Fwd: Support Articles 8 and 9 in the November 13 Needham Special Town Meeting

[Tom Connors]

Hi

We could really use your help to grow awareness and demonstrate support for 2 articles appearing before the November 13 Special Town Meeting

Personally, I feel total numbers is more important than "Needham only", because people come to towns with rail trails and spend money at restaurants and patronize the merchants

So please spread the word far and wide, but especially locally, so we can demonstrate strong local support and widespread awareness that our local politicians need to be encouraged to support the local rail trail and begin the long process of developing a bicycle and pedestrian plan

If you could kindly sign the petition, it is located here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/needham-selectmen-please-support-articles-8-and-9-in-the-november-13-needham-special-town-meeting

Thanks !

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Subject: Support Articles 8 and 9 in the November 13 Needham Special Town Meeting
Greetings,

Support Articles 8 and 9 in the November 13 Needham Special Town Meeting

The articles will create committees for an open inclusive engagement with stakeholders to work on rail trail and bicycle and pedestrian safety and planning in the town of Needham. We have an opportunity to build a 4.8 mile rail trail and bicycle route across Needham, from Newton to Dover, and these articles will help move these safe and healthy opportunities closer to completion. Please support us. Thanks !

Article 8: Rail Trail Committee
-- Whereas the town has two distinct sections of unused rail right-of-way, from Newton to Needham Heights and from Dover to Needham Junction.
-- Whereas the board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has voted to grant the MBTA authority to engage in a long-term lease for the two sections to the town for possible conversion into rail trail greenways.
-- The selectmen shall appoint a rail trail committee to study both sections and recommend a proposal for conversion of the unused rail sections into a linear park greenway. The committee shall conduct an inclusive public process of engagement with stakeholders, in particular the individuals, businesses and institutions in the neighborhoods near the rail lines to ensure the proposed project has community input and support. The committee shall recommend a rail trail conversion plan to the selectmen for their adoption, with town meeting approval.

Article 9: Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
-- The selectmen shall appoint a bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee to prepare and recommend a comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian plan for the town, to include improvements to streets, sidewalks, street crossings and the proposed rail trails. The committee may consult with and make recommendations to individuals, departments, agencies and committees. The committee shall recommend a proposed Needham Bicycle and Pedestrian plan to the selectmen for their adoption.
http://www.needhamrailtrail.org/town-meeting-articles.html

Note: this email was sent as part of a petition started on Change.org, viewable at http://www.change.org/petitions/needham-selectmen-please-support-articles-8-and-9-in-the-november-13-needham-special-town-meeting.