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[personal profile] mem_winterhill
There's a nice piece here about the potential pedestrian and bike trails that would include parts of Somerville and beyond.

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2020/06/10/trail-advocates-plot-new-routes-to-link-e-somerville-to-charles-river/

snippet:

The trail feasibility study analyzes two critical links that would connect to the under-construction Community Path Extension, which will eventually run from Davis Square to Lechmere: one connection would run northward, linking the new Community Path to the Mystic River Greenways network near Assembly Square; the second connection would zig-zag southwest into Cambridge, and connect to the proposed Grand Junction path (which is funded and is currently being designed for construction).

Trail feasability study [PDF]: 
http://pathfriends.org/scp/FinalStudy/CPX_Connection_Study_200601_Report-small.pdf

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[personal profile] mem_winterhill
Via the SomPedTransit mailing list, I was alerted to the floating [ahem] of a proposal to replace the pedestrian/cyclist bridge across the Mystic with a gondola. No, seriously, stop laughing. It was in the Globe.

Globe:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/07/business/everett-officials-envision-aerial-gondolas-city-hall-casino-assembly-station/

Reply:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/07/metro/walkers-cyclists-worry-that-an-everett-gondola-would-cost-them-crucial-connection/

Non-Globe piece that doesn't require subscription: https://patch.com/massachusetts/somerville/environmental-advocates-push-back-against-encore-gondola-proposal

This is, of course, insane. Low volume, subject to breaking, in a windy area... I rarely state my own opinion on these things here, trying to be a bit neutral. But this is a hard NO from me if it replaces the bridge.

That said, we joked about how this might actually work up Winter Hill if we can't get a north-south bus route. But no, this is just kidding.

Examples:
 
I was about to have kittens about the gondola, and then I was remembering a trip to Pittsburgh where they have this fun tram up a nearby hill that takes you to this kind of sweet view and there's an ice cream place up there...it doesn't suck.

 
I definitely don't want a gondola system to come at the cost of a bike/ped bridge. That said I had seen a City Beautiful YouTube video about gondola systems recently and I've been day dreaming about a line running from the casino through Assembly to Ten Hills, the tops of Winter and Spring Hills and onward to Harvard via Conway Park.

Maybe I just hate climbing hills.

I prefer the TransitTrebuchet.

Plus a footbridge, of course.

Pushback from Mystic River Watershed folks:
https://mysticriver.org/news/2020/2/10/mystic-river-watershed-association-calls-on-state-and-encore-to-partner-on-mystic-river-pedestrian-and-bicycle-bridge

Anyway: I draw your attention to the Draw Seven park upcoming meeting where influencing the decision on the bridge might be worthwhile. 
https://whna.dreamwidth.org/53669.html

Edit to add: the last meeting I recall on the Pedestrian bridge is here: https://whna.dreamwidth.org/16420.html You can download the slides that make the state's own case for the bridge form. 
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[personal profile] mem_winterhill
Via the Somerville Pedestrian Transportation mailing list:

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Project File No. 608562

A Public Information Meeting will be held by MassDOT to discuss the planning study for the proposed Intersection Improvements at McGrath Highway (Route 28) / Mystic Avenue (Route 38) project in Somerville, MA.

WHERE: East Somerville Community School Auditorium, 50 Cross Street, Somerville, MA 02145
WHEN: Wednesday, February 12 th @ 6:00PM

PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become acquainted with the proposed recommendations from the Route 28/Route 38 Planning Study. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL: The proposed project consists of intersection improvements to improve safety for all users and to provide more efficient traffic operations in the immediate area of the intersection of McGrath Highway (Route 28) / Mystic Avenue (Route 38). This project will address the safety and operational deficiencies faced by all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. The work will include new traffic signals; improved pedestrian accessibility and connections; improved transit accessibility; and updated signs and pavement markings.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Meeting regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 608782. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked no later than ten (10) business days after this public hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us

This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available.  For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email ( MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us ). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting. 

In the event of inclement weather, public hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/

JONATHAN GULLIVER PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E.
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR CHIEF ENGINEER

EDIT POST-MEETING: I couldn't go, see Laura's tweets here. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1227733838169804800.html

Media story on this: https://mass.streetsblog.org/2020/02/13/plans-for-somervilles-worst-intersection-make-little-effort-to-tame-violent-driving/
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[personal profile] mem_winterhill
Via Somerville Journal: https://twitter.com/VilleJournal/status/1222540802301272064

Council President @MattForWard1 wrote in about how the debate over bike lanes represents a cultural divide that mirrors national politics. #somerville #bikelanes #identitypolitics

Article: https://somerville.wickedlocal.com/news/20200129/mclaughlin-bike-lanes-and-identity-politics-in-somerville
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[personal profile] mem_winterhill
Via
From: Mark Chase
Date: Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 10:31 AM
Subject: [SomPedTransit] This Sunday, Nov 3, 4-6 PM: Come help support affordable and healthy transportation alternatives in Somerville!
To: SomPedTransitAdvocacyCoalition 


Hi Friends!


A group of us from Somerville Bicycle Safety, the Somerville Bicycle Committee, and the walking/ transit/ biking community are planning to celebrate the new streetscapes on Beacon Street and Broadway Winter Hill on Sunday November 3rd between 4 and 6 PM. We hope you can either come to the start at Whole Foods on Beacon St, go for a short ride with us along Beacon St and then making our way to Broadway, or party with us and the Second Line Brass Band outside of Winter Hill Brewery/ Broadway. Or do all three! Also, please share this email with your lists. Here are the details:


Beacon St celebration- 4:00 PM Whole Foods Beacon Street: Hooray for the completion of Beacon Street!  We’ll gather at Whole Foods and share reflections on the end of a long project and aspirations for a better, safer more accessible Somerville. 


The Ride- 4:30 PM Whole Foods Beacon St: We’ll enjoy a short bike ride from Whole Foods/ to Winter Hill Brewery/ Broadway highlighting new bicycle infrastructure in the City. 


Broadway celebration- 5:15- 6:00 PM  Winter Hill Brewery: Dance and or tap your foot to Somerville’s own Second Line Brass Band. After the music, many of us will raise drinks to toast an amazing year and look forward to even more improvements in (gasp) 2020!


Feel free to bring signs stating your support of these progressive projects. In event of rain, information on whether the event will be on or not can be found at http://www.somervillebikes.org/eventsrides.html. Right now the weather looks good. FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/965382193798897/

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