 An inactive rail corridor extends south from the
MBTA Green Line D branch from Newton Highlands through Newton Upper Falls, paralleling Needham Street. It
represents both a potential future Green Line light rail extension to serve our local
commercial and residential transportation needs, as well as a possible regional greenway recreational path. Such a "rail trail" could
connect to Needham, Dover, and Medfield, providing Newton residents the
opportunity to enjoy an off-road trail experience rivaling the tremendously
popular Minuteman Trail.
Ideally, this section of the corridor through
Newton would accommodate a trail running parallel to a Green Line
extension. If feasibility studies show that this is not possible, then
the trail should only extend south from the terminus of the Green
Line. However, until such time as the Green Line extension is built, the
BPTF is advocating that the entire length of this corridor be
utilized as a recreational trail in the interim. More about this project:
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posted Dec 17, 2012, 7:17 PM by Jim Lerner
The Newton Board of Aldermen voted unanimously tonight in support of signing a 99-year lease with the MBTA. Now it's up to the Greenway working group to write contracts, design, and execute the plan. After a lease is signed, the city will create a design that considers traffic, kiosks, road crossing, terminus features, signage, drainage, construction criteria and surface materials, etc. |
posted Dec 6, 2012, 8:31 AM by Jim Lerner
The Programs and Services committee of the Newton Board of aldermen approved a docket item last night, clearing the way for a vote of the full board to approve signing a lease and moving forward with development of the Greenway. The vote was 6-0, with two members absent. This was the third of three committees required to approve the Greenway. The full vote could come as soon as next week. |
posted Nov 17, 2012, 6:03 AM by Jim Lerner
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updated Dec 4, 2012, 2:20 PM
]
The Upper Falls Greenway plan got a unanimous "thumbs up" from the Board of Aldermen's Finance Committee this week. The Finance Committee needed to approve a request from the mayor for the purchase of an environmental insurance to cover the proposed park. There are still two remaining votes by the aldermen coming up - one from the Program & Services Committee (scheduled for Dec. 5 at their 7:45pm meeting) followed by a vote by the full board. Once that's done, the city will be able to sign a lease for the property with the MBTA. |
posted Oct 23, 2012, 6:00 PM by Jim Lerner
The will be a brush and trash cleanup on the Upper Falls Greenway on Sunday, October 28 from 1-4pm, starting at the Depot Cafe at the corner of Oak St. and Chestnut St. |
posted Jul 5, 2012, 11:36 AM by Jim Lerner
The MBTA's Board of Directors will vote at their July 11 meeting to proceed with the lease of the railroad property to the City of Newton. After the vote. it's expected that the signing of the lease should happen relatively quickly. Once the city has the lease in hand, the planning for the new park can kick into high gear. |
posted Apr 4, 2012, 2:33 PM by Jim Lerner
 * | | Upper Falls Greenway Cleanup Sunday April 29 9:30am-3:30pm |
The Friends of the Upper Falls Greenway, in conjunction with the Upper Falls Area Council and the Newton Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force, are organizing a cleanup project of the Greenway as part of the NewtonSERVES community service day on April 29. We plan to remove litter and clear brush to make the trail more attractive and accessible. And we can use all the help we can get!
How can you get involved? Sign up on the NewtonSERVES volunteer website (http://www.newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES-volunteer-2012.php) and choose the Upper Falls Greenway project. You can sign up just yourself, or a group or family. Teams can be formed by neighbors, friends, families, churches, synagogues, schools, businesses, clubs, scout troops, etc. Please register before April 24.
The project base will be outside the Depot Coffee Shop at 1225 Chestnut St. at the corner of Oak St. Please bring work gloves, loppers and wheelbarrow (if you have them). We’ll supply NewtonSERVES T-shirts, water, snacks, and trash bags. Volunteers are welcome to start the day at City Hall with breakfast and opening ceremonies for NewtonSERVES as well as end the day there with an ice cream sundae at 3:30.
Easy online registration: http://www.newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES-volunteer-2012.php
For more information: NewtonSERVES@newtoncommunitypride.org or call 617-527-8283. |
posted Mar 15, 2012, 12:28 PM by Jim Lerner
Thanks to the many volunteers who showed up on NewtonSERVES day, May 15, 2011 to help clean up and clear brush from the inactive railroad line next to Needham St. Over a ton of trash was removed, including 30 tires which were recycled courtesy of NTB (thanks, NTB!). A mountain of brush was cut down, primarily by a tireless, intrepid group of boy scouts, and then hauled away by Newton DPW. The trail is now fairly walkable from Oak St. almost all the way to Easy St., and a lot nicer without all of the litter. Click to view the slideshow (courtesy of George Kirby). |
posted Mar 4, 2012, 1:12 PM by Jim Lerner
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updated Mar 4, 2012, 1:16 PM
]
On Feb. 12, 2012 the Upper Falls Area Council held a public meeting about the proposed plan to build a Greenway along the state right-of-way. Approximately 90 people attended, 15 spoke publicly, and all supported the Greenway project. The meeting ended with a unanimous vote (9-0) by the Area Council in support of the project. Now the project moves to City Hall where work can begin on the lease with the MBTA as well as design and planning issues. Many thanks are due to all of the Greenway supporters who signed the petition (782 signatures and still climbing), attended the meeting, spoke at the meeting, wrote letters to the newspapers, and helped get this project going in countless other ways.
The BPTF will remain involved in aiding and monitoring the construction process and in assembling a "Friends of the Greenway" group of supporters.
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posted Dec 1, 2011, 7:24 AM by Jim Lerner
The Friends of the Upper Falls Greenway has a new website and Facebook page. They're collecting signatures on a petition to show community support for developing this inactive railroad line into a mile-long linear park running from Easy St to the Charles River. |
posted May 14, 2011, 11:44 AM by Jim Lerner
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updated Mar 28, 2012, 9:55 AM
]
The City of Newton Planning and Development Department invites you to:
ENVISIONING NEEDHAM STREET
PUBLIC PRESENTATION NIGHT
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Newton Senior Center
345 Walnut Street, Newtonville
The public is invited to offer their "big ideas" about what might happen on Needham Street on Public Presentation Night. This community meeting will build off of the common themes that were developed at the Community Visioning Session on April 14th. All are welcome to attend, listen, and ask questions!
Are you interested in presenting? If you would like to share your ideas in a brief presentation, check the website for more information and call 617-796-1127 to sign-up for a time slot.
For all information on previous and upcoming meetings, please visit http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/current/devrev/hip/needhamstreet.asp or email us at NeedhamStreet@newtonma.gov
See attached PDF and please share widely! |
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