[OSGeo-Boston] Grand Junction Rail-Trail

[Shekhar Krishnan]

Folks:

Those of you who live in East Cambridge, Cambridgeport and around MIT 
will all be familiar with the railroad that runs from East Cambridge 
through MIT and down to the BU Bridge. Known as the Grand Junction, it 
is a continuous corridor that connects Somerville with Boston [1].

Right now only several trains a day run, mostly MBTA, Amtrak and CSX 
cars being transferred or repaired, and the corridor is otherwise empty 
at most times of day. For several years there has been a plan by the 
City of Cambridge to develop it into a "rail trail", a multi-purpose 
pedestrian corridor and bike path. Cambridge Community Development (CCD) 
  have published a feasibility study for the project online [2].

Realizing this idea requires community support to lobby the landowners 
to contribute to the project. While many including 1 Kendall Square have 
shown support, the single largest proprietor is MIT, which has so far 
taken a very defensive position. Oddly, when the rail trail could be a 
fantastic amenity, a continuous bike path across almost the entire 
campus. CCD wants to fund the rail trail through the Community 
Preservation Act for open spaces and historical conservation, but the 
MIT real estate planners have been lukewarm so far.

A big opportunity to press MIT to pitch in for its part of the rail 
trail will come up this TUESDAY 3 MARCH at 7:30 P.M. at the public 
hearing for 650 Main Street, the buildings and large parking lot at the 
corner of Main and Portland. Today, The Tech reported on the concerns 
about the traffic impact of the project and the pressures it is facing 
from residents [3]. CCD wants to push MIT to develop its portion of the 
rail trail as a condition for granting the building permit for 650 Main 
Street.

See the attached PDF for a map of the entire area, and below for 
information about the public hearing on Tuesday. Turn up and make your 
voice heard in support of the Grand Junction Rail Trail! Please pass 
this word around to anyone you know in the area.

Best,



Shekhar Krishnan

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Junction_Railroad
[2] http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/et/infra/gj/gj.html
[3] http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N8/650main.html



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	FW: Planning Board agenda for 3/2/09
Date: 	Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:19:37 -0500
From: 	Seiderman, Cara <cseiderman at cambridgema.gov>
To: 	'Shekhar Krishnan' <shekhar at mit.edu>


   _AGENDA_

   Tuesday, March 3, 2009

  7:30 p.m.

*Second Floor Meeting Room, 344 Broadway***

*City Hall Annex – McCusker Building*

*Cambridge, Massachusetts*



*_GENERAL BUSINESS_*



1.    Update by Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community
Development.



2.    PB#238, 650 Main Street, Project Review Special Permit, MIT,
applicant.  Deliberation and possible decision.



3.    PB#190, 325 Fresh Pond Parkway, Fresh Pond Mobil Repair, change of
approved plans, discussion.



4.    Board of Zoning Appeal Cases



a.    9762 – 22 Water Street, variance extension

b.    Telecommunications Special Permit for 148 Huron Avenue

c.    Telecommunications Special Permit for 243 Walden Street



5.    Other.







*From:* Paden, Liza
*Subject:* Planning Board agenda for 3/2/09











Liza Paden



Cambridge Community Development Department

344 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02139

617 349 4647  fax 617 349 4669

www.cambridgema.gov/cdd <http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd>


-- 

Shekhar Krishnan
MIT E51-185
77, Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
U.S.A.

http://heptanesia.net
http://web.mit.edu/shekhar
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