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| 4-1 selectmen vote backs major changes to Mass. Ave. in E. Arlington |
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In her dissent, Selectmen Diane Mahon said, "I feel we're rushing this through." About 70 people in Town Hall Auditorium heard planners explain the aims for the changes. The key one is safety, for pedestrian and drivers. Aug. 16: Globe story focuses on opposition
Related links to Mass. Ave. project:Advocate, Aug. 6 | YourArlington, Feb. meeting | Adam Auster's blog | E. Arlington Concerned Citizens (Part 2) | Livable Streets Coalition John Michalak, an engineer with project designers Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, noted that traffic studies from 2002 to 2004 indentified a variety of design options. The eight shaping this project include curb extensions, parking, provisions for bicyclists and defining driving lanes. As to the last, he said a traffic study done in May, to update numbers collected last October, confirmed that volumes between Bates Road and Lake Street support the lane configuration between those streets as well as on either side of them. Pedestrian are expected to find the altered avenue safer to cross, he said. The current roadway ranges from 66 to 80 feet wide (which takes an average of 20 to 25 seconds to cross). The proposed width would range from 40 to 45 feet (10 to 15 seconds to cross). Christine Scypinski of Waterfield Design, an East Arlington resident, emphasized the landscape features of the reconfigured Mass. Ave., which would better welcome drivers to Arlington. Proposed are 100 new trees, 10,000 square feet of planters, 50 new and relocated bicycle racks, 50 to 60 benches and seven bus shelters. Selectmen Jack Hurd, who has spearheaded efforts while taking criticism from some East Arlington neighbors, offered some history of the project. In his usual understated way, he called the process long -- it dates from last September -- and marked by "some disagreements." Six public meetings have been held on the plan as it developed, resulting in a number of changes. In June, a 12-4-1 vote of an advisory committee sent the updated plan to selectmen. Laura Wiener, who works in Arlington's Planning Department and has been a key force to keep the effort on track, said that if the plan proceeds through its next steps, construction could begin in the spring of 2012. The lone, sustained official voice of opposition came from Mahon, who asked Michalak how many parking spaces the project would lose. He responded: fewer than "five total over the corridor." Wiener answered: "Very minimal." |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 04 December 2009 11:11 ) |
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