CRT 2016 #25 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 6 2016

ATTACHMENTA FRIENDS May 24, 2016 Friends of the Grand Junction Path [email removed] facebook.com/grandjunctionpath Cambridge City Council Re: May 24, 2016 Transportation and Public Utilities Committee Meeting, Green Line Extension funding Dear Councilors, We are writing in strong support of requiring the complete Community Path Extension as part of the Green Line Extension. While we are facing an attitude of austerity from the state level, there are minimum standards that will make this corridor and its nodes functional, let alone successful. A complete, off-road, connected Community Path is one of these fundamental requirements. The path will link people to the Green Line stations and serve as a centerpiece of the regional walking/ bicycling network. The Community Path is not merely an amenity. Our region cannot continue to sustainably grow without this critical piece of transportation infrastructure. Cambridge and Somerville must take the lead on keeping the complete Community Path Extension as part of the long-delayed Green Line Extension; we cannot rely on the state- level planning process. A complete, connected Community Path cannot be put off to a future time after the construction of the Green Line Extension; it must come as part of the initial design and construction. The Grand Junction Path, which will be mostly in Cambridge and link with the Community Path in Somerville, requires the complete, off-road Community Path Extension in order to succeed. Please, reference the Friends of the Community Path's proposal (linked in their letter) for an alternate, cost-saving route that is very achievable as part of the Green Line Extension. Thanks, John Sanzone President & Co-Founder, Friends of the Grand Junction Path