Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator Julianne Kelly was one of three panelists presenting on the Health Impact Assessment of the Quequechan Rail Trail at the Mass. Department of Transportation's 2015 Moving Together Conference held on November 4, 2015 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Julie talked about the system, policy and environmental challenges of planning and constructing a new linear park in the center of Fall River's poorest neighborhoods that will address the City's high rate of obesity. A formal health impact assessment of the project was held in 2012. Other panelists included Jackie Schmidt of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District and Pam Haznar of Mass DOT's District 5. The panel was introduced by moderator Kurt Gaertner from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs who played a leading role in the development of the Rail Trail. The annual Moving Together Conference highlights current pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation topics throughout the Commonwealth. Click here for a pdf of Julie's presentation, and here and here for the other two panel presentations. Click here for the new  WalkFallRiver.org web site and a WalkFallRiver Facebook page. To learn more, contact Fall River coordinator Julie Kelly at 508-324-2405. (Photos courtesy of Eric Andrade)

(Top row) Panelists Pam Haznar of Mass DOT's District 5, Jackie Schmidt of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District and Julie Kelly, Mass in Motion Fall River Coordinator pose for a photo at the 2015 Moving Together Conference at the Boston Park Plaza before Kurt Gaertner from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs introduces them. (Middle row) Ms. Schmidt talks about the regional perspective before Julie Kelly describes the health impact of the project. (Bottom row, left) Ms. Haznar talks about connectivity that the project will create in the City. (Bottom row, center and right) One of Julie's slides shows the health challenges of the City, and a poster created by SSTAR Prevention Coordinator Eric Andrade describes the project.