Hi All,

Looks like the Alewife Brook Greenway project in Arlington and Somerville is finally moving forward and now has funds to be built. Great news!
The last word was that the paved path would go on the Arlington side from the Alewife T Stop up to the Henderson St. bridge. Then it would cross over into Somerville (/Cambridge), and remain in Somerville up to the Mystic Valley Parkway. At Broadway, the path becomes two paths, one that crosses the street and goes along the west sidewalk along Dilboy Field (Somerville side). That will be the main bike path for commuters. The other path also crosses the street and enters the Arlington side of the brook via a ramp and proceeds along the Arlington side of the brook up to Mystic Valley Parkway, this path is a stabilized aggregate path mainly for passive walking.

The current muddy path from Alewife T Station to Blanchard road in Belmont that runs along the train tracks. (also known as the Fitchburg cutoff trail) is currently out for bid as well. This path will be paved similar to the minuteman with an improved connection to Alewife next year. There are future plans being pushed by a group of Belmont citizens to get the path extended to Belmont center in the future.

You can see a map by searching DCR Greenway Map/Belmonth Path in Google Maps, user created content.

Not sure you are aware, but Anne Paulsen who has been a long-time advocate for pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit, is actually up for consideration for membership on the new Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board. This 5-member, high-level, MassDOT Board will oversee the MassDOT organization.

Below are some brief articles describing the new (MassDOT) organization:

http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/90_DayReport/briefing100609.pdf

http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/08/massdot-hearing

Having Anne Paulsen on the MassDOT Board would likely raise visibility for basic transportation options (bicycling, walking) and improved public transit.

You can send support for Anne Paulsen’s candidacy to Jeffrey Mullan (incoming CEO and Secretary of MassDOT) and to Governor Deval Patrick:
Jeffrey B. Mullan
Jeffrey B. Mullan

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us

To contact the Governor, use the page above which contains some contact information. There is an online-feedback window at that webpage (not great if you want to say more than a few sentences). Rather, I just faxed him a letter. When I called the Governor’s office, they told me there is about a two-week delay for correspondence (faxed or online via the webpage) to reach the Governor. Unfortunately they would not provide a direct email address for him. So I also asked State Rep. Will Brownsberger to relay my letter to the Governor directly.

Supposedly the MassDOT Board members will be announced on Nov. 1, so any support you wish to provide should be done shortly.