Sudbury Road

Main Street

Old Marlboro Road

White Pond Road

Town of

Maynard

Public

SchoolsTown of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

City of Marlborough:

Desert Conservation Land

Sudbury Valley Trustees:

Memorial Forest

Town of Sudbury:

Hop Brook

Moore Road

Duton Road

Towhee Trail

Petapawag Trail

Tri-town Trail

Otter Alley

Hill Trail

Pine Garden Trail

Powerline

Trail

Fisher Loop

Fisher Loop

Sweet Fern Trail

Mink Link

Puffer Pond Trail

Patrol Road

Pond White

Road

Harry's Way

Taylor Way

Puffer

Pond

Winterberry

Way

Winterberry

Way

STOW

ACTON

BOLTON

WA

HARVARD

HUDSON

BOXBOROUGH

FRAMINGHAM

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

CONCORD

20

20

20

495

2

62

2

85

27

111

111

117

117

62

62

62

85

27

27

2A

111

117

90

126

30

Rail Trails

Active, Paved

Active, Unpaved

Planned, Under Design

Proposed

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 5.2

Rail Trails



N

0 1/2 1 Mile

Visitor

Center

Assabet

River National

Wildlife Refuge

Assabet River Rail Trail

Assabet River Rail Trail

Central Massachusetts 

Rail Trail

Bruce Freeman 

Rail Trail
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-8 4/10/2012

5.5.1 Assabet River Rail Trail 

The Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT) runs along 

the northwest boundary of the Refuge and will 

ultimately connect Marlborough to Acton via 

Hudson, Stow, and Maynard. Currently, a six-mile 

segment from Marlborough to Hudson is complete. 

The trailhead nearest to the Refuge is almost five 

miles from the North Entrance and four miles from 

the Main Entrance. 

Design of the section in Maynard, from the 

Refuge’s North Entrance through Maynard to South 

Acton, is underway. A one-mile section between 

the North Entrance and downtown Maynard is 

currently unpaved but is maintained and is actively 

used by bicyclists. This section of the ARRT 

provides quick and convenient access to the Refuge 

for bicyclists from most parts of Maynard. 

An easement for the ARRT through Stow, from the 

Refuge’s North Entrance to Sudbury Road, has 

been obtained. The trail is unpaved but usable, and 

provides a connection between the Refuge and 

some low-density residential areas. 

Assabet River Rail Trail near the North Entrance

There is one segment of the ARRT for which an 

easement has not been obtained and at present little 

likelihood that one will be obtained in the near 

term. That segment is the missing connection 

between the sections already constructed between 

Marlborough and Hudson, and the existing unpaved 

sections in Stow and Maynard. 

5.5.2 Central Mass Rail Trail 

The proposed Central Mass Rail Trail would extend 

some 100 miles through Massachusetts, from 

Northampton to Boston. The Massachusetts 

Department of Conservation and Recreation own 

the segments of trail near the Refuge; however, 

there are no funding commitments for design or 

construction at this time. 

The Central Mass Rail Trail intersects with the 

Assabet River Rail Trail at the trailhead in Hudson. 

If bicycle use in the south tract is permitted, the 

Central Mass Rail Trail would provide the safest 

and most direct means the reach the Refuge from 

that trailhead. The Central Mass Rail Trail would 

also provide bicycle access to the Refuge from 

many neighborhoods in Sudbury to the east. 

However, due to the lack of funding commitments, 

any substantial use of the rail trail for accessing the 

Refuge should be considered a long-term potential. 

Central Mass Rail Trail adjacent to south side of South Tract
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-9 4/10/2012

5.5.3 Bruce Freeman Rail Trail 

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is proposed to follow 

a 25-mile route from Lowell to Framingham, and 

will pass through Sudbury. The northerly 7 miles of 

the trail has been constructed, and the next 13 

miles, down to the Concord/Sudbury town line, is 

under design. 

The remaining section, through Sudbury and into 

Framingham, continues to be advocated for by the 

Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and others, 

but right-of-way acquisition is incomplete and no 

design work is underway. 

Regardless of potential construction timelines, the 

alignment through Sudbury is about five miles from 

the Refuge via streets with no dedicated bicycle 

lanes and thus it is unlikely that the Bruce Freeman 

Trail would provide any significant bicycle access 

to the Refuge. 

5.6 Vehicle Access to the Refuge 

Some local visitors access the Refuge via the North 

Entrance or the East Entrance, but most visitors 

arriving by car access the Refuge via the Main 

Entrance on Hudson Road in Sudbury. 

Those arriving from the northeast tend to be 

directed by the ARNWR website and brochures, the 

Friends group website, and by on-line and GPS 

mapping services, to travel south on Route 27 to 

Fairbank Road in Sudbury and then to Hudson 

Road. Those traveling from the northwest are 

directed down Route 62 to connect with Sudbury 

Road and then to Hudson Road. 

