Newsletter Archive
Email Newsletter 01/09/00
Contents:* Membership
* Craig Della Penna (RTC) to speak at MB/PV Wed. 1/12
* PV Bike Week 2000: Meeting MONDAY 1/10
* Manhan Rail Trail (Easthampton and Northampton)
* Northampton Rail Trail (Look Park <--W'burg) and new RT Coalition
* Williamsburg Rail Trail
* Critical Mass
* Coolidge Bridge: Rosenberg meeting
* Thanks to volunteers
* Website
Dear Pioneer Valley Cyclist,
Happy Y2K to everyone! Hope you've been taking advantage of the
(globally warmed?) weather outside on the bike, as I have.
* Membership
============
Transportation Alternatives, our sister organization in New York City,
boasts a membership of over 4,000, providing it with significant clout
and credibility in city politics. Yet MassBike, which covers the
entire state of Massachusetts, has fewer than 1000 members. The
organization depends on member support to carry out its mission of
improving cycling conditions statewide. If you're not a member, why
not join now? See http://www.massbike.org/memship/memform.txt for
more information.
* Craig Della Penna (RTC) to speak at MB/PV Wed. 1/12
=============
The next meeting of MassBike/Pioneer Valley will feature a slide show
by special guest Craig Della Penna, the New England Rep. of
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Northampton City Councillors and the
press have been invited, and in anticipation of a crowd of up to 75
people, the meeting has been moved to
Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence
220 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
7:00 PM
Enter right side door and proceed to the Social Room.
Craig will be presenting an energizing and uplifting slide
lecture on rail-trail development in New England. There will be a strong
focus on the growing network here in the Pioneer Valley, but he will
also touch on rail-trail developments in neighboring states and how they
are progressing as compared to Massachusetts.
He is the country's most prolific and sought after speaker on this
subject, having given over 200 lectures in 12 states.
* PV Bike Week 2000: Meeting MONDAY 1/10
====================
The time to organize May's Pioneer Valley Bike Week 2000 events is
NOW! Please come and lend at least your ideas and expertise and,
preferably, a little bit of your time and energy as well.
>From Catherine Ratte (PVPC; cratte@k12s.phast.umass.edu):
We will meet at 4:00 p,m. on Monday, 1/10/00 afternoon in Northampton
at the Municipal building. It's to the right of City Hall as you are
facing City Hall-next to the Unitarian Society building. We are
meeting in the conference room of the Council on Aging. Enter through
the door off the Unitarian Society parking lot and go straight back.
Here are the notes from our last meeting. We really need to get
moving on everything! John Coull and I met on the logo design, and
given the short notice we decided to hire a graphics company to design
a logo. I will update you all on Monday. Have great weekend.
ps-thanks to those of you who submitted support letters for next year's
TDM application. It's not too late of you want to submit a letter. I'll
bring copies of the proposal
* Manhan Rail Trail (Easthampton and Northampton)
=========
The 75% public hearing for the Northampton stretch of the Manhan Rail
Trail went smoothly, and plans are proceeding to final design.
>From Stephen Donnelly (Easthampton; Stephen.M.Donnelly@travelers.com):
Introduction
The Manhan Rail Trail will be an eight-mile multi-use path stretching
from the southern border of Easthampton to downtown Northampton.
There will also be an extra branch out to Mt. Tom Junction near the
Oxbow of the Connecticut River.
The trail will eventually connect to the Norwottuck Trail to Amherst
and the Northampton Bike Path to Williamsburg. The paved trail is
being designed for use by bicyclists, joggers, roller-bladers,
cross-country skiers, baby strollers, and wheelchairs.
Current Status
Phase I of the Manhan Rail Trail project will clear and grub the rail
corridor from the Southampton town line to Fort Hill Road in
Easthampton. All the necessary paperwork, etc. was submitted to
Boston back in Sept. and since that time has making its way through
the various reviews. Because of the lengthy review process, the
advertising date has been put off many times. We are now down to
waiting for approval from the Massachusetts Historical Commission so
that it can be authorized for advertising. As of Dec. 16, the
advertising date has again been pushed back - it is now set for
Jan. 15, 2000. MA Historical was given the report on November 9. Our
project expediter said they usually respond in 30 days. There has
been nothing as of Dec. 16. We are trying to track down someone in MA
Historical to see what the holdup is, since nothing can be advertised
until they give their OK.
Phase II will be the construction of the section of the trail which
was cleared in Phase I. We have (supposedly) been "awarded"
$500,000.00 for this phase, but nothing in writing on that yet. It
would be great if Phase I and II could happen one after the other.
Environmental permitting on Phase III (from Fort Hill Road to Route 5)
is progressing and should be done in about 6 weeks. This is good news
since we had thought it could take up to six months.
For more information:
The Manhan Rail Trail Committee can be reached at the Easthampton Town
Hall, 43 Main Street, Easthampton, MA 01027 or by telephone at (413)
529-1460.
