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 The state Department of Transportation has requested "extensive revisions" of plans from those shaping the Mass. Ave. Corridor project, according to a March 25 memo. The document, directed to Faye, Spofford & Thorndike, designers of the project, calls for more detailed analysis of traffic data and revised intersections.
"The plans are considered incomplete as no critical cross sections or profiles were included," the memo says. It was written following a March 22 meeting at Mass. Highway's District 4 office with state and Arlington officials.
The memo includes these points about the $5.7 million project, to be paid for with federal and state funds and aims to revamp Arlington's main thoroughfare from Pond Lane to Alewife:
â— "Traffic Data in the Report appears flawed."
â— A comparison of analyses in the basic design report "indicates proposed travel lane changes would degrade intersection service levels, especially during peak morning hours."
â— Resubmittal of a full 25-percent plan is recommended, including a revised basic design plan.
YourArlington first reported about the memo April 9, a day before the town election. In that report, the East Arlington Concerned Citizens Committee (EACCC), supporting selectman candidate Maria Romano, said the state had sent Arlington's plan for Mass. Ave. back to the drawing boards, but a town representative said the state's request for more information is simply part of the process as the project proposal moves toward one-quarter completion.
A lawyer representing the EACCC has filed a public-records request for documents that spell out what the state wants Arlington to do. YourArlington requested the document on Monday, April 12, and state DOT spokesman Adam Hurtubise suggested filing a public-records request to get it, and the publisher of the site did so. The state had 10 days to respond.
Asked how the request stood Friday, April 16, Hurtubise wrote: "I will find out for you."
Hurtubise called Thursday, April 22, to say the document was now available from his office.
Meanwhile, YourArlington requested -- and received Friday -- the memo from Laura Wiener, town housing director and the point person for the Mass. Ave. project. She made clear that she did not have it when it was requested a week earlier.
Eric Berger of EACCC and Phil Goff of the Livable Streets Coalition have provided comment.
Related links to Mass. Ave. project:
April 9: More data sought for Mass. Ave. project plans
Advocate, Aug. 6, 2009 | YourArlington, August meeting | Adam Auster's blog | E. Arlington Concerned Citizens (Part 2) | Livable Streets Coalition | Town project information
This story was first published Saturday, April 17, 2010, and updated three times, the lats time April 22. |
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