The state Highway Department last night listened to comments on a much-anticipated redesign of the Trapelo Road-Belmont Street corridor at a meeting that drew a crowd from all three towns involved in the project.
Rapidly summing up the need for the project, Belmont town consultant Peter Briere said the corridor "is really confusing for an outsider to drive on. (And) the road hasn't been touched in some spots in 30 years."
The project, whose development began with a study group created in Belmont in 2002, is intended to improve both traffic flow and safety along the corridor, which stretches from the Cambridge line in Watertown to Trapelo Road just west of Waverley Oaks Road in Waltham.
The purpose of the meeting, according to the public hearing notice, was to "provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Trapelo Road/Belmont Street improvements project."
Representatives from MassHighway and Belmont's consultants, BSC Group, talked for nearly an hour about the project, then opened the floor to questions.
While residents and commuters took the proposed plan very seriously, officials warned they will not see the results for at least four years.
The timeline depends on a number of variables, including obtaining federal funding under the state Transportation Improvement Program, which could ultimately pay for 80 percent of the project, and where it falls within a priority list of other projects statewide.
"It is currently scheduled for fiscal year 2011," said MassHighway's Albert Miller, the project manager for highways.
The project was delayed for nearly a year as MassHighway reviewed the plans at the 25 percent completion stage, said Charles Kalauskas of BSC Group. With the department's comments completed, the project can move onto the next stage after the public hearing.
|
Didn’t go to the hearing? Have your say anyway Residents unable to attend the hearing can become a part of the public record by mailing comments to Frank Tramontozzi, P.E., Chief Engineer, Massachusetts Highway Department, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116. Comments must be postmarked within 10 days of the hearing, which took place Monday, July 28. |
"We will be moving onto the next phase after the public hearing," he said. "The last phase was the 25 percent plans, then we move to the 75 percent plans and then the 100 percent plans. After that is the planning specs and advertising for a private contractor to construct the roadway. That would happen in fall of 2011, if all goes according to plan."
Miller said the meeting was a continuation of public hearings held by Belmont's consultants, and would help to define some of the public's concerns regarding the project.
"Right-of-way takings (are) a big topic," he said. "Some businesses don't want trees in front of their buildings, things like that."
Daniel Gentile of MassHighway said the project will require 200-plus temporary easements and four permanent easements. It is anticipated to take place over a 24-month period, ending in the fall of fiscal 2012.
The road requires at least 8 feet total for a bike lane in each direction to satisfy federal requirements for funding, Briere said.
"In some spots where the road is too wide, that's not a problem, but in some places it is," he said. As a result, some parts of the road will be configured differently from other parts.
The project will also improve the safety of the roadway with dedicated bike lanes, sidewalk standardization, bump-outs to shorten the crosswalk lengths and repairing the road surface.
|
Improvements would include… Providing a road width that is consistent with the number of lanes of traffic. In some cases this will mean the pavement width will be narrowed and the sidewalk width increased; in others, the roadway will be widened and the sidewalk narrowed. Providing bicycle accommodation for the entire length of the project. Replacing old and in some instances substandard traffic signal equipment. Organizing the closely-spaced intersections into coordinated systems and improving the level of service at five of the highest-volume intersections. Improving the pedestrian access by providing new, and in some areas, widening sidewalks and by providing sidewalk bump outs that shorten the crosswalks. Improving access to individuals with disabilities by bringing all wheelchair ramps up to current standards. Removing and replacing the worn road surface. Replacing worn and cracked sidewalks. Providing additional street trees. Replacing the failing Beaver Brook Culvert with a system able to handle a 50-year storm. Providing fire preemption along the corridor. Providing a trackless trolley priority system. |