Donations
If making a donation, checks should be made out to the City of
Easthampton.
Ice Skating Fund Raisers
Saturday, January 22, 2000 9:30 AM - noon
Monday, February 21, 2000 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Come skate at Williston's rink
Park Street, Easthampton, MA
Kids $3.00 - Adults $5.00
Please bring your own skates, no rentals available.
Proceeds to benefit the Manhan Rail Trail
Special thanks to Williston Northampton School.
* Northampton Rail Trail (Look Park <--W'burg) and new RT Coalition
========
>From Jim Desmond (Northampton):
NORTHAMPTON RAIL TRAIL EXTENSION TO THE WILLAIMSBURG
TOWN LINE
This 2.4 mile project will begin at the existing Noho-Florence trail that
ends at Look Park and connect with the planned Williamsburg Trail at
the town line. The project had its 75% hearing in Northampton on Dec.
7, and many MassBikers/biking advocates attended. A 75% hearing is
required for all Mass Hwy Dept. projects, and indicates that the project
is 75% through its planning process: almost all design/engineering work
has been done. There was some considerable opposition to the project
voiced: from those that didn't want the project to go through in any
shape or form because it abbuts their property (or they consider the rail
trail bed to be their property), and from those that object to an asphalt
surface. On Dec. 13, there was a meeting of the Northampton Rail
Trail Advisory Committee (this is a mayor-appointed committee) at
which the surface material question was brought up once again.
Instead of approving the proposed design, the committee opted to get
more information on the cost, performance, and pros/cons of different
surfaces, including crushed stone. Newly elected City Councilor-at-
large Michael Bardsley suggested this approach. My sense is that this
is not a death-knell at all, but just some careful thinking about design--
it
appears likely to be approved.
NEW NOHO RAIL TRAIL COALITION
One spin-off of the 75% hearing for the Northamtpon rail trail projects
above was a decision to create a citizen group to advocate for the
three-plus rail trail projects being proposed in Northampton. The
Northampton Rail Trail Coalition will work to bring together the voices of
support for these projects. Goals for this coalition will be to monitor
progress on the projects, report new developments via email/mail, and
get people to the important meetings to demonstrate public support for
the projects. If you are interested in helping to establish this group,
or
want to receive notices regarding these projects, email to Frank Olbris
at olbris@admin.umass.edu.
NEW CITY-APPOINTED BIKE COMMITTEE COMING FOR NOHO?
At the most recent Noho Rail Trail Advisory Committee meeting,
Councillor Bardsley also recommended the re-configuration of the Rail
Trail Advisory Committee to include representation from all wards.
Currently, committee members are drawn from only 3 of the 7 in noho,
and vacated seats have not been refilled. THE BIGGER RECOMMENDATION
was for a redefining of the committee's purview to address all
bike-related issues in the city -- not just rail trails. This is quite
possibly the opportunity we have been pushing for -- a full-fledged
Bicycle Advisory Committee. Stay tuned.
* Williamsburg Rail Trail
=====
Following a town-wide referendum that overwhelmingly approved
development of the Williamsburg Rail Trail, the Williamsburg Select
Board has appointed a new Rail Trail Advisory Committee that is
proceeding with the RT plans. THANKS and CONGRATS to Kim Boas, Larry
Hott, Eileen Stewart, and all the other folks who have worked so hard
to make the trail a reality.
* Critical Mass: Jan. 28
====
...has dwindled in recent months due to vacations, darkness, or lack
of a certain je-ne-sais-quoi. Let's bring it back to life this month
in celebration of the already-lengthening days:
Meet Friday 28 Jan. at 5:15, ride at 5:30
Amherst Town Common
Bring your headlight and a bell or other noisemaker!
p.s. Even in Los Angeles, CM rides sometimes have as few as 10 people;
we should be proud of our monthly turnout, which of course represents
a much larger proportion of the region's population than our LA
brethren's rides!
* Coolidge Bridge: Rosenberg meeting?
=================
Thanks to all those who wrote Sen. Rosenberg urging more action to
improve bicycle access on the Coolidge Bridge. His office has recently
contacted MB/PV to schedule another meeting with MassHighway. Don't
hold your breath, but do keep your fingers crossed -- and write a
letter if you haven't already (see last month's e-news at
http://www.massbike.org/groups/mbpv/em120699.txt for a template)!
* Thanks to volunteers
==
More thanks: this time to several people who have agreed to take
responsibility for certain crucial aspects of our advocacy work.
Couldn't do it without you!
Jim Desmond: Rail Trail contact
(MP): Notetaker at meetings
Nathan Salwen: Bike Week contact
Peter Richards: Webmaster...
...which brings us to the last item for the month:
* Website
=========
Peter has updated and reorganized the MB/PV web pages. Check them out
at www.massbike.org/groups/mbpv.