Letter from Jason Alves, Executive Director, East Cambridge Business Association, in support of the Grand Junction Pathway and City Manager’s Agenda Items 12-13 regarding snow removal and plowing bike lanes

JASOn Alves East Cambridge Business Assoc City Council Comments - 12-3-18 CM# 17 #18 Application #2 Its very encouraging to see so many items related to the Grand Junction Multiuse Path on the agenda tonight. The ECBA is long time supporter of this project as it will create a connection between Cambridge St businesses and Kendall Sq on one side and eventually Northpoint at the other. The GJ Path has always been billed as project of "As the opportunities arise", and the Council has done an excellent job at recognizing the opportunities as they come before you, and hopefully you can capitalize on this opportunity to complete the final pieces of the path. Alexandria has a reputation of being a great community partner that is vested in our neighborhood. We look forward to seeing this conversation continue in the Ordinance Committee and hopefully see it result in a project that is acceptable to everyone involved. CM# 12 and #13- Snow Removal and Bike Lane Plow We can appreciate the challenges, and human element, of snow removal as opposed to snow clearing. Although it's not mentioned here, we continue to believe that a a serious consideration of a Snow Removal Plan for Inman Square and Cambridge St is warranted as mitigation for the removal of significant on-street parking spaces used by patrons of small businesses. Considering the plan to increase bike infrastructure, we hope that the new plow will be put to good use for the businesses in Iman Square helping us maintain a Open for Business Atmosphere during harsh winter months and following major storms.