SENATE DOCKET, NO. 541        FILED ON: 1/19/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 394

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven A. Tolman

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a river access commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 541        FILED ON: 1/19/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 394

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act establishing a river access commission.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                SECTION 1. There shall be established a special commission to investigate and study the ability of residents of the allston and brighton neighborhoods of the city of Boston to access the charles river, impediments to residents of allston and brighton in accessing the charles river and to recommend potential strategies to increase access to the charles river by residents of allston and brighton. The commission shall consist of 1 member of the allston community; 1 member of the brighton community; 1 member of the boston redevelopment authority; 1 member of the senate, who shall be appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member of the house of representatives, who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; and 3 members to be appointed by the governor; 1 of whom shall be a representative from the department of conservation and recreation; 1 of whom shall be a representative from the charles river conservancy; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the emerald necklace conservancy.  The study shall include, without limitation, a review and analysis of: the impediments to accessing the river park from allston and brighton; an investigation of utilization of the river park by allston and brighton residents; possible modifications which would improve access to the river park from the allston and brighton neighborhoods; consideration of public safety improvements to pedestrian crossing and sidewalks including, but not limited to, traffic signal improvements; the evaluation of proposed development projects in the allston and brighton communities and their impact on river access for boston residents and potential mitigation measures; and the benefits of access the river park for the isolated brighton and allston neighborhoods; and the effect that improved river park access would have upon the allston and brighton communities.  The commission shall consult the department of environmental protection, the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, the massachusetts department of transportation and other entities as appropriate. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, together with legislation, if any, necessary to implement said recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2011.