Last evening the DCR help a public meeting to present their proposed route for the extension of the Neponset Greenway Trail from Central Ave. in Milton to Mattapan Square. The alignment favored by DCR is a modification of one of the proposals that they presented last year and that Dot Bikers had identified as the most favorable option.
This option starts up on the Milton Side of the river at Central Ave. right where the path currently ends and continues on the milton side along the rail tracks before bending back toward the river and then crossing the river to the Mattapan side. The path follows the river along the Mattapan side and includes access points from Ryan Playground, Fremont St. and the MBTA station before ending in Mattapan Square at the building that the DCR recently bought and has plans to refurbish and use as a gateway to the park and trail. An exciting and key aspect to this revised plan is that the trail will cross the tracks at the Mattapan Station via a raised ‘canopy’ pedestrian bridge thus avoiding the problematic at-grade crossings as well as avoiding the need for the trail to dump people onto River St. to make their own way into Mattapan Square on this busy street.
You can download a pdf of the entire DCR presentation here.
The proposal appeared to be well received by most of the more than 150 attendees. Several Milton residents expressed a desire to have more access points to the trail via the Milton side (current the only proposed Milton access is via Central Ave.). The elected officials in attendance expressed support for DCR having an open process, considering and addressing stakeholders concerns and having a commitment to the project.
A 30 day period for public comment is now open. If you have any comments or suggestions or just wish to express your support for the project you can send your comments to:
Email: dcr.updates@state.ma.us
Write: Department of Conservation and Recreation
Office of Public Outreach
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114