Fwd: Fwd: Mystic River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge ENF - Comments due May 14

[Bruce Kulik]

Please consider commenting in favor of this critical link across the Mystic River.

Thanks,

bk

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Fwd: Mystic River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge ENF - Comments due May 14
Resent-From:	bku...@alum.mit.edu
Date:	Tue, 7 May 2019 08:44:50 -0400
From:	Amber Christoffersen <amber.chri...@mysticriver.org>
To:	thela...@googlegroups.com

We discussed this project at the LandLine meeting yesterday. If you were not on the email below, please consider submitting comments for the bridge ENF, due May 14th. See attachments and link to full ENF document here. This bridge is the missing link between the Northern Strand and Somerville/Boston, very important! Thank you.  

Amber

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Amber Christoffersen <amber.chri...@mysticriver.org>
Date: Mon, May 6, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Subject: Mystic River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge ENF - Comments due May 14
To:

Hi All, 

Some of you may have heard that the bridge is going through the MEPA review process, the ENF can be found here, full documents are attached. Comments are due May 14. We're excited that the bridge is moving forward!

Many of you signed on to the letter to Sec. Pollack asking that the state to apply for a BUILD grant, attached. As of now, it appears that the funding will likely come from (mostly) Wynn and (hopefully) the state. Though the state still hasn't committed so advocating for this connection is still very needed. 

While we are fully supportive of the bridge, we are disappointed that since the public meeting last year, the bridge width has been reduced from 14-feet to 12-feet. As a long distance bike commuting corridor and pedestrian connection for the T and casino, we think that 12 feet will not be adequate to support the projected use and will result in many conflicts between modes. We understand that this is a cost-saving measure - there may be technical constraints, but during the schematic design phase, the width was 14-feet.    

If you could write a letter on behalf of your organization emphasizing three points:

1. The regional importance of this bike/ped connection - add specifics on why it is important to the work of your organization. In addition to the bridge, the connection to the Assembly Row T Station via a headhouse retrofit is critical. A 3-minute vs.12-minute walk will have an impact on use. 

2. Thank Wynn for moving this forward (they have invested $2M+ to date with a commitment to fund a good portion of the capital costs) and that the state should contribute funding to leverage this private investment. 

3. Given the regional importance, projected use of many modes and long span (780 feet), this bridge should be 14-feet, not 12-feet. See stats below on projected use and similar bridges. This will be the only safe, off-road bike/ped connection from North Shore communities to Boston and should be reflect design standards for 21st century bik/ped bridges. 

Thank you!

Amber

Key Statistic and Precedents

Mystic Bike/Ped Bridge - 12’ width, 780’ length

Estimated 2,390 user/weekday, 85% pedestrian (these are estimates from AECOM, we believe they will be higher once this connects to the Northern Strand Extension).

Complete 2018: Fanny Appleton Bridge - 14’ width, 607’ length 

Complete 2018: Whittier Bridge - 15’ width (vehicular with shared-use path)

In-Design: Bruce Freeman Rt. 2 Bridge - 14’ width, 304’ length

In-Design: Waltham-Wayside Bridge - 14’ width

In-Design: Riverside/Charlestown Bridge - 16’ width, 150’ length

--

Amber Christoffersen
Greenways Director
Mystic River Watershed Association
20 Academy Street, Suite 306, Arlington, MA 02476
781-316-3438  amber.chri...@mysticriver.org
www.MysticRiver.org

Register for the 23rd Annual Herring Run and Paddle

--

Amber Christoffersen
Greenways Director
Mystic River Watershed Association
20 Academy Street, Suite 306, Arlington, MA 02476
781-316-3438  amber.chri...@mysticriver.org
www.MysticRiver.org

Register for the 23rd Annual Herring Run and Paddle

--
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