[SBC] bike and ped paths and connection in Assembly Sq.

[Alan Moore]

Fred and Wig:

Thanks (Fred) for providing me with the Preliminary Master Plan Planned Unit
Development documents for Assembly Square. I'm copying my comments and
questions to the Somerville Bike Committee so that we can give any bike/ped.
related comments that may be appropriate at the hearing Thursday (tomorrow)
night. If you 2 have any time at all to briefly answer the following, I'd
appreciate it. Please reply to all.

 

When the "settlement" was announced some weeks ago, it mentioned: 

 

Federal will plan and build (or improve) three important bike and Pedestrian
Links to other Somerville neighborhoods - under Route 28 to Ten Hills, under
the MBTA rail lines to Draw 7 Park, to Sullivan Square via Lombardi Street -
and will also provide a Bike Path through the length of Assembly Square to
facilitate alterrnative access. Federal will also plan and advocate for the
following additional four Pedestrian Connections: from Foley Street to Foss
Park, to the States Avenues section of East Somerville, across the Amelia
Earhart dam, and along the waterfront from Assembly Square to Ryan Park in
Charlestown.

 

On the plans Fred gave me, C-1, C-4 to C-14, C-17 and P-1, I cannot
determine if any of these are shown. Perhaps the originals are in color and
these features are more obvious? Are there other more detailed documents
being presented at this time? How do we make sure these things happen? Is
this the point to "insist" they are included in the plans?

 

In this "settlement" language, the along the waterfront from Assembly Square
to Ryan Park in Charlestown would seem to be referring to the planned
ped//bike path along the Mystic River from where it presently ends under the
railroad abutment to Route 99 in Charlestown along the MBTA bus yard. The
MBTA is to provide this as part right-of-way as part of an EPA settlement.
This should be listed as a ped/bike path, not just a "Pedestrian
Connections".

 

In the Sept. 25, 2006 "Zoning Compliance Narrative", "pedestrian
connections" are mentioned a number of times, basically saying that there
will be all necessary pedestrian" connections between different areas of the
development. I don't see any mention of bicycle connections. Is this an
appropriate document where we could ask some such language to be added? I
think that important streets need bike lanes, and a separate bike path on
the largest roads (proposed Assembly Square Drive) as well as the
recreational bike/ped paths.

 

 

Thanks, Alan.

 

 

 

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