The Framingham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will meet this Tuesday, May 11, 2004, 7:30 pm at Town Hall (Lower Nevins Conference Room 1).
On the agenda: a discussion of recent events including a Metrowest Growth Management forum, Mass Highway hearing on the Water Street bridge reconstruction in Saxonville and the recent Cochituate Rail Trail cleanup.
There will also be a progress report on the rail trail, as well as a discussion on developing schedules and selecting areas for pedestrian and bicycle accommodation surveys this summer.
May 4, 2004
Smart Growth Saves Money
"The cost of providing public infrastructure and delivering services can be reduced through thoughtful design and planning," according to a policy paper recently published by the Brookings Institute. "Several studies suggest that rational use of more compact development patterns from 2000 to 2025 promise the following sorts of savings for governments nationwide: 11 percent, or $110 billion, from 25-year road-building costs; 6 percent, or $12.6 billion, from 25-year water and sewer costs; and roughly 3 percent, or $4 billion, for annual operations and service delivery. School-construction savings are somewhat less."
What exactly is smart growth? "Almost never does smart growth mean no growth; instead, it entails accommodating it in a way that maximizes its benefits and reduces as much as possible its frequent negative side effects. . . . Smart growth proponents argue that these growth patterns, popularly known as 'sprawl,' are not inevitable but result at least in part from major governmental policies that distort the market and facilitate the excessive decentralization of people and jobs."
What exactly is smart growth? "Almost never does smart growth mean no growth; instead, it entails accommodating it in a way that maximizes its benefits and reduces as much as possible its frequent negative side effects. . . . Smart growth proponents argue that these growth patterns, popularly known as 'sprawl,' are not inevitable but result at least in part from major governmental policies that distort the market and facilitate the excessive decentralization of people and jobs."
May 3, 2004
Vote Postponed On New Saxonville Library Plan
Framingham officials have withdrawn several Town Meeting articles related to constructing a new branch library in Saxonville, across from the current McAuliffe branch. The proposal will be resubmitted to fall Town Meeting, after more details are available about the project's cost, Library Director Tom Gilchrist told the MetroWest Daily News.
The existing branch is woefully inadequate to meet area demand. The small space is completely full -- library officials say that literally every time they want to buy a new book, they need to decide what book to discard in exchange. The building, not much larger than a trailer with a feel to match, was designed to hold 16,000 books and now has more than 70,000 books, videos and tapes. It is the busiest branch library in Massachusetts.
The state awarded a $1.6 million grant to Framingham for a new branch -- the first time the state has ever awarded such a grant for a branch library; but the town needs to come up with additional funds.
In addition to providing for adequate library services for the area -- according to current accepted standards, the branch needs to be tripled in size to serve its population -- the new branch would be an important asset to making the Saxonville area a more attractive community overall. Unlike the main library, the current tiny branch has no space for programs or community meetings. It is not an appealing gathering place or destination, as the main library is; it does not encourage lingering. The proposed new branch library -- within walking distance of a fair amount of moderate-income, multi-family housing -- would offer these important amenities to the area.
Current plans call for the new branch to be built across the street on land that is now part of the massive Pinefield shopping center parking lot (the town is still negotiating purchase terms for that property). That's yet another side benefit of the project -- that asphalt ocean is an unappealing, pedestrian-off-putting feature of the neighborhood. Having a library there should improve the intersection's pedestrian ambiance as well as safety. Hopefully, there would also be some kind of appealing pedestrian path -- not just uninterrupted blacktop -- connecting the library, its parking area and the shopping center behind it.
There are more details about the proposed new branch on the Framingham Library Web site.
The existing branch is woefully inadequate to meet area demand. The small space is completely full -- library officials say that literally every time they want to buy a new book, they need to decide what book to discard in exchange. The building, not much larger than a trailer with a feel to match, was designed to hold 16,000 books and now has more than 70,000 books, videos and tapes. It is the busiest branch library in Massachusetts.
The state awarded a $1.6 million grant to Framingham for a new branch -- the first time the state has ever awarded such a grant for a branch library; but the town needs to come up with additional funds.
In addition to providing for adequate library services for the area -- according to current accepted standards, the branch needs to be tripled in size to serve its population -- the new branch would be an important asset to making the Saxonville area a more attractive community overall. Unlike the main library, the current tiny branch has no space for programs or community meetings. It is not an appealing gathering place or destination, as the main library is; it does not encourage lingering. The proposed new branch library -- within walking distance of a fair amount of moderate-income, multi-family housing -- would offer these important amenities to the area.
Current plans call for the new branch to be built across the street on land that is now part of the massive Pinefield shopping center parking lot (the town is still negotiating purchase terms for that property). That's yet another side benefit of the project -- that asphalt ocean is an unappealing, pedestrian-off-putting feature of the neighborhood. Having a library there should improve the intersection's pedestrian ambiance as well as safety. Hopefully, there would also be some kind of appealing pedestrian path -- not just uninterrupted blacktop -- connecting the library, its parking area and the shopping center behind it.
There are more details about the proposed new branch on the Framingham Library Web site.
May 2, 2004
More Than Cars Need to Share the Road
Designing livable communities isn't "anti-car" -- it's about creating balance, so that multiple uses can reasonably share public space -- cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. And that has other benefits: creating destinations people enjoy being in, not just passing through.
"Anyone joining the burgeoning movement to make America more walkable soon discovers the key issue is not urban planning or transportation priorities but love," writes Jay Walljasper on AlterNet. "Places we love become places that we hang out, and those are always the best places for walking."
Unfortunately, most of 21st century America now designs exclusively for the automobile, perhaps tossing in some sidewalks that are actually difficult and unpleasant to use.
"Walking, in many ways, is still viewed as an exotic and slightly odd habit," Walljasper says. "Try this experiment some time at a party or other gathering: Announce that you are walking home. I'll bet you, two-to-one odds, that someone will offer a ride, even if you live just three blocks away and it's a sunny 80 degrees outside."
"Anyone joining the burgeoning movement to make America more walkable soon discovers the key issue is not urban planning or transportation priorities but love," writes Jay Walljasper on AlterNet. "Places we love become places that we hang out, and those are always the best places for walking."
Unfortunately, most of 21st century America now designs exclusively for the automobile, perhaps tossing in some sidewalks that are actually difficult and unpleasant to use.
"Walking, in many ways, is still viewed as an exotic and slightly odd habit," Walljasper says. "Try this experiment some time at a party or other gathering: Announce that you are walking home. I'll bet you, two-to-one odds, that someone will offer a ride, even if you live just three blocks away and it's a sunny 80 degrees outside."
May 1, 2004
America’s Most Walkable Cities
Prevention magazine had an article recently on America's 12 best walking cities. Along with general livability issues such as crimes rates and air quality, key issues included destinations to walk TO as well as pedestrian access to mass transit. It's not enough just to have sidewalks and parks!
The top 12 was based on rankings in conjunction with the American Podiatric Medical Association, which has a list of the top 125 cities in order. Tops on the list: New York, followed closely by San Diego. Surprising third: Jersey City. Boston ranked #7. Other area cities on the list: Providence #20, Worcester #35, Springfield #85.
The top 12 was based on rankings in conjunction with the American Podiatric Medical Association, which has a list of the top 125 cities in order. Tops on the list: New York, followed closely by San Diego. Surprising third: Jersey City. Boston ranked #7. Other area cities on the list: Providence #20, Worcester #35, Springfield #85.
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