Tag: Salem

Salem Walk Audit – The Point

On June 6, 2018, WalkBoston conducted a walk assessment in the Point neighborhood of Salem, with support from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Mass in Motion program to promote active transportation and healthy eating. The goal of the walk assessment was to recommend improvements to the local built environment that improve walkability and pedestrian safety. Participants included representatives from WalkBoston, Salem Mass in Motion, Salem Mayor’s Office, Salem Traffic and Parking Department, Salem Commission on Disabilities/Age-Friendly Salem, Salem Family Health Center, North Shore YMCA, and North Shore Community Development Corporation.

Read the full report here:

WalkBoston-ThePointWalkAuditSalem

Salem State University Walk Audit

On May 6, 2015, WalkBoston participated in a walk audit on the Salem State University (SSU) campus around the O’Keefe Center and the edges of North Campus. John Pelletier, Mass in Motion Coordinator for the City of Salem, led the audit and the participants included SSU staff, neighborhood advocates, city staff and city council members. The goal of the audit was to discuss the safety and quality of the pedestrian environment along the walk route and recommend improvements that would enhance the pedestrian experience.

Read the full report here:
WalkBoston-SalemStateUniversityWalkAudit-Salem

Salem Downtown Walk Assessment

The walk assessment focused on Salem’s downtown district just west of the pedestrian mall and Peabody Essex Museum. The route began at the City Hall Annex; traveled north to Bridge Street and the Salem MBTA commuter rail station; turned west on Bridge Street; cut through a worn pathway along the North Street (Rt 114) ramps up to the Federal/North Street intersection; followed North Street to the Summer/Chestnut/Norman Street intersection; and returned to Washington Street at the intersection with New Derby Street.

Read the full report here:
WalkBoston-DowntownWalkAssessment-Salem

Salem Walking Map

The Salem Setting

Founded in 1626, Salem, MA has a rich history based on rivers giving access to the sea, which led to maritime activities, business and manufacturing, and the settlement of immigrants. Salem’s waterfront was the focus of the City dating back to the early 1600s. For nearly 200 years, the waterfront was occupied by ships importing and exporting material and goods throughout the world – particularly Asia.

Salem’s maritime activities became focused on the South River shortly after settlement. At the time, the river stretched east and south from the present day Post Office and connected to Mill Pond, which covered present day Canal Street. The South River became the focus of commercial development and housing. Downtown Salem grew and prospered on the north riverfront and dock workers lived on the south riverfront.

Following the War of 1812, Salem was no longer able to compete with ports that could accommodate larger ships. Manufacturing became the key industry in Salem by the mid 1800s. In order to have space for new buildings for industry, such as the huge Naumkeag Steam Cotton Mill, portions of the South River were filled in. In the Great Salem Fire of 1914, the river formed a barrier between the center of the city and the vast residential and industrial area, now called the Point Neighborhood, which was destroyed by the fire.

The Point Neighborhood was rebuilt after the fire and still contains housing. Across the South River, Salem’s waterfront became the first National Historic Site in 1938 because of its history as one of the most important ports in the nation – the base for Atlantic triangular trade in the colonial period, privateers in the Revolutionary War, and merchants who brought the riches of the Far East to America after the Revolution. Its wharves and buildings are among the rarest remaining intact from America’s age of sails almost 200 years ago.

Click for “WalkBoston’s Salem Walking Map” on Google Maps

Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report Osborn Hills

January 22, 2007

Secretary Ian Bowles
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, MEPA Office
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114

RE: Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report Osborne Hills, Salem, MA

EOEA # 13965

Dear Mr. Bowles:

WalkBoston is delighted to have the proponent of Osborne Hills in Salem respond positively to our comments on the ENF for this project. After addressing certain comments satisfactorily in the DEIR, the proponent has modified aspects of the plan to incorporate these suggestions.

We would like to take this opportunity to review our comments and refine the observations in view of the ENF responses from the proponent. We request that the proponent respond to these issues as described below:

A. WalkBoston’s comment no. 1 in the ENF has been satisfactorily answered. The proponent will be constructing sidewalks on both sides of all internal roadways – a commendable and very useful incorporation of physical facilities that will provide significant safety and convenience for pedestrians living in the community. We are very happy that this change was made by the proponent.

B. WalkBoston’s comment no. 2 in the ENF suggested that on-site trails currently planned to be dead end should loop back into the path network. There are three such locations: Two are in the northeast corner of the site and connect to the site boundary and dead end there. A third loops into and through the grounds around the Water Storage Tank, ending at the site boundary. We continue to think it would improve the project to do so.

C. WalkBoston’s comment no. 3 in the ENF referred to trail connections between the on-site trails and paths or sidewalks outside the property. No connections are indicated, although we remain hopeful that, at minimum, a pedestrian connection might be feasible at the site boundary where a proposed roadway ends in a cul-de-sac that abuts the end of Barcelona Avenue.

D. WalkBoston’s comment no. 4 in the ENF has been satisfactorily answered. The proponent will use the irregular site topography to make trails interesting and challenging.

E. WalkBoston’s comment no. 5 received a response that is discouraging. WalkBoston had hoped that on-site resident children might be able to walk to school – a feature that many suburban communities do not encourage. The response indicated that walking to school could not be accomplished because busing was likely to be available. Furthermore, Marlborough Road would have to be crossed by the children and the adjacent neighborhoods there are no sidewalks. We would hope that, the sidewalks being produced for the proponent’s site may show the way toward a neighborhood sidewalk network that allows children to walk to school.

F. WalkBoston’s comment no. 6 did not receive a response in the DEIR. It suggested that the proponent try to show all pedestrian connections on the map as “actual” proposals rather than “potential.” The DEIR shows pathways along the west property line and a path connection at the northeast corner of the site as “potential” additions to the network. Both would add significantly to the ultimate network of paths and should be included in the build-out of this plan.

G. WalkBoston’s comment no. 7 in the ENF has been satisfactorily answered. Small footbridges will be constructed as needed for wetland crossings.

H. WalkBoston’s comment no. 8 in the ENF has been satisfactorily answered. The utility corridor is not a good alignment for walking paths.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this DEIR. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Wendy Landman
Executive Director

Robert Sloane
Senior Planner