The Community Path extension is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021, extending the path from its current terminating point at Lowell St in Somerville all the way east to the new Lechmere Station. But there are some unanswered questions on how the Community Path will connect with other nearby paths and this survey seeks to collect feedback about those connections.
We should make these connections as safe and comfortable as possible so that they are useful for all ages and abilities. If we get this right, these paths can help take many cars off the road and reduce carbon emissions from transportation for people in cities north of the Boston area.
The Friends of the Community Path and the Friends of the Mystic to Charles Connector put together a survey to help inform decisions to be made about various alternatives. Please fill out the survey by this Sunday, April 19. The survey results will help communicate what the public’s priorities are, so your feedback is valuable in creating safe connections.
There is a 20 minute presentation (password is PLY7tWUc) with detailed information about the connector options. Please read on for our summary and preferred options.
Somerville Bicycle Safety is supporting the options that we believe provide the most safe and comfortable infrastructure for people on bicycles of all ages and abilities and avoid hazardous road crossings and sharing unprotected space with cars. These are:
Study Area A: Option A1 (best), A2 (close second), A3 (worst)
Study Area B: Option B1 (best), B3 (second), B2 (worst).
For a more detailed summary of the options, please read more below.
Community Path Project Details
Study Area A – connecting the Community Path with the Grand Junction Path
If fully completed, the Grand Junction Path would connect the Community Path and the Boston University campus (see blue line in the picture at the top of the email). The sections between Gore Street and Main Street are all likely to be built in the next few years, so a connection here could be critical for a safe, comfortable connection between the Community and Grand Junction Paths.
Options:
- A1: Cambridge is intending to build a multiuse path on the south side of Gore Street. In this option, another multiuse path would be built on Rufo Road going north, and the sidewalk on the south side of the next part of Rufo Road would be widened to become a multiuse path. The connection crossing Route 28 would be improved to be safe to cross. Finally, there is a proposed hotel which would build a ramp and protected path across its property to connect to the Community Path. This is our preferred option.
- A2: Instead of using Rufo Road, this option would put the path through Gold Star Mother’s Park, widening the existing paths so they can be used as multiuse paths. There would be a safer crossing at Route 28 similar to A1, connecting to the Community Path via a ramp built in the redevelopment of Sav-Mor liquors.
- A3: The path would continue north from Gore Street along the rail corridor. Once it reaches Route 28, people would bike along service roads behind the businesses at Twin City Plaza and McDonalds connecting to new protected bike lanes on Route 28 to get onto the Lechmere. This is our least preferred option because the connection is most indirect and substantial parts of this route will not be infrastructure safe and enjoyable for all ages and abilities.
Study Area B – connecting the Mystic River Greenways with the Community Path at East Somerville GLX Station
The second part of the survey is about connecting the Mystic River Greenways near Assembly Square (just south of Partners Healthcare) with the new East Somerville GLX station. A bike/pedestrian bridge over the Mystic River has been proposed, and if built, people in communities along the Northern Strand Path would have a safe, low stress option to bike into Somerville and other cities nearby.
Options:
- B1: The Mystic River Greenway currently ends near railroad tracks which are currently only used for freight train storage. In this option, one track would be repurposed as a multiuse community path. At the intersection of Inner Belt Road and New Washington Street, people would get off the path and get onto a two-way protected bike lane on the south side of New Washington Street. They would ride west to Washington Street where they could get onto the Community Path at the East Somerville GLX Station. This is our preferred option.
- B2: People would ride along streets in East Somerville, with some contraflow lanes where needed. This is our least preferred option.
- B3: People would bike on protected bike lanes going south on Mystic Avenue, along Sullivan Square, then through streets near Sullivan Square station along protected bike lanes or extended sidewalks/multiuse paths. People would turn to go west on protected bike lanes on Cambridge Street/Washington Street and continue to reach the Community Path at the East Somerville station. Protected bike lanes could also be built along Inner Belt Road, allowing further connections with Brickbottom and Cambridge Crossing.