Selectmen Send Letter of Support for Active Streets Initiative

By Kim Siebert MacPhail

On the subject of the Active Streets initiative— otherwise known as Massachusetts Senate Bill 68/House Bill 3091: “An Act Relevant to Active Streets and Healthy Communities”— the Bedford Selectmen voted on October 7 to direct a letter of support to Senate President Therese Murphy and to Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. The Active Streets bill is one component of the larger issue of transportation infrastructure that mirrors the goals of the “Complete Streets” program and calls for transportation design that consistently includes all types of users: motorists, bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

The Selectmen’s letter does not obligate the town to participate in the Active Streets grant program; however, the legislation would provide incentives to participating towns that achieve a set of criteria established by the State. Some of the steps identified in becoming certified as an Active Streets municipality include documenting a baseline inventory of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations; adopting a complete streets bylaw; and identifying procedures to follow when conducting municipal road repairs, upgrades, or expansion projects..

Prior to the Selectmen’s discussion about Active Streets on October 7, the Planning Board expressed its support of the initiative at their September 25 meeting, saying that aspects of the Bedford’s updated Comprehensive Plan— now in draft form—are consistent with the Active Streets/Complete Streets approach. The Planning Board added that the Healthy Bedford program is also in line with the legislation and that the grant funding associated with the bill could assist the town to achieve already-identified goals.