The Board of Selectmen convened a hearing during their recent meeting to solicit resident feedback regarding the DCR’s plans to extend the bike/pedestrian path from Central Avenue to Mattapan Square. The extension will link the existing path, which runs from Pope John Paul Park to Central Avenue, with the one that is being built between Mattapan Square and the Martini hatch shell in Hyde Park.

There are 5 options under consideration by the DCR (please see images below). They held an open hearing in May and they have extended a public comment period for collecting neighborhood feedback.

Ms. McEttrick began the session by reading emails the selectmen had received. This was followed by audience members voicing their concerns. Both the emails and comments were almost exclusively from residents of Capen Street and a couple of adjoining roads. Over 20 viewpoints were given. The neighboring residents favor either option B or C (see below).  These options avoid Capen Street. Resident concerns with the other options included:

• concerns about safety and security regarding options that included access via Capen Street (e.g. Option A). Additional pedestrian and bicycle traffic crossing the trolley tracks would be hazardous. In addition the path would provide unfettered access between what one resident described as a “high crime area” (Mattapan) and a “low crime area.” (Capen Street)
• concerns about blasting. One of the options involves removal of a ledge near the trolley station at Capen Street. In addition to noise there was fear that blasting could affect nearby structures.
• concerns about aesthetic impacts. Any additional removal of trees would increase noise and visually detract from the area. The trees currently serve as a visual and noise buffer from the trolley.

However, Capen Street residents were not uniform in opposition to having the path come through their street. Also, the three members of the Milton Bicycle Advisory Group spoke (they also had submitted an email recommendation to the selectmen. You can find the Advisory group’s recommendation here.).

There was general consensus on two points: as Ms. McEttirck noted, there was not unilateral opposition to the path and there was a need for more information as advocated by resident Ellen DeNooyer. Ms. DeNooyer noted for example, it was not known if the DCR would remove 5 trees or 500 trees. Selectman Shields was one of many who felt that site walks should be completed before any decisions or recommendations were made.

Lastly, included among the emails Ms. MmcEttrick read, was one from John Cronin, retired Town Administrator in which he submitted a suggestion for an option F. Mr. Cronin wrote:

To: Board of Selectmen

Following tonight’s hearing it is suggested that you ask the Town Administrator or Planning Director to confer with DCR regarding the adoption of a sixth option OPTION F a follows:

Primarily based on Option C on the North Side of the Neponset River through the Ryan Playground for a  total length in Boson of about 15,000 ft.

The East end, at Central Ave., would be opposite from the existing path on the former railroad right of way, and  would be in Milton, on the South side of the River for a distance of about 750 ft., beside or near the Central Ave T Station and North of the former Hendries plant. At this point it would cross the Neponset River to the Boston side on an environmentally acceptable pile supported beam bridge. This short East end, which transitions the path from Milton to Boston, is best illustrated in DCR Option E.

The West end at Blue Hills Parkway would be as shown on DCR Option A and E which would be about 660 ft. in Milton on DCR land next to (but fenced from) the Unquity House Driveway. The alignment is desirable as it is directly across form the new Truman Parkway leg of the Bike Path which ends on Blue Hills Parkway (Rte. 28 and 138) at 7 Brush Hill Road. (If the use of our Conservation parcel was allowed, the path could be closer to the river, further from the trolley line, and be safer and more attractive.)

This plan would meet the request which City Councilor Charles C. Yancey made to the Milton participants at the recent hearing and would address the requests which have be made by Capen Street and Cliff Road residents. It is also a safer and more user friendly design for bicyclists. It is probably a more economical and environmentally acceptable plan.

[NOTE: For reference please see pictures of each of the options as well as a DCR chart of how these options meet certain criteria.]

Here are the options being reviewed and a chart for how they address certain criteria. Please click on an image for a larger version:

Related DCR links: Presentation | Evaluation Criteria/Questions | Options