Rebecca Shannon: Thank you city of Northampton

Kaboompics.com

Published: 09-21-2024 11:28 PM

A recent guest columnist believes Northampton city planners don’t “pay attention to walkability, and the infrastructure and budget needed to support it,” especially in her neighborhood. But I live in her neighborhood, close to downtown, and disagree.

I walk everywhere — to the Farmers Market, Cornucopia, State Street Fruit, Hungry Ghost, Provisions, Sutters, Forbes Library, the Academy of Music, Parlor Room … and I am a “driver” on the Bridge Street School Walking School Bus, walking the neighborhood kids to school on sunny, rainy and snowy days.

I know our sidewalks. Yes, many need upgrades, but over my 13 years in Northampton, I see continuing improvements despite strains on city budgets. Pleasant and King streets are now calmer. A new sidewalk on narrow Parsons Street leading from Bridge Street School to North Street and the bike path is a miracle. Raised crosswalks and redesigns have improved many dangerous intersections in our part of the city.

Once completed, Main Street will have “at least five feet of clear sidewalk space.” City infrastructure improvements are happening all the time. Many are made on the developers’ or state’s dime. There is a great deal of demand on property taxes. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is picking up $21.7 million to make Main Street safer, accessible, vibrant, and environmentally friendly.”

So let’s grab that state money and use it to make our city more walkable, bikeable and drivable. Thank you, city of Northampton!

Rebecca Shannon

Northampton

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