Visitors arriving from the southeast are generally 

directed up Route 27 to where it splits from Hudson 

Road in Sudbury. Visitors arriving from the 

southwest are usually directed up Route 62 to where 

it splits from Hudson Road in Hudson. 

Regional visitors from the east using Route 2 are 

directed south to Route 62 and then Route 27. 

Those using Route 20 are directed north on 

Route 27. Those arriving from the west on Route 2 

are directed south along Route 27. Regional visitors 

arriving from Route 495 to the west of the Refuge 

must travel via a series of local roads to reach 

Hudson Road. 

5.6.1 Roadway Classifications 

All of the roads near the Refuge are owned by the 

local communities. Roads such as Route 27, 117 

and 62 are state-numbered roads, but are not owned 

by the state. Table 5.2 lists the functional 

classification of the roads based on the 

Massachusetts Department of Transportation 

functional roadway classification system. 

Table 5.2: Roadway Classifications 

Road Classification 

Route 117 (Great Road) Urban Principal Arterial 

Route 27 (Parker Street) Urban Principal Arterial 

Route 62 (Gleasondale 

Road/Wilkins Street) 

Urban Principal Arterial 

Main Street Urban Minor Arterial

Sudbury Road Urban Minor Arterial

State Road Urban Minor Arterial

Hudson Road Urban Minor Arterial 

Fairbank Road Urban Collector 

White Pond Road Local 

Source: MassDOT 

5.6.2 Daily Traffic Volumes 

MassDOT maintains a database of traffic volume 

data for state roadways in Massachusetts. Annual 

Average Daily Traffic counts for Route 117 (Great 

Road), Route 27 (Parker Street), and Route 62 

(Wilkins Street) were available. Additional traffic 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-10 4/10/2012

counts were conducted for this study on Sudbury 

Road, Hudson Road, and Winterberry Way. 

Weekday traffic 

As shown in Table 5.3, the weekday (two-way) 

traffic volumes on Hudson Road at the main 

entrance to the Refuge averages 9,600 vehicles. 

That is substantially higher than nearby on Route 

62, and comparable to volumes nearby on Route 27. 

Weekday vehicle traffic into the Refuge is light, 

with an average of about 125 vehicle trips into and 

out of Winterberry Way. 

Table 5.3: Average Daily Traffic Volume 

(Weekday) 

Road Town ADT (year) 

Maynard Road (Rte 27) Sudbury 10,200 (2004) 

Parker Street (Rte 27) Maynard 10,800 (2004) 

Great Road (Rte 117) Maynard 12,500 (2008) 

Wilkins Street (Rte 62) Hudson 5,000 (2008) 

Sudbury Road Stow 1,700 (2011) 

Hudson Road Sudbury 9,600 (2011) 

Winterberry Way ARNWR 125 (2011) 

Source: Traffic data from 2011 collected by VHB November 

12-18, 2011. All other data from MassDOT. 

Figure 5.3 illustrates the influence of commuter 

traffic on Hudson Road. Not only do traffic 

volumes spike to more than 1,000 cars per hour 

during peak commuting times, but the traffic is 

directed principally eastbound in the morning and 

westbound in the evening. 

Figure 5.3: Hourly Traffic Volumes on Hudson 

Road (Weekday)

Source: Data collected by VHB November 12-18, 2011. 

Weekend Traffic

Table 5.4 lists average daily traffic counts that were 

collected on a busy weekend in November.6 The 

traffic volumes on the roads abutting the Refuge 

were considerably less on the weekend days than 

the weekdays, while the traffic volume on 

Winterberry Way was higher on the weekend days 

compared to weekdays. 

Table 5.4: Average Daily Traffic Volume 

(Weekend day) 

Road Town ADT (year) 

Sudbury Road Stow 1,400 (2011) 

Hudson Road Sudbury 5,600 (2011) 

Winterberry Way ARNWR 225 (2011) 

Source: Traffic data collected by VHB November 12-18, 2011 

The traffic distribution and peaking patterns also 

differ on weekends compared to weekdays. 

Figure 5.4 illustrates that the traffic on Hudson 

Road is generally evenly distributed by direction 

over the course of a weekend day and that the 

hourly volume is more consistent on a weekend day 

than on weekdays. The hourly (two-way) traffic 

6

 The playing fields nearby in Sudbury were fully used, and apple 

orchard businesses in Stow were still very active. 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

12:00 AM 6:00 AM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 AM

Weekday AverageWB Weekday AverageEB
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-11 4/10/2012

volume on Hudson Road ranged narrowly from 400 

to 485 during the six hours from 10:00 am to 

4:00 pm when the Visitor Center was open. 

Figure 5.4: Hourly Traffic Volumes on Hudson 

Road (Weekend day) 

Source: Data collected by VHB November 12-18, 2011.

