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PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER |
Staff
from the Massachusetts
Department of Transportation held one of 19 pubic hearings statewide
at the Woodland Common at UMass-Dartmouth on December 3, 2012 to solicit
input to guide future transportation planning on the South Coast. In
addition to support for the expansion of commuter rail the the Area, many
called on MassDOT to make improvements for bicyclists. Mass In Motion
Fall River coordinator Julianne Kelly testified as to efforts to expand
bicycle transportation. Plans
to complete the path through Fall River are currently underway. Of
special concern was the need to connect the various segments of striped
roads and designated bicycle lanes and paths throughout the region.
Speakers asked the state to eliminate restrictions on bicycle lanes along
active rail line, something that has been done successfully in nearby
Rhode Island and other states. Citing the environmental and health
benefits that expanded opportunities to ride, some pointed to the
potential of many to bicycle to South Coast rail stations if bicycle lanes
were abundant. Others spoke of the lack of public bus transportation
during evening and Sunday hours. Click
here for the Herald News article. Click
here for pictures from the Southcoast Bikeway Summit. For
more information, contact Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne
Kelly, at 508-324-2405
or Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Brian
Pearson. (Photos
courtesy of Karen Pearson and Julianne Kelly)
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(Top row, left) Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey welcomes participants to the hearing in the Woodland Commons as UMass-Dartmouth. (Top row, center) Rev. James Hornsby of Fall River thanked the Secretary for the Quequechan River Rail Trail plan that is now 25% completed and expressed his hope to see it finished while he can still ride it! Rev. Hornsby is on the FR Bicycle Committee and was instrumental in the creation of the South Watuppa Bike path. (Top row, right) Fairhaven resident Molly LaBrode, who just returned from studying in Germany, spoke of the infrastructure for cycling there. (Row two, left) Fall River City Councilor Dave Dennis spoke about Davol Street improvements to link the community to its waterfront and of the improvements the Southeastern MA Rail will provide to economic development and the need to link the City to the Veterans Memorial Bridge with safe bicycle routes. (Row two, center) Mass In Motion Fall River coordinator Julianne Kelly testifies on the health implications of bicycling. (Row two, right) Fairhaven selectman and chair of the South Coast Bikeway Committee, Bob Espindola, testifies on the importance of completing the South Coast Bikeway. (Row three left) Rick Schwartz, owner of True Value Hardware on South Main Street in Fall River and an active member of the Fall River Bicycle Committee as well as a member of the Narragansett Wheelmen, attended the hearing. (Row three, center) State Representative William Straus speaks at the hearing. (Row three, right) Brian Pearson looks over the hearing material as Fall River Bicycle Committee Chairman Jim Cusick talks with him after the hearing. (Bottom row, left and right) Tom LaPointe, an avid Fall River cyclist, filmed the session. (Bottom row, center) Director of the Southeastern Mass Rail Project Jean Fox and her friend, Eileen, of the Senior Action Coalition, discussed the need for seniors to have better bus service. |
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