Making Wellesley more walkable

Wellesley has formed a Walkway Task Force whose goal is “to improve the pedestrian experience” in town, according to Ethan Parsons, a planner with the Wellesley Planning Department. The idea is to make Wellesley a more walkable place, and that “might or might not require any new or improved infrastructure,” he says. But task force members, including local policymakers and other interested people, are looking at possible sidewalk additions and upgrades.

If you’d like to have your voice heard, contact Parsons by email at eparsons@wellesleyma.gov or call (781) 431-1019 ext. 2238. You’re also invited to attend the next big evening meeting to be held Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Town Hall, or come to a Task Force meeting (next meeting is at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 in the Great Hall).

Transportation/planning consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard from Boston is leading the planning effort.

This project is funded by the Planning Board (Department).

Back in late 2007, think tank Brookings Institution counted Wellesley as being among the most walkable suburban places in the Boston area based on a field survey. Among other things, Wellesley does have an extensive trails network.