[SBC] Comments on RTP: Journey to 2030

[alanjane at highstream.net]

RE: Comments on RTP: Journey to 2030

Dear Transportation Secretary Cohen:

Congratulations and best of luck in your new position.

To the MPO:

I want to thank the MPO and MAPC for all their obvious hard work in
preparing this excellent comprehensive document.

The Somerville Bicycle Committee submits the following changes that we beleive
are necessary if the goals and visions of the document are to be realized:

Page 2-15 and 6-15: Park-and-Ride at Stations should also address Bicycle
Parking and improved Bicycle Access to increase ridership, decrease auto
traffic and decrease auto parking needs, etc.

Bicycle and pedestrian improvements: Many good things are said in many
sections of the document but there’s way too little discussion of funding and
how to implement such facilities (perhaps because of the definition of “major
project”?). Otherwise all the projects listed on page 2-17 and Figure 2-17
will not happen for many years or decades. Massachusetts spend about the least
per capita of federal $ in the US on such projects. The policies and goals
(p.2-21, chapter 4, p5-11 and elsewhere) listed are very good but there no
implementation plan. There should be one or more consolidated “major projects”
of bicycle and pedestrian improvements in order to acquire and prioritize this
need as a “major project”. There should me more reminders that increased
walking and bicycling help solve many of the other problems listed (auto
congestion, parking costs, air emissions, fuel use, land use conversion, etc.)
for a fraction of the cost of increasing the capacities for auto travel (never
mind the health benefits).

Thank you very much for considering these comments.

Sincerely,

Alan Moore, Chair
Somerville Bicycle Committee