5.6.3 Motor Vehicle Crash Summary 

Motor vehicle crash data were reviewed for the 

intersections at the Refuge entrances, at nearby 

intersections used by visitors traveling to the 

Refuge, and along Hudson Road near the Refuge’s 

Main Entrance. The motor vehicle crash data were 

obtained from the most recent MassDOT database, 

which covers the years of 2007 through 2009, and 

from accident reports for 2010 and 2011 obtained 

from the Hudson Police Department. 

The crash data were reviewed to determine the 

magnitude, type and frequency of crashes. The 

metric for the frequency of crashes is a “crash rate” 

calculated as crashes per million vehicles entering 

an intersection. To assess the relative safety at a 

location, crash rates are used to determine how the 

particular location compares to the average crash 

rate for that area. MassDOT calculates the average 

crash rates for intersections and roadway segments 

in various areas of Massachusetts. 

Entrances to Refuge

Table 5.5 shows the history of motor vehicle 

crashes at the Main Entrance, and at the 

intersections leading to the North Entrance and East 

Entrance. The number of crashes is low, and the 

average annual crash rates at all three locations of 

0.09, 0.26, and 0.00 accidents per million vehicles, 

respectively, are significantly lower than the overall 

average rate of 0.66 accidents per million vehicles 

recorded at all similar intersections in this part of 

Massachusetts. 

Table 5.5 Crash Frequency at Entrances to ARNWR 

Year

Winterberry 

Way at 

Hudson Road 

Old Marlboro 

Road at 

Route 27 

White Pond 

Road at 

Route 117 

2007 0 2 0 

2008 1 1 0 

2009 0 0 0 

Total 1 3 0 

Crash 

Rate 0.09 0.26 0.00 

Areawide Crash Rate = 0.66 

There were no reported crashes at the unsignalized 

intersection of Route 117 at White Pond Road. 

White Pond Road provides access to the North 

Entrance of the Refuge. 

There were three crashes reported for 2007 to 2009 

at the unsignalized intersection of Route 27 and Old 

Marlboro Road. Old Marlboro Road leads to the 

East Entrance of the Refuge. One of the crashes was 

an angle collision between two vehicles and one 

was a single vehicle crash. There is no data on the 

type for the third crash. One crash resulted in a 

non-fatal injury; the remaining two were property 

damage only crashes. 

There was a single crash reported during 2007 to 

2009 at the Main Entrance (Winterberry Way) on 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

12:00 AM 6:00 AM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 AM

Average WeekendWB Average WeekendEB
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-12 4/10/2012

Hudson Road. The crash was an angle crash that 

resulted in property damage only. It should be noted 

that the Visitor Center was not open during those 

years. However, a review of accident reports for 

2010 and 2011 show no other crashes. 

Intersections Near the Refuge

Table 5.6 shows the history of motor vehicle 

crashes at four (unsignalized) intersections near the 

Refuge through which most visitors travel. 

 Sudbury Road at State Road is located 3⁄4 of 

a mile west of the Main Entrance. Visitors 

arriving from the west travel through the 

intersection 

 Hudson Road at Route 27 is located about 

three miles from the Main Entrance and 

visitor from the south and east travel 

through the intersection. 

 Fairbank Road connects Route 27 to 

Hudson Road and is used by visitors 

arriving from north of the Refuge. Crash 

data for both intersections were reviewed. 

All of the intersections have a crash rate that is less 

than the average for that area of Massachusetts. The 

number of accidents at the intersections ranges from 

one to three per year. Of the 26 crashes among the 

four intersections, only three involved a personal 

injury. Two of those occurred at the intersection of 

Route 27 at Fairbank Road, and one at the 

intersection of Route 27 (Maynard Road) at Hudson 

Road. 

Table 5.6: Crash Frequency at Key Intersections 

Year 

Hudson 

Road at 

Fairbank 

Road 

Hudson 

Road at 

Maynard 

Road 

Maynard 

Road at 

Fairbank 

Road 

Sudbury 

Road at 

State 

Road 

2007 3 6 1 2 

2008 2 0 2 1 

2009 2 3 4 0 

Total 7 9 7 3 

Crash 

Rate 0.63 0.52 0.59 0.27 

Areawide Crash Rate = 0.66 

Hudson Road/Sudbury Road/State Road Corridor

The Hudson Road/Sudbury Road/State Road 

corridor near the Main Entrance is a heavily 

traveled, two-lane road. Motor vehicle crash data 

for the corridor within one mile of the Main 

Entrance was reviewed. 

In the three years from 2007 to 2009 there were 16 

crashes along the corridor to the west of the Main 

Entrance, and 23 crashes to the east. The crash rates 

were 1.96 and 2.03, respectively and both are below 

the average crash rate of 3.73 for similar road 

segments in that area of Massachusetts. There were 

no crashes reported within 1,000 feet of the Main 

Entrance. 

