[SBC] Assembly Square redevelopment hearing Nov. 16

[Alan Moore]

Somerville Bike Committee members and others:

 

Thursday night is a hearing on the proposed rezoning and planned unit
development for Assembly Square.

 

I would like to present the following comments and also submit something in
writing after discussions at our upcoming monthly meeting Tuesday (if it's
not too late). Please let me know if you there's anything you want me to add
or anything you think I should omit.

 

Thanks,

 

Alan

 

 

Dear Planning Board:

 

I first want to thank all the organizations and individuals that have worked
so long and hard to get to an improved vision and plan for redevelopment at
Assembly Square.

 

We were very pleased to see pedestrian and bicycle paths and other
facilities mentioned in the agreement that were signed a few weeks ago and
felt that they were a very good start of a plan that includes all access to
the redevelopment by all modes of transportation.

 

However, these pedestrian and bicycle paths and ways do not seem to be
included in the Preliminary Master Plan Planned Unit Development (PUD) in
more than a general guideline. I don't know what the appropriate level of
detail of bike and pedestrian access plans should be for this approval
process at this time, but I think there needs to be at least the inclusion
of the following language for three categories of bicycle and pedestrian
access needs:

 

1. MYSTIC RIVER - the existing bicycle and pedestrian paths along the Mystic
River should be completed from the Ten Hills neighborhood, under Route 28,
along the redeveloped Assembly Square, under the Orange Line and commuter
tracks to Draw 7 Park to the Amelia Earhart dam continuing along the MBTA
Bus Yard and into Boston and Route 99. This bike and pedestrian corridor
will be both a long-distance route for recreational and commuting but also
for access to the Amelia Earhart dam crossing, the new Orange Line Station
and Assembly Square itself.

 

2. CONNECTIONS - Bike and pedestrian connections from other directions,
principally Sullivan Square, Foss Park area, and under I-93 to East
Somerville. Since these will also be very busy motor vehicle connection
points, bicycle lanes will be needed and, wherever feasible, bicycle routes
separate from cars should be included. While the developers and this PUD
does not encompass all these connection points, the developers need to
insure these bicycle and pedestrian connections are implemented in the same
sense that regional roads that they don't control still will be connected to
their internal streets.

 

3. INTERNAL CIRCULATION - Bicyclists and pedestrians will need access of
course to and between all the buildings within the development. In addition
to the creative placement of sidewalks and paths that will make this a
pedestrian-oriented development, bike lanes should be included on the busier
internal streets and a separate bike path should be included along the major
Assembly Square Drive or in some other configuration that will bring
bicyclists into the development separately from this busy access road.

 

Of course, these paths and lanes need to access the bicycle parking that is
mentioned in the PUD documents as already required by Somerville's zoning
regulations. Since there will be significant bicycle parking demand, locked,
covered and/or other more sophisticated (i.e., than simple racks) bicycle
parking facilities should be part of the final designs.

 

The Somerville Bicycle Committee stands ready to assist the developer and
City in designing and implementing these pedestrian and bicycle facilities
at Assembly Square. This will help bring more people to the development
without adding additional motor vehicles and lessen the amount of auto
parking required.

 

Thank you.

 

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