Neponset River Greenway Council Meeting

Dorchester:
First Day Hike

The Department of Conservation and Recreation hosted a First Day Hike in Pope John Paul II Park on New Year's Day. 53 people walked from Hallet St. to the new Port Norfolk Park and back, learning about the future and history of the park and the Neponset Trail.

Port Norfolk:

Construction continues on Port Norfolk's new park, with an early summer opening foreseen.

Mattapan and Milton:

This segment of the Greenway consists of a +/-1.3-mile multi-use recreational trail alng the Neponset River extending from Blue Hill Avenue, Boston to Central Avenue Milton. Construction is expected to be completed during the summer of 2016. This segment includes demolition of existing fence, pavements, and other site features, excavation and grading, and installation of pavements, boardwalk, canopy walk, river bridge, connector, footbridge furnishings, plantin, fencing, drainage improvements, and signage.
During construction, construction equipment will utilize entrances to the project site from Blue Hill Avenue, Meadowbank Avenue, and Central Avenue.

The following are activities you can expect to see over the next two weeks for the Neponset River Greenway- Blue Hill Avenue to Central Avenue:

- Installation of canopy walk foundations is ongoing
- First canopy walk steel columns to be installed
- Installation of access ramp foundations is ongoing
- Installation of boardwalk structures is ongoing

Construction Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7AM to 5PM, workday not to exceed 8  hours.
Questions or concerns about the project should be directed during regular business hours to DCR Resident Engineer Scott Ryan at (617)620-7025
The General Contractor for this project is S&R Corp., 706 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA 01854
GC Site Surpervisor 24-hour emergency contact: Eric Jones (978)441-2000

Leo Roy Named Commissioner of
Department of Conservation and Recreation
BOSTON - December 9, 2015 - Today, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Secretary Matthew Beaton announced that Leo Roy will serve as Commissioner
of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Leo Roy returns to public service after 15 years in the private sector,
most recently as a Principal at VHB - an infrastructure planning, design,
engineering, and environmental firm. Leo brings to the Department of
Conservation and Recreation his experience in natural and cultural resource
management, sustainability, ecological restoration, and agency management.

As an environmental consultant Roy worked for state and municipal
governments, colleges and universities, airport and port authorities, and
private corporations and developers. He was named a LEED Fellow by the US
Green Building Council for over a decade's work in promoting sustainable
building design, construction, and operation, and was certified as an
Envision Sustainability Professional by the Institute for Sustainable
Infrastructure in 2012.

Previously, Roy served as Massachusetts Undersecretary of Environmental
Affairs from 1992 to 1997. He has been an active supporter of numerous
non-profit environmental organizations, serving on the Board of the
Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC), and as Chair of the
Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership.

State House Hearings on Key Bike Bills Set for Jan. 6
from MassBike

Truck Side Guard Bill H. 3019/S. 1810
This bill would require side guards and convex mirrors on larger vehicles operating in Massachusetts. A significant percentage of the recent deaths and injuries of bicyclists in the Bay State have involved trucks making right turns in urban situations. This ordinance has been passed in Boston but has little application for trucks registered elsewhere. More than half of bicyclists killed by trucks hit the side of the truck first and are then swept beneath.

Bike Lane Bill H. 2072/S. 1808
This bill is pretty simple in that it would make standing or parking in a bike lane or other on-road bike facility a ticketable offense with a $100 fine. This is not just about the rights of bicyclists. This is a major safety issue for all road users and an environmental issue. The actions of those who double park or park in bike lanes have proved to cause traffic congestion that is often magnified for miles back into the transportation system, wasting fuel and producing unnecessary greenhouse gases.

Vulnerable Users Bill H. 3073/S. 1807
Commonly known as a three-feet law, this could be the most significant bill of the bunch for cyclists statewide. Passage of this bill could elevate Massachusetts into the top three of the League of American Bicyclists bike friendly rankings. This bill would require motorists to provide a minimum of three-feet when overtaking a “vulnerable user” even if it requires them to cross the centerline to do so. This bill would align cyclists with police, first responders, construction workers, pedestrians, and others defined as vulnerable users. Research indicates that bicyclists being struck from behind comprise 40 percent of fatalities. Likewise tow truck drivers report a death every six days and police report a fatality every month as they work on our roadways.

Bike Path Crosswalk Bill H. 3072/S. 1808
Passage of this bill would make it legal for bicyclists to do what they are already doing: ride across a bike path crosswalk, provided they yield to pedestrians and operate with reasonable caution. More important it would require motorists to yield to bicyclists in those crosswalks. Current law provides legal protection only to pedestrians in crosswalks, even when they are set as part of a bike path. Currently bicyclists are technically supposed to walk through such intersections if they are to enjoy such protection. This is unrealistic and antiquated.

Any citizen may weigh in during these hearings, but MassBike is working alongside several other members of the Vision Zero Coalition to coordinate a powerful presentation of speakers. Those interested in testifying in support of these bills are urged to contact MassBike at bikeinfo@MassBike.org.
Click here for a sample letter and how to contact your State Representative or State Senator.