Wednesday Session Updated Complete Streets Plans

MassDOT image above illustration shows one version of Complete Streets in which motor vehicle lanes are reduced to make room for other forms of transportation.

An informational meeting on the town’s Complete Streets program – a state-promoted initiative voted on favorably by the Town Council in the Spring – was held on Wednesday evening at 6 pm in the Town Council chambers, led by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and DPW Director Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi. Town Councilors Andy Bissanti, Tom Mercer, and Melanie Hamblen were there to kickoff the session, which included a PowerPoint presentation about Complete Streets and display boards with maps and “Post-It” notes marking priority sites. Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo also joined the event.

Steve Sherlock, of Franklin Matters, who reported on the event, noted that the specifics about sites being considered for projects was not shared in advance, likely contributing to the rather “sparse” public participation. And it would seem his encouragement prompted the administration to post a full list of sites, in priority order, during the day Thursday. 

Taking notes Wednesday evening, Bissanti was able to share the top priority projects; information which was later confirmed by the posting on the web site.

The top three projects identified as top priorities under the program all are on or connect with Grove Street.

Priority 1: Grove Street between Beaver and Washington. According to the MassDOT document this project would install a separated shared‐use path 10 feet wide on the east side of Grove Street between Washington Street and Beaver Street (1.75 miles long). A total of eight pedestrian curb ramps will be provided at intersection crossings. Funding for pavement mill and overlay and a new traffic and pedestrian signal at Grove Street and Washington Streets is being pursued through a MassWorks grant. The project will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, mobility and fill a network gap.

Priority 2: Grove Street Crossing. This project would install a new crosswalk and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at the Southern New England Trunk Line Trail [aka the rail trail] crossing. The project will improve safety for pedestrians and improve driver awareness.

Priority 3: Install a new five‐foot‐wide asphalt sidewalk and granite curb along the south side of Beaver Street from the recently completed asphalt sidewalk with granite curb at Chilson Beach / Beaver Pond Recreational Area parking lot, south to Grove Street. Incorporate a minimum three‐foot‐wide grass buffer between new sidewalk and roadway edge where feasible. Consider the installation of an 8’ to 10’ wide asphalt shared use path in place of a sidewalk to provide a bicycle connection from Recreational Area to Grove Street and the SNETT trailhead. Provide one pedestrian ramp and detectable warning panel. Total length is 2,100 feet. The project will improve pedestrian safety, mobility and fill a pedestrian network gap

Steve Sherlock at Franklin Matters posted some additional details about the meeting via Twitter at https://twitter.com/search?q=%23cs0922&src=typed_query