I have real concerns about Northampton moving forward with Picture Main Street. As currently configured, it is strange, bloated, disruptive and fails to address any real safety issues.

But as we move forward, can the city please be consistent and transparent in the details? At times the mayor has said the project will cost $21 million, other times $29 million. It seems that the state will be largely responsible for covering costs, but it remains unclear how much the city will be required to raise. In January, the mayor said the project would move forward as originally planned and now is saying the project will be paused for a year (which by the way I think is a great idea!).

At times it is described as a three- to five-year project, yet the most recent timetable posted on the project website has it running as a two-year project. The city needs to be transparent, active and consistent in its communications with the public. A static FAQ website is not active engagement.

The city needs to investigate other cities in Massachusetts who have either launched or considered similar protected bike path plans. Boston and Pittsfield report regretting having implemented these plans. Chicopee did a trial run and abandoned it seeing that it would be disruptive and ineffective.

The state secretary of transportation characterized the protected bike path model as wild and horrible and urged communities to revisit the model. We should investigate these learnings and amend or abandon Picture Main Street accordingly.

Anne Teschner

Florence