Newton Residents Worry that Repairing Old Charles River Bridge Might Lead to Bike Trail

[John S]

Left to rot after the trains stopped running, a trestle bridge that
spans the Charles River from Newton to Wellesley has long worried
residents who feared for children trespassing onto its gaping,
splintered ties. Yet a plan to fix the span through the state's $3
billion bridge repair program - and convert the structure into a walkway
- now has people divided.

Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.

"If they fix the bridge, they'll lay down the bike path, and our entire
neighborhood will change," said Scott Lanciolti.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/04/05/bridge_work_snags_on_link_to_bike_path/

[Ed]

Post by John S
Left to rot after the trains stopped running, a trestle bridge that
spans the Charles River from Newton to Wellesley has long worried
residents who feared for children trespassing onto its gaping,
splintered ties. Yet a plan to fix the span through the state's $3
billion bridge repair program - and convert the structure into a walkway
- now has people divided.
Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.
"If they fix the bridge, they'll lay down the bike path, and our entire
neighborhood will change," said Scott Lanciolti.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/04/05/bridge_work_snags_on_link_to_bike_path/

"People will walk through our backyards, eight-foot fences will spring
up, and the openness of our neighbor hood will disappear."


How many times has that argument been heard? Has it ever proved out?

[Robert Coe]

On Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:54:10 -0400, Ed <***@nospam.nospam> wrote:
: In article <gre3th$t05$***@news.motzarella.org>, John S <***@no.spam>
: wrote:
:
: > Left to rot after the trains stopped running, a trestle bridge that
: > spans the Charles River from Newton to Wellesley has long worried
: > residents who feared for children trespassing onto its gaping,
: > splintered ties. Yet a plan to fix the span through the state's $3
: > billion bridge repair program - and convert the structure into a walkway
: > - now has people divided.
: >
: > Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
: > toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
: > that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.
: >
: > "If they fix the bridge, they'll lay down the bike path, and our entire
: > neighborhood will change," said Scott Lanciolti.
: >
: >
: > http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/04/05/bridge_work_snags_on_link_to_bike_path/
:
:
:
: "People will walk through our backyards, eight-foot fences will spring
: up, and the openness of our neighbor hood will disappear."
:
:
: How many times has that argument been heard? Has it ever proved out?

My answer to such NIMBYs is always the same: "You're lucky I'm not in charge.
I wouldn't make the ROW a bike path; I'd bring back the trains!"

Bob

[Charlie Denison]

Post by John S
Left to rot after the trains stopped running, a trestle bridge that
spans the Charles River from Newton to Wellesley has long worried
residents who feared for children trespassing onto its gaping,
splintered ties. Yet a plan to fix the span through the state's $3
billion bridge repair program - and convert the structure into a walkway
- now has people divided.
Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.
"If they fix the bridge, they'll lay down the bike path, and our entire
neighborhood will change," said Scott Lanciolti.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/04/05/bridge_work_snag...

Why would anyone protest their neighborhood changing for the
better? :-) Haven't these folks noticed that a walkable (and
bikeable) neighborhood is a huge selling point these days? WalkScores
are listed on Zillow next to each property listing!

Charlie

[J***@mailinator.com]

Post by John S
Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.

Is there currently any way to walk from the Riverside station to the
west, without going all the way around via the Grove Street bridge
over 128, or the Woodland Road bridge over the Pike? There's a
pedestrian bridge over the river which only leads to a north-south
path with no way into the station. Another bridge appears to cross
the river north of the commuter rail tracks, and there's an underpass
at the abandoned railroad station, but I think there's still no way to
get to Riverside from there.

Google Maps shows a new commuter rail station between Auburndale and
Wellesley Farms, labelled "Weston (Under Const.)". Anyone know what
the deal is? Why does that small office park get so much
transportation funding -- first its own Pike onramp, and now a new
station?

Jimmy

Jimmy

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by J***@mailinator.com

Post by John S
Some Newton Lower Falls neighbors fear the repairs are the first step
toward creating a bike path from the bridge to the Riverside MBTA stop
that will divide the neighborhood physically and psychologically.

Is there currently any way to walk from the Riverside station to the
west, without going all the way around via the Grove Street bridge
over 128, or the Woodland Road bridge over the Pike? There's a
pedestrian bridge over the river which only leads to a north-south
path with no way into the station. Another bridge appears to cross
the river north of the commuter rail tracks, and there's an underpass
at the abandoned railroad station, but I think there's still no way to
get to Riverside from there.
Google Maps shows a new commuter rail station between Auburndale and
Wellesley Farms, labelled "Weston (Under Const.)". Anyone know what
the deal is? Why does that small office park get so much
transportation funding -- first its own Pike onramp, and now a new
station?
Jimmy
Jimmy

You will have to bush-wack by walking to the rear of the Riverside station, then use the abandoned RR bridge (built in 1950s, good for locomotives so great for you), take the path on the right towards the Charles, and follow it to the golf course.