How can downtown Framingham become a safer, more appealing environment for people on foot?
That was the key issue of this morning’s Walkable Communities Workshop, designed to give planners, town officials and residents (not to mention bloggers ) more information about ways to improve walkability — both theory and implementation details.
Theories:
* [...]
Archive for September, 2007
How to make Framingham more pedestrian-friendly? Walkable Communities Workshop report
September 27, 2007Pedestrian-friendly ‘Portwalk’ planned for Portsmouth
September 27, 2007” ‘Portwalk,’ a pedestrian-friendly, integrated mixed-use development will soon replace the Parade Mall in the city’s North End,” the Foster’s Daily Democrat reports.
“Cathartes Private Investments, the Boston-based real estate investment and development company revitalizing the Hanover Street property, recently announced the name and unveiled its visual brand image to be used on all signage and [...]
Walkable Community Workshop Tomorrow
September 26, 2007Sorry for the lack of posts the past week or two, I’ve been moving all my Web sites – including this one – to a new Web host, hostingrails.com. After multiple, multi-day interruptions of e-mail service at my old host, I decided it was time to move on. Suffice it to say it took way [...]
Downtown Framingham pedestrian improvements in the works
September 12, 2007Several projects are planned or underway to help boost downtown Framingham’s pedestrian appeal, a town planner reported last night. And, other efforts will encourage more use of mass transit and accommodate bicyclists.
Thanks to federal and state grant money, the area’s regional transit authority will be receiving 10 new minibuses, each equipped with wheelchair lifts and [...]
‘We consider walking and biking forms of transportation’
September 11, 2007“We consider walking and biking forms of transportation in Kirkland,” Kirkland, Wash. Deputy Mayor Joan McBride tells the AARP Bulletin. “We’ve been doing this for years.”
What a refreshing comment from a local official.
Kirkland’s “public thoroughfares accommodate all members of the public—not just those who drive,” according to the AARP Bulletin. They do so with “wide [...]
Cochituate Rail Trail Fall Work Day Sept. 29
September 11, 2007From the Framingham Cochituate Rail Trail Committee:
Trail Fall Clean-up Day, Saturday, Sept. 29
9:00am – 3:00pm
Rain date is Sunday, September 30th
Park at 500 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham. Cross the street and check in at our table near the entrance to Cochituate Brook Reservation.
Join us for a day of trail work and clean-up on the Cochituate Rail [...]
We CAN make walker friendly strip malls (without the strip part)
September 3, 2007A downtown commercial center’s streetscape needs are fairly clear — make sure there’s an attractive, unbroken vista for pedestrians, without gaps and buildings or big setbacks for parking lots that create unappealing walking environments. But what about a suburban district where strip malls are the norm, and individual property owners are unlikely to knit their [...]
Walkable Community Workshop Coming to Framingham Sept. 27!
September 1, 2007I’m extremely happy to report that the town of Framingham is sponsoring a Walkable Community Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 8:30 to 11 am, starting at the Memorial Building (town hall, 150 Concord St.)
The workshop, run by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, will consist of a presentation, community “walking audit” and follow-up session [...]
