It could be that the last thing needed is another letter regarding the Main Street redesign in Northampton, but I can’t resist making two observations: First, it seems that with many large-scale public transportation projects, there is a long public process, in which the overall vision and the plans and actions necessary to actualize that vision are carefully considered. Then, after all of these considerations have come to their logical conclusions and a plan is presented, all hell breaks loose, as people insist that the plan is all wrong. Invariably these are the folks who were paying little attention during the process, joined by those whose ideas have been considered but deemed to be impractical, or not aligned with the project’s vision.

Second, there are numerous examples of cities and towns (ie. South Bend, Indiana and Burlington, Vermont) that have pursued downtown transportation changes that have favored pedestrians and bicycles. Invariably when these plans were presented, there were numerous residents and business owners that predicted they would lead to the demise of downtown. Generally, they have been proven wrong as these plans have in fact often led to downtown revitalization. To the opponents of the Main Street redesign: Please take a few deep breaths and chill. It’s a little late in the game to be reversing course. Also, it is quite likely that this will in fact prove to be a wonderful change for Northampton’s Main Street.

Jody Nishman

Haydenville

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