Neponset Greenway Completion State Funding Commitment

Written by Boston Biker on Jun 13

Got this in the email from DotBike, pretty awesome that they have agreed to fund this project, its been in the works a long long time. If you have never ridden on the green-way, you should its gorgeous pretty much year round.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department
Office of Governor Deval L. Patrick
Press Release
Contact: Heather Johnson, Bonnie McGilpin, Juli Hanscom – 617-725-4025; SJ Port (DCR) – 617-626-1453; Cyndi Roy (MassDOT) – 857-368-8500
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PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY CORRIDOR
$1.9 million for design to complete bicycle and pedestrian path; connecting communities and improving the transportation network
BOSTON – Tuesday, June 11, 2013 – The Patrick Administration today announced $1.9 million in capital funding to design the completion of the Neponset River Greenway Corridor. The project will complete the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) bicycle and pedestrian commuter system that follows the Neponset River from the outer suburbs, through Boston neighborhoods and into downtown.
“Investing in healthy, alternative modes of transportation will benefit residents today, and leave a lasting impact on the Neponset River Greenway Corridor for generations to come,” said Governor Deval Patrick.
“Working together with our partners at MassDOT, we are going to get this important project completed,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan. “The path will provide a safe alternative for bicyclists and pedestrians. Increased use of cleaner transportation options will protect our environment and serve our Greater Boston communities better.”
In addition to the design costs, MassDOT has committed to fund the construction of the project which is estimated between $11-15 million.
Making it a convenient commuter option, the project route lies within a half mile of 11 rail transit stops and connects its users to jobs, higher education, cultural institutions and recreational facilities in Boston. The current Greenway Corridor is nearly 10 miles long and contains a bicycle and pedestrian network that hosts more than 10,400 users each day. Once construction is complete, usage is expected to double.
“One of our primary goals at MassDOT and the MBTA is to effectively tie all modes of transportation together to provide travel choices, improve the environment and preserve capacity on our highways,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard Davey. “By working together, DCR and MassDOT will be able to construct the final links to the Neponset Greenway and take a major step toward meeting the area’s travel demands.”
The completed network will make bicycle and pedestrian travel safer by creating off-road segments and bridges that take walkers and riders safely past Expressway ramps and over trolley tracks through Hyde Park, Mattapan, Milton and Dorchester.
“DCR considers the completion of the Neponset River Corridor to be a signature project that will connect our Blue Hills Reservation to Boston Harbor, while providing more access to public spaces for residents in urban neighborhoods, connecting communities and improving the transportation network,” said DCR Commissioner Edward Lambert. “Parks and pathways are priority investments for the Patrick Administration because they provide healthy and alternative forms of recreation and transportation.”
The design of this project is the result of partnerships formed over 20 years ago between residents of Boston and Milton, as well as the sponsoring state agencies at DCR and MassDOT, and community organizations such as the Boston Natural Areas Network.
The project’s local match includes contributions from corporate neighbors such Stop & Shop and National Grid. That match reflects the partnership that underlies this project and that will continue to make it successful. 
This partnership is a part of the Patrick Administration’s larger efforts in transportation planning for all modes of travel. One of MassDOT’s priorities is completion of the Bay State Greenway (BSG). The completion of the Neponset River Greenway is one of the BSG 100 – MassDOT’s highest priority shared-use paths: 100 miles of new paths that would make additional connections to urban centers, extend existing paths and maximize the transportation network.

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