Weston committee unanimously backs U.S. Bicycle Route 1 designation through town

WESTON -- January 14, 2026, Weston's Traffic and Sidewalk Committee voted unanimously to recommend Select Board endorsement of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 through town along the Central Mass Rail Trail. Chair Dan Patnod presided over the January 14 vote, which covers the trail corridor from the Wayland town line to the Waltham town line and then via Jones Road and Main Street, pending confirmation of which entity holds operational control of the trail. Kerry of the Adventure Cycling Association said MassDOT requires a local resolution or letter before it will finalize the roughly 127-to-128-mile statewide designation. The committee also heard from town engineer Jason that a startup called Crossroads has offered two free LIDAR sensor installations, capable of six months of continuous volume, speed, and near-miss data, at sites including the long-troubled Route 117 and Merriam Street intersection, with a joint presentation to the Select Board scheduled for February 10. Member Rich Gula and resident Bill Fitzsimmons both urged faster action at the Merriam intersection, with Gula saying he was "a second and a half from being in a terrible accident" at the crossing.