5.6.3 Sight Distance at the Main Entrance 

Intersection sight distance (ISD) and stopping sight 

distances (SSD) were measured at the Main 

Entrance intersection of Winterberry Way and 

Hudson Road. As shown in Table 5.7, all sight 

distances were within acceptable ranges. 

At this intersection, stopping sight distance is the 

distance required for a vehicle on Hudson Road to 

perceive a situation, react, and come to a complete 

stop. Intersection sight distance is the distance 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-13 4/10/2012

necessary for a driver exiting Winterberry Way 

onto Hudson Road to do so safely. 

Table 5.7: Sight Distances at the Main Entrance

Desirable 

(feet) 

Observed 

(feet) 

Intersection Sight Distance 

 Looking West 375 440 

 Looking East 430 1,250 

 

Stopping Sight Distance 

Traveling Eastbound 290 420 

Traveling Westbound 290 1,210 

Note: Desirable sight distances are as per A Policy on 

Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (AASHTO, 2004) 

for the observed speed of 39 mph. 

5.6.3 Planned Area Transportation 

Improvement Projects 

The State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) 

was reviewed for projects planned near the Refuge. 

There are no roadway projects currently on the 

STIP that would likely have a noticeable impact on 

the traffic network near the Refuge. 

5.7 Mobility and Transportation 

Infrastructure within the Refuge 

The Refuge contains 15.4 miles of trails and roads 

open to the public, including 7.7 miles on which 

bicycles are allowed. There are 1.3 miles of road 

open to private vehicles and several miles of roads 

restricted for use by USFWS and two easement 

holders. In addition, most of the trails are 

occasionally, but routinely, traveled by USFWS 

motor vehicles for administrative and management 

purposes. 

5.7.1 Parking 

There are currently four designated public parking 

areas within the Refuge, one of which is being 

expanded, and a fifth that is under construction. 

Once construction is complete in the spring of 2012 

there will be 111 parking spaces at the Refuge. 

There is a 9-space parking lot at the Main Entrance, 

48 spaces near the Visitor Center, and 15 spaces at 

the end of Winterberry Way near Carbary’s Trail. 

All three parking areas were constructed in 

2009/2010 and are in excellent condition. 

The parking for the North Entrance has been a 

graveled area that could accommodate at least 15 

cars. A new paved parking lot is under construction 

at the same site. The new lot will have 31 parking 

spaces. 

There had been no designated parking at the East 

Entrance. Visitors parked on street at the end of Old 

Marlboro Road, where there is room for about four 

cars. A new 8-space parking lot is under 

construction. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-14 4/10/2012

Table 5.8: Parking Inventory 

Parking Lot 

Standard 

Spaces 

Accessible 

Spaces 

Total 

Spaces 

North Entrance 29 2 31 

Main Entrance 8 1 9 

Visitor Center 46 2 48 

Carbary’s Trail 14 1 15 

East Entrance 7 1 8 

Total 104 7 111 

Note: Construction of North Entrance and East Entrance 

parking will be complete in the spring of 2012. There is 

currently a 15-20 space gravel lot at the North Entrance, and 

3-4 on-street spaces at the East Entrance. 

Occupancy of the parking areas along Winterberry 

Way (Main Entrance, Visitor Center, Carbary’s 

Trail) was recorded using time-lapse cameras 

during an 11-day period in October to better 

understand how the parking lots are utilized. 

Table 5.9 shows the maximum parking occupancy 

for each of the lots on each of the 11 days. It should 

be noted that during this period the Refuge hosted 

some events for the public including a Bunker Tour 

(10/15/2011), a Birding Walk (10/16/2011), a 

Nature Walk (10/23/2011), and a Historical Tour by 

bus (10/23/2011). 

The parking at Carbary’s Trail never had more than 

four of the 15 parking spaces occupied. Parking at 

the Visitor Center, which included USFWS vehicles 

and those of staff and volunteers, was never more 

than half full on weekdays and typically never more 

than two-thirds full on weekend days. The only 

time the Visitor Center parking was almost full was 

the Sunday when there was a historical tour with 50 

participants. 

The 9-space parking lot at the Main Entrance 

reached capacity (excluding the handicap parking 

space) on five of the 12 days. However, the parking 

lot was full only 3.5 hours over the 11 days. The 

information recorded by the cameras also allowed 

the parking duration of the cars in the Main 

Entrance lot to be quantified. The average parking 

duration on a weekday was 1.0 hours and the 

average parking duration on a weekend day was 

1.4 hours. 

Table 5.9: Peak Parking Lot Occupancy, 

October 13–23, 2011 

 Main 

Entrance 

Visitor 

Center 

Carbary’s 

Trail 

Thursday 4 X 2 

Friday 2 X 1 

Saturday 8 27 3 

Sunday 8 30 4 

Monday 9 16 4 

Tuesday 8 13 4 

Wednesday 1 22 2 

Thursday 5 11 3 

Friday 4 22 3 

Saturday 9 31 3 

Sunday 7 45 6 

 

Max Occupancy 9 45 6 

No. of Spaces 9 48 15 

% of Capacity 100% 94% 40% 

Note: Occupancy counts were recorded by camera from dawn 

to dusk each day. No counts are available for the first two days 

at the Visitor Center due to rain and fog. 

