View presentation for Town Meeting Members
The October 29 Town Meeting has two articles sponsored by Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway.
During the town meeting, we will have a few minutes to introduce the article and ask for your vote in support.
Due to time constraints, we cannot provide a lengthy presentation. Therefore, we are preparing a PowerPoint presentation for the town meeting members to view before Oct 29, and we will have printed copies available.
We are still refining the presentation, but would like to provide an early version to get your feedback. Thanks !
Oct 29 2012 update:
Note that if 3 selectmen vote to send a letter to the MBTA / MassDOT, then we can have the rail trail immediately.
Wow -- looks like a solution is found to building the rail trail between Needham and Newton -- it is as simple as the town sending a letter to the MassDOT / MBTA requesting a rail trail bridge! Quote: "Before the MBTA will allow MassDOT to tear down the bridge they must provide a written commitment to restore the bridge in the future. Because the future needs are unknown at this time, restoration will not be part of the Add-a-Lane Project; however, MassDOT is responsible for restoring the bridge once its use has been decided."
Quote is from June 2012 MassDOT testimony at the Needham Library, article is Here
1) Click to view Town Meeting Presentation for the Rail Trail article
2) Click to view more detail about how other rail trail committees operate
3) Finance Committee Presentation Wed Oct 17 7:30 PM Great Plain meeting room - town hall
4) Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committees - Best Practices and Recommendations
List of town meeting members is --> Here
Can we get your feedback? What did you think? Is it effective? Would you support this at town meeting? (use the poll below)
During the town meeting, we will have a few minutes to introduce the article and ask for your vote in support.
Due to time constraints, we cannot provide a lengthy presentation. Therefore, we are preparing a PowerPoint presentation for the town meeting members to view before Oct 29, and we will have printed copies available.
We are still refining the presentation, but would like to provide an early version to get your feedback. Thanks !
Oct 29 2012 update:
Note that if 3 selectmen vote to send a letter to the MBTA / MassDOT, then we can have the rail trail immediately.
Wow -- looks like a solution is found to building the rail trail between Needham and Newton -- it is as simple as the town sending a letter to the MassDOT / MBTA requesting a rail trail bridge! Quote: "Before the MBTA will allow MassDOT to tear down the bridge they must provide a written commitment to restore the bridge in the future. Because the future needs are unknown at this time, restoration will not be part of the Add-a-Lane Project; however, MassDOT is responsible for restoring the bridge once its use has been decided."
Quote is from June 2012 MassDOT testimony at the Needham Library, article is Here
1) Click to view Town Meeting Presentation for the Rail Trail article
2) Click to view more detail about how other rail trail committees operate
3) Finance Committee Presentation Wed Oct 17 7:30 PM Great Plain meeting room - town hall
4) Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committees - Best Practices and Recommendations
List of town meeting members is --> Here
Can we get your feedback? What did you think? Is it effective? Would you support this at town meeting? (use the poll below)
MassDOT clearly stating the town can have a rail trail over 128
MassDOT said at the below hearing (June 11 2012) they will build whatever type bridge the MBTA asks for, whenever they ask for it. Presumably that means that if 3 of the 5 selectmen send a letter to the MBTA then the MBTA will send a letter to MassDOT / MassHighway who will then build the rail trail bridge, paid for as part of the 128 Add-a-Lane project. This would be in 2015-2016, meanwhile Iron Horse is building a rail trail in 2013 in Newton and they very much would like to build the entire section from Needham Heights (at the new Senior Center) / Trader Joes / Starbucks all the way to National Lumber at Route 9 in Newton. Study and review of the whole issue is something that is requested by Article 8 of the November 13 Needham Special Town Meeting.
MassDOT clearly stating the town can have a rail trail over 128
Rail Trail and Bicycle / Pedestrian articles will be on the agenda for Needham's October 29 2012 Special Town Meeting
Many people in Needham pulled together over the past several days to gather the necessary 100+ validated signatures so that each petition could earn a spot on the warrant. The town meeting will consider the following two articles:
Rail Trail Committee
Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
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.
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.
Media Coverage
More Info about the Two Proposed Committees
Check out the following for more info:
