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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
Random musings from a Midwesterner in Beantown.
Monday, April 25, 2005
MBTA approves Somerville Community Path extension
[From a City of Somerville press release. Yeah baby!]
Mayor Joseph Curtatone today announced the MBTA has approved the city’s plans to extend the bike path from Cedar Street to Central Street, affirming the project will not interfere with Green Line extension plans. Advocates for path had feared the T would oppose extension because it runs parallel to and close to the tracks slated for use by the proposed Green Line extension.
"This is a huge step forward for the Cedar – Central Street extension and a significant step in our overall effort to bring the path all the way to the North Point Development in Cambridge," said Curtatone.
In a separate announcement, Curtatone said the city had received a donation of $5500 from the Friends of the Community Path and Groundworks Somerville to acquire the inactive freight rail rights lining the proposed Cedar Street extension.
"We’re making steady progress toward our goal of bringing the path to Cambridge and beyond" said Curtatone. "There are a number of hurdles to clear in each phase of this extension but we’re in the race for the long haul."
Curtatone said the MBTA revealed their assessment in a recent meeting with city representatives at which the path extension plans were carefully reviewed.
The meeting between officials came one week after Congressman Michael E. Capuano announced he had secured one million dollars in the U.S. House transportation bill to extend the path all the way to the North Point Development in Cambridge. The bill has passed the House but awaits action in the Senate.
"We owe a great deal to Congressman Capuano," said Curtatone. "His ability to obtain federal funds gets the attention of the T and other state officials. They are much more willing to support these incremental gains when they know they are likely to get federal funds down the road."
Support from the Friends of the Community Path, Groundworks Somerville, and a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living by Design Program have been instrumental in these breakthroughs. The program promotes community design initiatives that enable residents to integrate physical activity into their daily routine.
"The current path serves as a prime example of how we can foster more activity in the daily lives of Somerville residents – a prime goal of the Active Living by Design Program," explained Jennifer Hill, executive director of Groundwork Somerville and project manager for the Somerville Active Living Partnership. "The extension of the path makes Active Living opportunities all the more possible."
Curtatone said the city was also actively working with the MBTA to ease traffic problems encountered by path users in busy Davis Square. Although no firm plans have been set, progress is being made.
"We’ve proposed a plan to extend the path along the busway to provide more space for pedestrians and bicyclists." Curtatone said. "Right now, because Davis is one of two breaking points in the bike path – places where riders have no real choice but to dismount – many ride illegally on sidewalks or in the busway. We’re looking at ways to make it possible for a cyclist to legally pass through the Square safely and with less interruption."
Curtatone said he would continue to make Community Path progress one of his administration’s top priorities.
"What we’re seeing now is a transportation transformation in this city," Curtatone added. "When these extensions are done, a Somerville resident will be able to commute by bike to either an urban job in Cambridge or Boston or a suburban job in Bedford, without ever really leaving the path. Coupled with a Green Line extension, it will completely change the way get around this area."
Mayor Joseph Curtatone today announced the MBTA has approved the city’s plans to extend the bike path from Cedar Street to Central Street, affirming the project will not interfere with Green Line extension plans. Advocates for path had feared the T would oppose extension because it runs parallel to and close to the tracks slated for use by the proposed Green Line extension.
"This is a huge step forward for the Cedar – Central Street extension and a significant step in our overall effort to bring the path all the way to the North Point Development in Cambridge," said Curtatone.
In a separate announcement, Curtatone said the city had received a donation of $5500 from the Friends of the Community Path and Groundworks Somerville to acquire the inactive freight rail rights lining the proposed Cedar Street extension.
"We’re making steady progress toward our goal of bringing the path to Cambridge and beyond" said Curtatone. "There are a number of hurdles to clear in each phase of this extension but we’re in the race for the long haul."
Curtatone said the MBTA revealed their assessment in a recent meeting with city representatives at which the path extension plans were carefully reviewed.
The meeting between officials came one week after Congressman Michael E. Capuano announced he had secured one million dollars in the U.S. House transportation bill to extend the path all the way to the North Point Development in Cambridge. The bill has passed the House but awaits action in the Senate.
"We owe a great deal to Congressman Capuano," said Curtatone. "His ability to obtain federal funds gets the attention of the T and other state officials. They are much more willing to support these incremental gains when they know they are likely to get federal funds down the road."
Support from the Friends of the Community Path, Groundworks Somerville, and a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living by Design Program have been instrumental in these breakthroughs. The program promotes community design initiatives that enable residents to integrate physical activity into their daily routine.
"The current path serves as a prime example of how we can foster more activity in the daily lives of Somerville residents – a prime goal of the Active Living by Design Program," explained Jennifer Hill, executive director of Groundwork Somerville and project manager for the Somerville Active Living Partnership. "The extension of the path makes Active Living opportunities all the more possible."
Curtatone said the city was also actively working with the MBTA to ease traffic problems encountered by path users in busy Davis Square. Although no firm plans have been set, progress is being made.
"We’ve proposed a plan to extend the path along the busway to provide more space for pedestrians and bicyclists." Curtatone said. "Right now, because Davis is one of two breaking points in the bike path – places where riders have no real choice but to dismount – many ride illegally on sidewalks or in the busway. We’re looking at ways to make it possible for a cyclist to legally pass through the Square safely and with less interruption."
Curtatone said he would continue to make Community Path progress one of his administration’s top priorities.
"What we’re seeing now is a transportation transformation in this city," Curtatone added. "When these extensions are done, a Somerville resident will be able to commute by bike to either an urban job in Cambridge or Boston or a suburban job in Bedford, without ever really leaving the path. Coupled with a Green Line extension, it will completely change the way get around this area."
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