5.7.2 Motor Vehicle Circulation 

Most of the trails in the Refuge are occasionally 

traveled by USFWS motor vehicles for 

administrative and management purposes, but 

motor vehicle circulation is generally limited to the 

roads and ways in the north tract. 

Roads Open to Private Vehicles

The Refuge has 1.32 miles of roads that are open to 

public vehicles. There is a 0.28-mile section of 

White Pond Road that provides access to the 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-15 4/10/2012

parking area at the North Entrance. There is also the 

1.04-mile section of Winterberry Way from the 

Main Entrance, past the Visitor Center, to Carbary’s 

Trail. 

Winterberry Way was constructed in 2009/2010 and 

is in excellent condition. The segment of White 

Pond Road was noted in a 2010 study7

 as “poor” 

and in need of rehabilitation. 

White Pond Road between North Entrance and parking 

Winterberry Way near the Main Entrance 

7

 The Road Inventory of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, 

September 2010. Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal 

Lands.

Traffic volumes on the public roads are relatively 

low. Table 5.10 shows the daily two-way traffic 

volumes for a sample week in November. 

Table 5.10: Winterberry Way Traffic Volumes 

November 12-18, 2011 

Day of Week Two-way Traffic Volume 

Saturday 86 

Sunday 139 

Monday 66 

Tuesday 58 

Wednesday 78 

Thursday 53 

Friday 65 

Source: VHB 

Other Roads

Patrol Road, White Pond Road, Harry’s Way, 

Taylor Way, and Winterberry Way are routinely 

travelled by USFWS motor vehicles for 

management purposes. Some of the roads are also 

occasionally used by the U.S. Air Force, the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and by 

a twice-yearly bus tour. 

Figure 5.5 depicts the access easements provided to 

the Air Force and FEMA. The Air Force owns a 

small property within the Refuge and has an 

easement along the length of Patrol Road and the 

section of White Pond Road near the North 

Entrance. FEMA has one easement along Harry’s 

Way, part of White Pond road and part of the old 

Trail B, and a second easement along parts of 

Winterberry Way and Puffer Pond Trail. 

The use of the roads by the easement holders is 

minimal. The Air Force has recently dismantled the 

weather station on their property and FEMA has not 

used the Harry’s Way easement recently. The 

Winterberry Way easement is used by FEMA 

occasionally for maintenance purposes.
Fairbank Road

Hudson Road

Sudbury Road

Main Street

Old Marlboro Road

Assabet River Rail Trail

(Central Massachusetts Rail Trail)

Town of

Maynard

Public

Schools

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

City of Marlborough:

Desert Conservation Land

Sudbury Valley Trustees:

Memorial Forest

Town of Sudbury:

Hop Brook

Moore Road

Duton Road

Towhee Trail

Petapawag Trail

Tri-town Trail

Otter Alley

Hill Trail

Pine Garden Trail

Powerline

Trail

Fisher Loop

Fisher Loop

Sweet Fern Trail

Mink Link

Puffer Pond Trail

Patrol Road

Pond White

Road

Harry's Way

Taylor Way

Puffer

Pond

Winterberry

Way

Winterberry

Way

White Pond Road

62 62

117

27

27

117

STOW

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

ARNWR

Air Force Easement

FEMA Easement



N

0 1/4 1/2 Mile

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 5.5

Access Easements

North

Entrance

East

Entrance

South

Entrance

Area

Closed

to Public
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-17 4/10/2012

Bus tours of Refuge’s historical sites have been 

conducted for the past 11 years – even before the 

public opening of the refuge. The tours are operated 

by the Friends of the Assabet River NWR. Tours 

are conducted once in the spring and once in the 

fall. A single tour trip of 40 people is made using a 

standard school bus. The bus tour route is along 

Patrol Road, White Pond Road and Harry’s Way. 

The twice-yearly bus tours sell out quickly. The 2 1⁄2 hour tour 

includes stops at old home site locations and one of the 

ammunition bunkers. 

The conditions of the restricted roads (those used by 

vehicles other than private vehicles) are depicted on 

Figure 5.6. The conditions vary from good to poor. 

There are also some sections among those roads 

that are subject to seasonal flooding. One is on 

Taylor Way near Otter Alley and the other is the 

gravel section of Winterberry Way between the 

East Entrance and Puffer Pond Trail. Water levels 

adjacent to a segment of White Pond Road have 

risen substantially in the past few years due to 

beaver activity, but the road is not currently subject 

to flooding. 

The graveled section of Winterberry Way is the 

roadway most in need of routine maintenance. 

