THINK THE COMMUNITY PATH EXTENSION IS TOO NARROW?
DON’T LET THE STATE MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE WITH THE MYSTIC RIVER CROSSING BIKE/PED BRIDGE.
Tell DCR and MassDOT to build the bridge deck at least 14 ft wide (or wider). Safety is more important than saving a few dollars by skimping on the width.
Click here for a sample email you can copy, with points to cover (be sure to add some words of your own) and email addresses to direct your email to: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R4oahsiCmaHwyhnmSHedZPrkalJYdLJPQvzRjeT79EU/view?usp=drivesdk
Keep reading for more details.
BACKGROUND
In June, we heard the exciting news of the near-term schedule of the Mystic River Bike/Ped Crossing Bridge between Draw 7 Park in Somerville (part of the Mystic Greenway) and the Northern Strand Path next to the Encore Casino in Everett. The planned bike/ped bridge is currently at the 75% design phase.
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/06/20/car-free-mystic-river-bridge-will-begin-construction-in-2024
According to the article above, the project is expected to undergo a bidding process at the end of this year, break ground in 2024, and wrap up construction in 2026.
We in STEP and Friends of the Community Path are concerned about the narrow width DCR and MassDOT are planning for in the Mystic River Crossing Bike/Ped Bridge. We are also concerned about the lack of public process in the bridge design which is now at 75% level.
We encourage you to:
Please request that DCR/MassDOT have public meetings/hearings about the Mystic River Bike/Ped Crossing Bridge design well before the design advances any further. DCR and MassDOT have held NO public meetings about the bridge since they unveiled the conceptual bridge design at a public meeting back in February 2018.
We hope for more transparency from the State since the project is expected to go out to bid at the end of 2023. With bridge design at 75%, this is a time-sensitive opportunity for the public to review and have input on the design of this significant bike/ped bridge.
Please join us in requesting that DCR, MassDOT, and Encore restore the path (“deck”) width on the bridge to 14 ft. instead of the 12 ft. deck width in the current 75% design.
The State approved a 12 ft. wide bridge deck in the MEPA Certificate of 2019, with no supporting data and poor justification provided for this two-foot reduction. However, the 12 ft. width in the current design of the Mystic River Bike/Ped Bridge will NOT adequately serve the expected volume and use for people of all ages and abilities.
LINKS
DCR’s 2018 design presented at public meeting (with a 14 ft wide deck):
https://www.mass.gov/files/mystic-river-bicycle-and-pedestrian-crossing-presentation-2-14-18.pdf
MEPA / ENF Certificate issued 10 June 2019 (approving the 12 ft deck:
Note in the latter document the number of public comments on pages 9-75, supporting a wider bridge.