Residents review State St. plans

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD How proposed changes to State Street would affect current and future businesses was one of the subjects discussed at a design public hearing for the State Street Corridor Improvement Project Wednesday evening at the Kasparian Center in Springfield.

The $13 million project, which would alter both the appearance and traffic flow of State Street from East Columbus Avenue to Berkshire Avenue, is at the 25 percent design threshold and the hearing was another in a series of meetings conducted by the Massachusetts Highway Department to review plans and solicit feedback from the public.

John J. Bechard, an engineer with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., presented the features of the current plan that include the reconstruction of sidewalks and crosswalks, the installation of new lighting, the construction of a median strip in the center of some parts of State Street and changes in traffic patterns, particularly at the intersection of St. James Avenue, Bay Street and State Street and at Mason Square.

In Mason Square, when traveling east, Wilbraham Road would be accessed at the intersection of State Street, Catherine Street and Eastern Avenue. Currently motorists simply bear right onto Wilbraham Road. The new plans would still allow some cars to go this way, but the flow would be greatly decreased and Bechard said the current park area in the center of the Square would be extended and there would be more parking for the businesses on that side of the Square.

Access to the Square from Eastern Avenue would also change due to a re-routing of traffic.

Ben Swan, Jr., the president of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, was among the residents who questioned whether or not these changes would hurt the existing businesses in the Square by making it more difficult for motorists to reach them.

Swan noted that, depending upon one's traffic route, motorists would have to drive down to Hancock Street to make a U-turn to reach some businesses.

"The convenience now, however slim, will be eliminated," Swan said.

Bechard said that the plans were developed after meetings with residents and business owners. All the comments were being recorded for review and all those attending received a packet with a form for a written comment, as well.

Jacqueline McGregor of the Early Childhood Center near the Rebecca Johnson School at Catherine and State Streets said she was worried about the interruptions to the businesses in the area when construction began. She urged Bechard to make sure businesses were given enough lead-time in order to prepare.

Tim Nealon of Kavanaugh Furniture on State Street expressed "grave concerns" about the median that would run down the center of State Street along the campus of Springfield Technical Community College. The median would prevent people traveling west on State Street from turning left to access businesses such as Kavanaugh Furniture. Nealon also asked how long construction would take and what time of day the construction would take place.

Bechard said the construction would take two years and most work would take place during daytime hours. He added, though, some provisions may be made to restrict the construction activities during commuting times.

The same median would restrict motorists traveling east from turning left onto Byers Street. Ronald Paine, a member of the board of the non-profit Rainville Hotel residence project, objected to the median, as he believed it would hinder fire trucks to responding to emergencies on the street.

Bechard said the designers were considering reversing Byers Street's one-way direction so vehicles would enter the street from the Pearl Street end, rather than the current State Street end.

Bishop Timothy Paul, the developer of the Epiphany Tower on State Street, asked what the engineers and designers were going to do about the trucks that service the MassMutual Center and have trouble turning in the intersection of Dwight and State Streets. Paul noted that the lanes on State Street are not wide enough for the trucks transporting traveling attractions to and from the MassMutual Center.

Bechard said a meeting has been set up with the administration of the Center to address this issue.

Library Commissioners Vera O' Connor and Sheila McElwaine both urged for a crosswalk to be added from the State Street parking lot used by the library and the Springfield Museums. Bechard said the crosswalk that had been there had been removed by the city because it was not safe. There are no new plans for a crosswalk in that location, he added.