Additional gravel is generally added annually. A 

concrete sluice has been constructed at the Taylor 

Way section to help mitigate roadway flooding 

issues, and one is planned for the Winterberry Way 

section. 

Concrete sluice on Taylor Way between two wetland areas. 

Although conditions on the restricted roads are 

often graded as “fair” or “poor” as part of standard 

pavement management evaluations, the conditions 

have little day-to-day impact on the circulation of 

vehicles. The roads are infrequently used and the 

vehicles that travel the roads tend to be heavy-duty 

service vehicles capable of operating on even native 

surfaces if need be. 

The most significant issue with the roadways is not 

that it is difficult for USFWS and other vehicles to 

travel upon them, but that many of the roads are 

shared with walkers and bicyclists and during wet 

conditions even occasional vehicles can cause ruts 

and other damage. The resulting ponding and 

uneven surfaces can inconvenience both walkers 

and bicyclists. 
Fairbank Road

Hudson Road

Sudbury Road

Main Street

Old Marlboro Road

Assabet River Rail Trail

(Central Massachusetts Rail Trail)

Town of

Maynard

Public

Schools

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

Town of

Maynard

Public

Water

Supply

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

DCR:

Marlborough - Sudbury

State Forest

City of Marlborough:

Desert Conservation Land

Sudbury Valley Trustees:

Memorial Forest

Town of Sudbury:

Hop Brook

Moore Road

Duton Road

Towhee Trail

Petapawag Trail

Tri-town Trail

Otter Alley

Hill Trail

Pine Garden Trail

Powerline

Trail

Fisher Loop

Fisher Loop

Sweet Fern Trail

Mink Link

Puffer Pond Trail

Patrol Road

Pond White

Road

Harry's Way

Taylor Way

Puffer

Pond

Winterberry

Way

Winterberry

Way

White Pond Road

62 62

117

27

27

117

STOW

HUDSON

MARLBOROUGH

SUDBURY

MAYNARD

ARNWR

Roadway Surface

Gravel

Paved

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Failed

Roadway Condition



N

0 1/4 1/2 Mile

ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

transportation study

Figure 5.6 

Roadway Condition

North

Entrance

East

Entrance

South

Entrance

Area

Closed

to Public
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-19 4/10/2012

Ponding in tire ruts along Otter Alley. 

5.7.3 Bicycle Circulation 

Bicycles are allowed on some trails to encourage 

travel to the Refuge by bicycle, and to enhance 

access within the Refuge to wildlife-dependent 

uses. Bicycles are allowed on public-access roads 

and ways only, all of which are in the north tract of 

the Refuge. 

Table 5.11: Roads and Ways on which Bicycles 

are Allowed 

 Length (miles) 

Name Paved Unpaved Total 

Winterberry Way 1.0 0.5 1.5 

Taylor Way 1.8 1.8 

Harry’s Way 0.4 1.5 1.9 

White Pond Road 1.7 1.7 

Patrol Road* 0.8 0.8 

Total 3.9 3.8 7.7 

* White Pond Road to Winterberry Way 

Note: Distance and surface from The Road Inventory of the 

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. 

Bicycling is a popular activity at ARNWR. On the 

three-day Columbus Day weekend in October 2011 

more than 100 people arrived at the Refuge by 

bicycle (see Table 5.1). Others drive to the Refuge, 

park, and then bicycle around the Refuge. The 

parking lot at the Main Entrance is the most popular 

parking location for those visitors. 

The trails used by bicyclists are a mix of paved and 

unpaved surfaces. The trail conditions are such that 

the trails are generally appropriate for casual 

bicycle use, even by families with young children, 

but they are not suitable for fast road-bike travel. 

The paved surfaces, except for Winterberry Way, 

have not been maintained since long before the 

property was transferred to the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Surface. The paved surfaces are heavily 

cracked, often heaved and rutted and sometimes 

potholed. 

Harry’s Way near the Visitor Center has an intact paved 

surface. 

The unpaved surfaces on most of the trails are 

rutted and uneven due to the impact of vehicles and 

bicycles during wet conditions. Trails are generally 

at least 10 feet wide, which is typical of a multiuse 

path, but the rutting and other trail conditions 

sometimes makes it difficult for bicyclists to pass 

walkers without the walkers stepping aside. 

The most difficult bicycle surface conditions are 

experienced along Taylor Road and the segment of 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-20 4/10/2012

Winterberry Way between the East Entrance and 

Carbary’s Trail. The same seasonal flooding 

conditions that affect motor vehicle circulation 

affect bicyclists. In addition, there are a some 

sections of Taylor Way where the surface is a soft, 

sandy soil. 

Taylor Way near the North Entrance is a section of soft sandy 

soil that is difficult to bicycle. 

5.7.4 Hiking and Walking 

The Refuge has 15.4 miles of trails open to the 

public. The majority, some 12.7 miles, are located 

in the north tract. Table 5.12 lists the length of the 

trails and whether the trails are also used by 

bicyclists and motor vehicles. 

