Letter of Support CPC funding.docxNovember 9, 2022
Brian Adams, Chair
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060
RE: Rocky Hill Greenway Design Funding
Connecticut River Greenway Design Funding
Dear Brian,
At its meeting on November 9, 2022, the Northampton Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee of Northampton’s Transportation and Parking Committee voted unanimously to submit a letter to
the Community Preservation Committee to voice its resounding support for the two applications for multi-use path design.
The Subcommittee has supported the design and development of the Rocky Hill Greenway trail since its early conceptual phases and is eager to see the completion of design so that construction
can finally commence. This path will provide a crucial connection for residents within Florence neighborhoods southwest of downtown, who do not currently have safe pedestrian or bicycle
facilities linking them to other parts of the City. Filling this gap also opens access to destinations beyond Northampton for both recreational and commuter trips and is an important
piece of the off-road network envisioned to continue to link additional neighborhoods with safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The Connecticut River Greenway multi-use trail is another highly valuable project that will open opportunities for residents to traverse part of the city that is currently inaccessible
because of the barriers created by I-91 and the Amtrak railroad. In this case, the matching fund request leverages a state grant received to advance the initial design of this connector
along a portion of the Connecticut River north of the Connecticut River- Riverfront Park. This will provide access to beautiful open space with expansive views of and across the river
as well as provide a non-motorized transportation access to Hatfield. Both of these objectives create significant benefits for the residents of Northampton.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of Subcommittee Members:
Maggie Chan, Brett Constantine, Michael DiPasquale, Nick Horton, James Lowenthal,
Freeman Stein,
/
Carolyn Misch, Chair
Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee