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Date: 6/8/2021
NORTHAMPTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) hosted a hearing on June 2 to discuss the proposed Bridge Street Elementary School Improvements.
LaShawnnya Thomas of MassDOT mediated the session. Additional MassDOT representatives included Jon Freeman, project manager, and Linda Walsh of community compliance.
The project that was presented for Bridge Street Elementary School would be part of MassDOT’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Freeman said, “It will construct sidewalks along Parsons Street and Hawley Street, and improve pedestrian safety at the marked crosswalk across Route 9 – Bridge Street, in front of the school.”
Freeman explained that when MassDOT accepted the $921,000 project for funding, the city of Northampton accepted certain responsibilities. “One of those responsibilities is acquiring all the necessary rights and private and public lands for design, construction and implementation of this project.”
Walsh said, “The procedures used must comply with both federal and state regulations. The current design plans indicate that there are 10 permanent easements and approximately 21 temporary construction easements needed.”
She added, all property owners that will be impacted by these projects will be contacted by their municipal officials. Each owner will have the impacts presented to them and discuss methods in which they may acquire the need for rights for the project. All property owners are entitled to an appraisal, review an appraisal and just compensation. Documents will be provided to assist property owners in understanding the project and their overall rights in regard to this.
Currently, MassDOT is in the design stage of this project. Plans are still being developed and feedback is welcome to assist in the process.
“We estimate the total project will cost $920,913, which will come from federal aid funding, with the Federal Highway Administration funding 80 percent of the total construction cost. MassDOT funds the remaining 20 percent,” stated Freeman.
He added, this project must be programmed in a statewide transportation improvement program, in the appropriate federal fiscal year in order for MassDOT to solicit dates for eventual construction. Total estimated project cost doesn’t include any right of way acquisition costs.
The design is expected to be completed in summer 2022. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2023, and be completed within 12 months.
Overall, the motivation for the project stems from the presence of the existing gaps in sidewalks, in the vicinity of Bridge Street Elementary School. “Filling the gaps with new sidewalk construction would significantly improve pedestrian safety, mobility, and accessibility,” explained Freeman.
Kevin Dandrade, design consultant of The Engineering Corp (TEC), presented the project overview during the meeting.
Dandrade said the project team includes of the city of Northampton, which is the project proponent. “They have identified the need and gone through a process to apply as a candidate site as a part of the SRTS infrastructure program.”
TEC is responsible for the design. MassDOT’s Highway Division is responsible for administering the design process and providing resident engineer services. Finally, the Federal Highway Administration is responsible for the general oversight of the entire program and characteristics of the project.
Dandrade provided some background on the SRTS Program.
“SRTS works to increase safe biking and walking among elementary and middle school students by using a collaborative, community-focused approach that bridges the gap between health and transportation,” he said.
The SRTS program utilizes the six E’s to be implemented: education, encouragement, engagement, evaluation, engineering and equity.
Dandrade discussed the current existing issues including the pedestrian crossings. This requires updated signs, pavement markings or other traffic control devices. Additional issues include the lack of a vertical separation from motor vehicle traffic.
Dandrade explained that the Parsons Street sidewalk currently has a limited width and “inadequate vertical separation.” The pavement blends in with the sidewalk. This would be re-constructed to a 5-foot-wide cement concrete sidewalk.
Additional improvements would be made to Bridge Street, Pomeroy Terrace, 33 Hawley St. and 111/123 Hawley St. This includes reconstructing the crosswalks, curb cuts, and even “bumping out” the curb line adjacent to the school. This would establish an all-way stop control.
Dandrade said some traffic impacts will be police details, lane shifts, off-peak lane closures, etc.
“As far as permitting goes, because we don’t have significant impacts and most of our work is occurring within the existing right of way, we anticipate filing what’s called a categorical exclusion through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process,” stated Dandrade. There are no local Conservation Commission or Historic Commission approvals anticipated.
Dandrade said after this meeting, they will be synthesizing with comments from the public, addressing concerns and advancing this design to the next stage- 75/100 percent design goal. In addition, he said Keith Benoit, community development planner in Northampton, will be meeting with abutters to acquire necessary easements.
When it came time to public comments and questions, many expressed their excitement for this project.
Emily Serafy-Cox, a Ward 3 School Committee member, and her daughter, a fourth grade student at Bridge Street Elementary, expressed their support for this project as they believe the current sidewalks are not safe.
Some concerns raised by parents were in regard to drop-off and pick-up at Bridge Street Elementary. One participant said there is currently no safe place to drop their kids and they hope this is taken into consideration.
MassDOT requests comments in writing, preferably by email, by June 16. To submit feedback, email dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us. Other comments and/or questions can be emailed to jonathan.e.freeman@dot.state.ma.us.