The trail network provides access to a wide variety 

of forest and water habitats, the Visitor Center, the 

fishing area, and many of the ammunition bunkers. 

Most of the trails are along old roadbed and rail 

beds and about five miles of the trails have some 

paved surface. 

Some trails are affected by seasonal flooding. These 

include Otter Alley, a section of Taylor Way near 

Otter Alley, and a section of Winterberry Way near 

the north section of Puffer Pond Trail. 

Table 5.12: Walking Trails in the ARNWR 

Name 

Length 

(miles) 

Shared 

with 

Bicycles 

Shared 

with 

Cars* 

North Tract 

 Winterberry Way 1.5 No No 

 Taylor Way 1.8 Yes Yes 

 Harry’s Way 1.9 Yes No 

 White Pond Rd 1.7 Yes No 

 Patrol Road 0.8 Yes Yes 

 Puffer Pond Trail 0.4 No Yes 

 Carbary’s Trail 0.1 No No

 Petapawag Trail 0.9 No No

 Towhee Trail 1.0 No No

 Otter Alley 0.3 No No

 Powerline Trail 0.2 No No

 Sandbank Trail 0.1 No No

 Tebassa Trail 0.1 No No

 Tri-Town Trail 1.2 No No

 Pine Garden Trail 0.3 No No

 Hill Trail 0.4 No No

 Total North Tract 12.7 

 

South Tract 

 Fischer Loop 2.3 No No

 Mink Link 0.1 No No

 Sweet Fern Trail 0.3 No No

 Total South Tract 2.7 

 

Total 15.4 

* Refers to cars associated with easements held by FEMA and 

the U.S. Air Force. There is no private vehicle access on these 

trails. USFWS vehicles use all trails occasionally for 

management purposes. 

Note: Lengths of trails from The Road Inventory of the Assabet 

River National Wildlife Refuge and the ARNWR Trail Guide. 

The paved surfaces of trails that are along old 

roadbeds have not been maintained since they were 

used by the military and all of them have drainage 

problems. The crowning of the surface has 

deteriorated and there are usually ruts that retain 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-21 4/10/2012

stormwater. This not only inconveniences those 

walking on the trail, it also hastens the deterioration 

of the trail surface. 

Example of ponding on Harry’s Way 

5.7.4 Handicap Accessibility 

The Refuge provides many opportunities for those 

who are mobility impaired, albeit in a limited area 

of the Refuge. The Visitor Center is handicapped 

accessible; the one-mile path parallel to 

Winterberry Way is accessible and travels along 

woods and offers views of Puffer Pond; and there is 

a section of Harry’s Way that provides an 

accessible route from the Visitor Center to one of 

the ammunition bunkers. 

On the other hand, while the pier at the Barron 

Fishing Access site is fully accessible, the 500′ path 

to it is not. Nor is the canoe launch at Puffer Pond 

handicap accessible. 

One handicap accessibility issue has been addressed 

by the construction of new parking areas at the 

North Entrance and East Entrance. Previously, there 

was no accessible path past the gates at those 

locations. Visitors using wheelchairs could not 

enter the Refuge at either entrance. The new 

parking lots include accessible paths from the 

parking areas into the Refuge. 

The chief issue with handicap accessibility at the 

Refuge is providing accessibility to more areas and 

to a wider variety of habitats. There is currently no 

handicap accessibility to the edge of a pond or 

wetlands and the accessible trails are typically 

accessed via the Main Entrance. The trails near the 

East Entrance are rough, and although there are 

some segments of accessible trails near the North 

Entrance, they are not linked and there is no 

opportunity for a fully accessible loop. 

5.8 Major Transportation Issues and 

Challenges at the Refuge 

Many of the major transportation issues and 

challenges at ARNWR were identified by USFWS 

prior to this study and have been reviewed as part of 

the existing conditions work, and other issues have 

been identified during the existing conditions phase 

of work by stakeholders and the public. A summary 

of those issues and challenges follows. 

5.8.1 Visitation Data 

Visitation data are collected only at the Visitor 

Center, which is only open Thursday through 

Sunday. Vehicle counters for Winterberry Way and 

the parking lots, and trail counters for key locations, 

would provide more accurate information on the 

number of visitors and their pattern of use. This will 

enable future transportation and program planning 

to better meet the needs of the visitors and the 

Refuge in a cost-effective way. 

5.8.2 Maintenance of Trails, Roads and Ways 

The maintenance of the trails, roads and ways in the 

Refuge is the most challenging of the transportation 

issues. Except for Winterberry Way, none of the 

trail surfaces have been maintained since long 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-22 4/10/2012

before the Refuge was established. Paved surfaces 

have deteriorated and unpaved surfaces are rutted. 

