Neponset Trail Extension: Walk & Meeting
Join Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) and MA Dept of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) for a walk of the planned Greenway Extension through Mattapan Station Weds, Sept 7th, 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The group will meet at the Mattapan Station Platform near the shed and walk to get a closer look at the plans for the Greenway around the station. They’ll look specifically at the area planned for the “canopy walk,” possible connection to the station, area south of the station where the trail is planned, as well as the proposed visitors center location on the square.
This is happening RAIN OR SHINE! Be prepared for a possibly muddy walk, wear boots, bring an umbrella.
The Neponset River Greenway Council meeting follows, Wed Sept 7, 2011
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Milton Yacht Club, 25 Wharf Street – Lower Mills/Milton Village. All are welcome on the walk, and to the meeting.
Here is the link to the proposed Neponset Trail Extension, see Option B Revised on page 20 for the most up-to-date route proposal.
Neponset Trail Extension Public Meeting Aug 30
On Tuesday August 30, from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Foley Senior Residences Dining Room, 249 River Street, Mattapan, the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will discuss, and solicit public input on, recommended alternative trail extension between Central Avenue in Milton and Blue Hill Avenue in Boston to link the Lower Neponset River Trail to the Neponset Esplanade.
Maps and plans available for viewing starting at 6:30 PM. Please help pass along this meeting notice especially to those who live in Mattapan and Milton, to help generate a sizeable community presence at this meeting that can provide feedback about this critical missing piece. If you have questions about the public meeting, please call 617-626-4974 or email DCR.
Dorchester Coast Greenway – update
The Dorchester Coast Greenway project involves a coalition of stakeholders – DotBike, Boston Natural Areas Network, Boston Cyclists Union, Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, National Grid, local neighborhood associations, Mass Highway – working as a team to connect the existing Lower Neponset River Trail aka Neponset Greenway (which now peters out at Tenean Beach) and the Harbor Trail at UMass Boston. Completing this 1.5 mile “missing link” will provide a robust, safer and regionally accessible link to the Boston HarborWalk. At the June 2011 Neponset Greenway Council meeting, it was announced that the master plan study of this project, completed with input by local community residents by the Tufts University Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Field Projects Team, is available online, click here to learn more!
Ashmont pedal & park update
A Red Line Dorchester T stations bike parking update from Dot Bike: A quick update on the progress of the Ashmont Pedal & Park facility. Erik Schier of the T has indicated that the design is in the final stage and plans should be available on the MBTA web site in a few weeks. (At right is a preliminary concept drawing from June 2010 that shows the approximate location of the facility at the southern end of the T station. )
Dot Bike Week 2011
Join Dot Bike in celebrating Bike Week May 14 – 21! Start off Bike Week in Dorchester on Saturday May 14th by exploring some of the jewels of the Emerald Necklace by bike from 10:30 – 12:30. Meet at the Franklin Park Club House. The ride will be at a relaxed pace and involve both road and path riding. After the ride head on over to the Bike and Kite festival in Franklin Park from 1 – 4 p.m. an event Continue Reading »
Notes from the DEHC Steering Committee- 4/21/11
At our monthly steering committee meeting last week we got some updates on the various exciting projects we are sponsoring.
Dorchester Coast Trail – your input requested
Momentum for Dorchester’s main off-road biking path – the Dorchester Coast Trail (aka “The Missing Link” connecting the Neponset Greenway in Port Norfolk to the Harborwalk at UMass Boston, see DotBike’s white paper here) – is moving forward with a new research project by a team of Tufts University graduate students in Urban and Environmental Planning. They are assisting the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in creating a Master Plan for bicycle, pedestrian and recreational access between the end of the Neponset River Trail in Port Norfolk and the Harborwalk at UMass Boston. The Tufts University team is collecting public input at a community meeting on Saturday March 26, 10 AM, at the Port Norfolk Yacht Club.
To help the Tufts team gather information as quickly as possible, we are asking Dorchester residents to please complete a short online survey (less than 10 minutes), and share the survey link with friends and neighbors: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BWEC6WEH4
For several years DEHC has been working with a community-based initiative to push for completing this regional link for commuters and recreational users of the Neponset Greenway’s off-road biking and walking path to UMass Boston and, ultimately, downtown Boston. The image above shows a particularly dangerous part of the current on-road section. Click on the image for a short article in the Feb 26, 2009 Dorchester Reporter. If you are interested in finding out more about this project please contact us at 617-474-1478!
Feb 17 Complete Streets StreetTalk
There is a LivableStreets Alliance StreetTalk “How is Boston Completing its Streets?” with Vineet Gupta, Transportation Planning Director, City of Boston on Thursday, February 17, 7-9 PM. (This was originally scheduled for Jan. 12 but rescheduled due to snow.)
@ LivableStreets office, 100 Sidney St, Cambridge MA
Open to the public. $5-$10 suggested donation
From the LivableStreets website: Mayor Menino has told us, “The car is no longer king in Boston.” Is a new wave of urban planning upon us? Boston is ready to put pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users on equal footing with drivers and promote a vision of streets which are safe, attractive and conducive to healthy, active transportation. What would you do to make Boston’s streets more livable, safe and accessible?
In 2003, a coalition of national advocates coined the phrase “Complete Streets” as a way to better communicate the inclusion of bicycles in everyday transportation planning to government officials and the general public. Today, the movement has grown more powerful than just the accommodation of bicycles and has been adopted in more than 200 Complete Streets policies across the U.S, including Boston! See the LivableStreets website for more on this talk.
City of Boston Bike Survey
The City of Boston is conducting a brief 2010 year-end survey of people who bicycle in Boston.
If you ride a bike in Boston–rarely, occasionally or perhaps every single day–please take a moment to complete this important survey.
It has questions about your riding habits and asks for your feedback on biking events. To take the survey go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BostonBikes.
Please forward this to anyone else you know who bikes in Boston.
Thank you very much for your input and have a safe and happy holiday season!
The Boston Bikes Team
some dorchester outdoor activities for you!
Come to the Ashmont Farmers’ Market today 3 – 7 PM, for free Flat Black coffee, ukelele music, and a sneak preview of the Sleeping Moon (to be officially dedicated by the Mayor on Tuesday at 4 PM.)
Tomorrow morning at 10 AM, Saturday October 23, join the Dorchester Orchards Tour, meet-up location is the Blake House on Columbia Road (near the Giant Pear in Edward Everett Square). Bring your bike so you can head to the DotBike Art Ride at 11 AM.
