 | Newsletter #36February 25, 2024 http://alewife.org |
This ASG Newsletter includes the following updates:
- Conservation Commission meeting Monday, February 26, 7:00 PM: IQHQ presents updated plans for Jerry’s Pond
- Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) public meeting on reconstruction of Alewife Parkway Bridge next to Alewife T Station, Tuesday, February 27, 6:30 PM on Zoom
- Mass Ave Planning Study – Community Meeting 1, Thursday, February 29, 6:00 PM on Zoom
- Cambridge City Council passed an E Vehicle Policy Order on February 12
- Cambridge4Trees public meeting Thursday, March 14, 7:00 PM
Conservation Commission meeting Monday, February 26, 7:00 PM: IQHQ presents updated plans for Jerry’s Pond
The City of Cambridge Conservation Commission (ConCom) will hold its 4th meeting to review IQHQ’s proposal for improving Jerry’s Pond in North Cambridge. For information on the first three meetings, see ASG Newsletters #31 through #35.
ASG expects the February 26 meeting to include:
- More information from IQHQ, with changes they have made in their proposed plans since the February 12 ConCom meeting
- Questions from ConCom members to IQHQ
- Public Comment
- Discussion among ConCom members
- A decision by ConCom to either approve IQHQ’s proposal or to continue the review at another meeting.
The Conservation Commission’s approval of IQHQ’s proposal will be based on how it meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.0) and the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Policy and Standards.
To learn more about ConCom, go to the Conservation Commission Public Works webpage.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) public meeting on reconstruction of Alewife Parkway Bridge next to Alewife T Station, Tuesday, February 27, 6:30 PM on Zoom
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will hold a second public meeting about rebuilding the Alewife Brook Parkway bridge near the Alewife T Station Plaza and over the Red Line tunnel. The first public meeting about this project was in March 2023.
This Tuesday’s meeting will assess the need for the project, and provide updates on the design, construction work, schedule, and impacts to road users including cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. ASG expects that there will be an opportunity for public comment and questions following the presentation.
The Alewife Study Group encourages community members to take this opportunity to continue to advocate for MassDOT to renovate the Alewife Loop Road arched tunnel under the Alewife Brook Parkway in order to add safe two-way bicycle/pedestrian lanes. Doing so would provide a more direct connection between the Linear Path and Somerville Community Path to the east, the Fitchburg Bypass path to the west, and the Minuteman path to the north.
ASG and other community members have proposed this plan to IQHQ over the last two years because some of the connecting paths would be on IQHQ’s North Cambridge property.
In 2022, IQHQ committed to fund a feasibility study for two-way bike/pedestrian paths through the Alewife Loop Road arched tunnel, and to advocate for such a plan, along with ASG and other community members.
The City of Cambridge also asked IQHQ to do a feasibility study for adding a separate bus lane on the Alewife Loop Road, from just after the arched tunnel to the intersection with Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2.
The two study reports prepared on behalf of IQHQ are below:
IQHQ Alewife Loop Road Tunnel Ped/Bike Lane Study
IQHQ Alewife Loop Road Bus Lane Study
Mass Ave Planning Study – Community Meeting 1, Thursday, February 29, 6:00 PM
The Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) will host its first community meeting for the Mass Ave Planning Study (MAPS) on Thursday, February 29 from 6-7:30 PM. The meeting will provide an introduction to the project; an opportunity for the community to learn more about the process; and a chance to talk with the planning team about Mass Ave.
Excerpt from the City’s website for the Mass Ave Planning Study
The Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD), in collaboration with other city departments, will lead a community process for the future of Mass Ave from Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway. The planning study will include recommendations on topics of land use, urban design, housing, climate resiliency, small business support, mobility, and public space, as well as zoning recommendations for future development.
This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.
Please register here in advance or go to
If you can’t make the meeting, please share your thoughts using their online mapping tool. Visit: bit.ly/MAPS_map
Cambridge City Council passed an E Vehicle Policy Order on February 12
At the City Council meeting on February 12, after some discussion, all City Councilors voted in favor of asking the Law Department to check if Cambridge can set its own rules for electric bikes, scooters, skateboards and other “micromobility devices” on bike paths, roads, and other public ways. This issue will become more important since the recently completed MBTA Green Line extension path now completes an almost continuous off-road path connecting the Minuteman Bikeway to downtown Boston. Linear Park is part of that pathway.
Cambridge4Trees public meeting Thursday, March 14, 7:00 PM
Come to a city-wide summit to improve the Tree Protection Ordinance and help make healthy trees a high priority in the city. Lesley University Hall, 1815 Massachusetts Avenue in Porter Square. Parking for a fee is behind the hall. To learn more about Cambridge4Trees click here.
For questions or concerns about impacts to our community from IQHQ construction, including from noise, vibrations, or fumes, please contact both ASG contact@alewife.org and IQHQ at 617-314-7252 or info@iqhqcommunityprocess.com