The loss of the crowning of the surface profile, as 

well as the loss of drainage swales, has hastened the 

damage by water flow. 

Some trails are protected by tree cover, and others 

are appropriately maintained as a native surface, but 

those roads and ways used by bicycles and motor 

vehicles require extensive rehabilitation or 

reconstruction. 

Financial resources for construction and 

maintenance of the roads and ways are limited. The 

financial constraints will affect decisions about 

investments in roads and ways to support bicycle 

use and handicap accessibility. 

5.8.3 Parking 

Construction projects are underway to 

approximately double the capacity of public parking 

areas at the North Entrance and the East Entrance. 

This appears to be appropriate for accommodating 

reasonable expectations of future visitation levels at 

the Refuge. Recent parking utilization data shows 

that parking at the Main Entrance is sometimes full 

and that parking at the Visitor Center may 

sometimes nearly reach capacity during larger 

events. 

Construction of additional parking is one means of 

addressing existing and future parking shortfalls. 

The amount of new parking required can be 

mitigated by policies such as encouraging 

non-automobile access to the Refuge, parking 

management during events, and making better use 

of parking on adjacent State Forest lands. 

5.8.4 Wayfinding 

Wayfinding is a challenge for some visitors 

traveling to the Refuge. There has never been any 

wayfinding signage external to the Refuge. The 

installation of appropriate wayfinding signs will 

provide better guidance for first-time visitors, as 

well as make those other drivers who see the signs 

aware of the Refuge. 

The issue of wayfinding extends into the Refuge. 

Some visitors do not understand that the Visitor 

Center is located a half-mile from the Main 

Entrance and instead see only the small parking lot. 

At the North Entrance, some visitors are unaware 

that the parking area is a quarter-mile inside the 

Refuge. 

There are also opportunities to provide visitors with 

more information about exploring the Refuge by 

providing brochure and map information at 

additional kiosks and digitally by the use of QR 

Code tags at trailheads. 

Scanning this QR Code with a 

smartphone will access a PDF 

of the ARNWR Trail Guide 

brochure.

5.8.5 Transportation safety 

The speed and volume of traffic on, and character 

of, Hudson Road create some safety concerns at the 

Refuge’s Main Entrance. There are issues with 

pedestrians crossing the road to travel between the 

north and south tracts or to neighborhoods in 

Sudbury, and with eastbound vehicles entering the 

Refuge. The relatively low volume of traffic 

entering the Refuge can result in through-traffic 

drivers being unprepared for vehicles slowing to 

turn left into the Refuge. 
 Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge – 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY – 

EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT 

Existing Transportation Conditions 5-23 4/10/2012

The options for addressing safety concerns range 

from near-term projects of signage, lighting and 

maintenance of roadside vegetation, to long-term 

projects such as constructing a left-turn lane or 

relocating the entrance to the east. 

5.8.6 Handicap Accessibility 

Providing handicap accessibility to the canoe 

launch and the fishing area at Puffer Pond is a 

priority for the Refuge. There are also many other 

opportunities to enhance the experience at the 

Refuge for all those who are mobility impaired. 

Some of these opportunities may be achieved 

through policy changes such as where disabled 

hunters may take their cars. Others could be 

realized through education outreach programs 

oriented to those who are physically disabled. A 

mobility-assistance shuttle service would increase 

access within the Refuge for many visitors. 

Some opportunities can be achieved by physical 

improvements. Rehabilitation of the existing trails 

to eliminate ruts and uneven surfaces would benefit 

all persons with mobility disabilities. Some trails 

could be reconstructed to be fully handicapaccessible, particularly those in areas that provide 

access to a wider variety of habitats than provided 

the existing accessible trail network. 

5.8.7 Community Connections 

The Refuge benefits from the existing pedestrian 

and bicycle connections with nearby 

neighborhoods. They facilitate visitation while 

mitigating the need for additional on-site motor 

vehicle parking. 

The North Entrance and the Main Entrance have 

good pedestrian access, and a sidewalk is being 

constructed in 2012 by the Town of Maynard on 

Route 27 that will fill a missing link in the 

neighborhood sidewalk network near the East 

Entrance. 

Bicycle access from Maynard and parts of Sudbury 

is also good and there are opportunities to improve 

bicycle access from other sections of Sudbury and 

from Stow and Hudson by connecting to regional 

rail trail projects. However, the most promising 

project, the proposed Central Mass Rail Trail, 

connects to the south tract and bicycling is not 

currently an allowed use in that part of the Refuge. 

5.8.8 Educational Outreach 

Educational outreach is an important objective of 

the Refuge and a significant part of the current 

visitations. Transportation strategies can support 

educational outreach efforts in a variety of direct 

and indirect ways. An electric charging station 

provides educational opportunities. A shuttle 

vehicle could be available to transport school 

groups to learning sites within the Refuge, or a 

scheduled shuttle service could be implemented to 

provide regular tours for all visitors.