Hello friends and neighbors, I suggest that the good or bad about this project isn't the relevant issue at this point in time, although in the future it might be.
It is my belief that any money not required for critical services such as police, fire, public works, and education, be directed toward the twin long term requirements of good affordable housing and open space preservation. If, and only if, there is money available now for a project like the rail trail, it will be better spent acquiring open space that will otherwise be lost forever to development. The rail bed will wait for a trail to be put in place at a time of better economic capability. Joel A Feingold -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Rich Shapiro Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 1:40 PM To: Town Meeting Members; Framingham Neighbors Subject: Re: Citizens Against Rail Trail (C.A.R.T.) Prior to making Framingham my home, I also lived in Lexington and rode the Minuteman Trail regularly. The two issues that jumped at me from the CART study were: -the trail goes through the town centers of Lexington, Arlington and there is a spur to Davis Sq in Somerville. The trail begins or ends (depends on the end you live near) at the Alewife T station. So during the week there is a good percentage of commuters on the trail heading towards Somerville and the T stop. -The trail goes right behind Arlington HS (in all my years I have never heard of issues with that). I would also point out that there are several schools in Framingham that have isolated walking trails leading to them (including Hemmingway). Have there been incidents on these paths? Are these paths patrolled during school commuting hours? Are the walkers to these schooled, instructed on safety issues regarding walking on these paths. I would be concerned with initial start up costs as much as anyone, but I would not buy the argument that there are more negatives that positives. I would look forward to this project if it can be put together in a financially prudent way. Richard Shapiro P4 To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body "unsubscribe frambors" (the subject is ignored). To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with body "unsubscribe frambors" (the subject is ignored).
