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Walk newsletter 2/18/00 6:14 PM Page 1

walk Boston Arts Community, spurred by the threat to artists’ Seaport District is preparing spaces in the South End, is exploring opportunities to develop another building in the district to provide long for explosive development. term security for working artists. Director Tom O’Brien said the Boston Redevelopment construction continues. The Artery has Authority’s Seaport Master Plan will seek to limit as-of- begun public meetings on the few parks they are pro- right projects and ensure that 40% of development is viding, mainly along . There is con- housing. Participants are encouraged by the emerging cern that their design and amenities will not be equal emphasis on housing, open space, circulation/trans- to those in downtown. portation, pedestrian streetscapes, reuse of the Old Northern Avenue Bridge, activation of the waterfront, and a reduced scale of development. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Other elements of the new Master Plan will include a This newsletter celebrates WalkBoston’s advoca- new residential community along Fort Point Channel cy program. We have the most effective trans- near Gillette with a pedestrian link to the new portation advocacy corps in the region. Our Convention Center, and a headquarters hotel for the members offer determination, perserverence, Convention Center. An architect team—Raphael Vignoly savvy, technical skills. We suggest and some- and HNTB has been selected to design the new times design good alternatives for ill-advised Convention Center and will have to hustle to meet the projects.We leave the world a better place. mandated opening date in 2003.

The MBTA has begun construction for the South Boston At the top of the Boston Globe’s editorial on Piers Transitway. A dual-fueled electric bus will run January 1, 1999 —“victories worth remembering” from under the Fort Point Channel with were three WalkBoston projects: a seaport dis- stops near the new Federal Courthouse and between trict plan designed for a human walking scale, A NON- PROFIT the World Trade Center and the Convention Center, preserving the 100-year-old Northern Avenue PEDESTRIAN ADVOCACY before heading further into South Boston or through Bridge, and replacing a pedestrian bridge over ORGANIZATION the Ted Williams Tunnel to Logan Airport. The MBTA with street-level traffic calming seeks to switch from the proposed 60-foot articulated improvements. The Federal Reserve Bank and WINTER 2000 buses to 40-foot vehicles, claiming that the larger abutters around Dewey Square at South Station capacity is not needed. They are also seeking to secure express gratitude for their opportunity to design WALKBOSTON BOARD an easement for a transit route parallel to the existing landscaped streets and brown-bag-lunch mini- Ann Hershfang/president Haul Road and railroad tracks in South Boston. A South Charles Bahne parks outside their buildings. Rebecca Barnes Boston Transportation/Traffic Study is underway. Dayl Cohen Next year marks WalkBoston’s 10th anniversary. Malcom Davis/secretary Currently a conflict exists between South Boston’s We are reaching out and are receiving a heart- Ken Dumas desire to reduce the number of routes through neigh- Don Eunson/c0-vice president warming number of corporate memberships. Our borhoods and the traffic demand projected by Boston Mary Frakes/walks chair Transportation Department. new committees are active and will be a way to Nina Garfinkle involve more of our membership. Thank you for Leonie Bailey Howard Karla Karash Fan Pier community representatives are encouraged by your support, your advocacy everywhere. Ann Kruckemeyer the latest Pritzker proposal - a 50% reduction in square Sarah Lydon footage and greater openness to its surroundings. Ann Hershfang Susan Quateman Meanwhile, Massport is roaring ahead: the Seaport Jon Seward/c0-vice president Sharon Tramer Hotel is open and construction proceeds on a new 20- story office building directly to the east. The Fort Point WALKBOSTON COMMITTEES membership Charles Bahne 617.628.8680 education /pr/publications Our advocacy vital to saving old Northern Ave Bridge. Don Eunson 617.522.0656 advocacy WalkBoston has successfully advocated to save the emonies love the old bridge, and willingly signed petitions. Ann Hershfang 617.451.1570 Old Northern Avenue Bridge. In the fall of 1998 the City At a public hearing, held at Faneuil Hall two weeks later, legislative of Boston announced plans to demolish the turn-of-the over 30 people representing thousands of constituents Ted Hamann 617.576.0475 century iron bridge, which is a vital walking link between got up and spoke eloquently in favor of preservation. fundraising the Financial District and the Fort Point Channel District Jon Seward 617.422.0882 slated for major development. WalkBoston is pleased that the City of Boston listened programs to public opinion and is now taking steps to stabalize Dayl Cohen 617.576.6433 Responding to the bridge. To cover the cost of maintenance the City special projects concerned calls plans to seek commercial development near and Dorothea Hass 617.451.1570 from its members, possibly on the bridge. The Save the Old Northern WALKBOSTON NEWSLETTER WalkBoston volun- Avenue Bridge Coalition, of which WalkBoston is a editor teers took petitions member, has asked to meet with the BRA, which over- Karla Karash to save the historic sees the development. We will ask them to specify that Old Northern Avenue Bridge — 1919 design/production structure to the proposals guarantee public access and maintain views Nina Garfinkle ceremonies opening the new federal courthouse on the of the water and harbor. Other members of the Fan Pier. Despite the raw autumn day, WalkBoston was Coalition include: Seaport Alliance for Neighborhood besieged with interest in saving the bridge. Locals, Development, Historic Massachusetts and the tourists and even lawyers attending the courthouse cer- Architectural Heritage Foundation.

Walk boston newsletter 2/18/00 6:14 PM Page 2

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Walk Signal improvements Boston Transportation Dept. Of the more than 350,000 daily Collaborating with BikeBoston to In the spring of 1998, WalkBoston Hotline 635-4283 trips made entirely within down- promote a reconnected Emerald was told that the City’s new Walk/ It’s yours to use—so use it! town Boston an estimated 75% Necklace Greenway form Franklin Don’t Walk signal policy would be: are exclusively walking trips Park to the Charles River. 1. Automatic Walk with vehicle green Biking and Hiking in Worcester 2. Keeping existing all-way Walks is a handsome new map published “Since I am a walker in Greater Collaborating with the 3. Much longer Walk times. by the Office of the City Manager, Boston and will be in DC as well, Coalition in on traffic Changes were to begin downtown. Worcester. Call (508) 753-6087. I am certain to support most if calming efforts Since then, only 11 signals out of not all of your concerns.” Creating commission to study 750 have been changed. Official US Representative Michael Capuano 24 hour MBTA Service. reasons for the stoppage are that accomplishments —writing to walkBoston BTD is too busy and has had some Clarifying law that requires complaints about the 11 changed vehicles to stop for pedestrians Massachusetts Pedestrian signals. Help by contacting: wish list in crosswalks Andrea d’Amato at 635-3075. Transportation Plan 1998. Our own Dorothea Hass assisted Watching developments in: Save the Northern Avenue Bridge in this. The Pedestrian Plan can Advocacy Commitee Co-Chairs(s) - area and Please write to Congressman be downloaded from the Web at Driver awareness/pedestrian - Mass Turnpike /Millennium Joseph Moakley, Mayor Thomas http://www.wfa.com/pedplan safety advocates Partners project Menino, and the newspapers. Public opinion is crucial to success. MacIntosh computers no more than 2 years old

membershipapplication America WALKs Shawmut

Complete this form & mail along with your check made payable to: Four new member groups have Penninsula Walk WalkBoston, 156 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109. joined the America WALKs coali- Colonial Boston, huddled on the T: (617)451-1570 F: (617)451-6475 [email protected] | www.walkBoston.org tion: WalkSacramento, Bay Peds, small, hilly Shawmut Peninsula, Oakland Pedestrian Safety Project name(s) was sometimes cut off from the and Los Angeles Walks. America mainland when tides were espe- address WALKs now has eleven member cially high. WalkBoston has now groups and more developing in created the Shawmut Peninsula Nashville, Honolulu, San Diego and Map that shows the original Salt Lake City. phone:daytime evening Shawmut Peninsula superimposed e-mail fax Co-founded by WalkBoston, on Boston’s modern streets, with America WALKs aims to foster the a walking route following streets check one: ܙSTUDENT / SENIOR OVER 70 $10 ܙSUPPORTER $50 development of community-based that trace the original shoreline. ܙMEMBER $25 ܙFRIEND $100 walking advocacy groups for the Points of interest are keyed to DUAL / CONTRIBUTOR $35 CORPORATE $250 | $500 | $1000 purpose of educating the public ܙ ܙ text and pictures. The map also about the benefits of walking and indicates where T stops and public circle committes you are interested in. (to contact them directly - see front) improving conditions for walking. restrooms are located along the ܙmembership ܙadvocacy ܙeducation/pr/publications Its goal is to have 100 member route. It is available from groups countrywide and a ܙlegislative ܙfundraising ܙprograms WalkBoston for $4.00 for members $100,000 annual budget. or $5.00 for nonmembers. Price Your donation is tax deductible as a charitable contribution. includes postage and handling.