Spring is here, which means the start of construction season for road projects. The Department of Public Work has a long list of projects they are working on, and projects they have coming down the road.
See if your street or ones in your neighborhood made the list:
2017 Water Main Replacements
The Town’s annual water system improvement program seeks to replace undersized or inadequate water mains to improve water quality, fire flows, water pressure and volume. The following streets are included in this year’s program:
Katherine Road (Church Street to Common Street)
Priest Road
Hazel Street (Quimby Street to Dexter Ave.)
Westland Road, Woodleigh Road, and Edgecliff Road (Hillside Ave. to Woodleigh Road)
Bellevue Ave. and Mason Road
2017 Road Reconstruction Program
As approved by the Town Council, the following roads are scheduled for reconstruction during the 2017 season:
Irma Avenue
Cushman Street
Hovey Street
Waltham Street (Rosedale Road to Pleasant Street)
Knowles Road, Whitcomb Street, and Holly Street
Click here to see the 2017 Road Program Presentation
2017 Sewer Investigation and Repair Program
A combination of sewer investigations, trenchless repairs, and spot repairs are scheduled for 2017, focusing on the Boylston/Nichols neighborhood, as well as Edward/Rutland/Evans and Gilbert/Prescott neighborhoods.
2017 Sewer and Drain Repairs
Following up on previous investigations, sewer and drain repairs are scheduled on the following streets:
Arden Road
Maplewood Street, from School Street to Dead End
Hosmer Safe Routes to School Program
The goals of this project are to encourage elementary school students to walk and bike to school, and enhance safety for all users by providing a safe path of travel in the project area.
The project is being funded through the Safe Routes to School Program, a federally funded initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in collaboration with the Town of Watertown.
The project seeks to implement the recommendations of the Hosmer Safe Routes to School Assessment performed by MassDOT in 2015.
Find out more about the Hosmer Safe Routes to School project by clicking here.
Common Street Reconstruction
Common Street is an important connector linking Watertown with Belmont. It also serves as an important connection to the Watertown High School and Victory Field. The goals of this project is to provide a “complete streets” approach to the Common Street corridor to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, improve traffic operations, and increase safety at the five-legged intersection of Common Street, Orchard Street, and Church Street.
Click here to see more information about the Common Street project.
Mount Auburn Street Planning and Designs
The transformation of Mount Auburn Street into a Complete Street has been a priority for the Town of Watertown since 2007, when it began a series of public workshops and conceptual designs for what was initially limited to the Coolidge Square business district, but was soon extended to its current project limits once the need was realized. The Town has embarked on a reimagining and redesign of Mount Auburn Street, from the Cambridge City line to Patten Street.
Mount Auburn Street is an approximately 2 mile long urban principal arterial connecting Watertown Square on the west with the City of Cambridge on the east. Land use along the corridor is medium-density commercial and residential. The roadway travels through the Coolidge Square business district and past Watertown High School and Hosmer Elementary School. The roadway, which is under Town jurisdiction but carries State Route 16, was last reconstructed by MassHighway as an Urban Systems project in the early 1980s with little regard to users other than through traffic.
The proposed project will transform the corridor into a Complete Street. The pavement surface will be rehabilitated by pavement milling and overlay with limited areas of additional patching where necessary. The roadway will be reconfigured to provide one travel lane and one 5-foot-wide on-street bicycle lane in each direction, left turn bays at selected intersections, bus turnouts, curb extensions at selected locations to shorten crossing distances, and wider sidewalks with additional green spaces and green infrastructure. Among the benefits are:
• Increased efficiency on the MBTA route 71 trackless trolley due to improved traffic operations and the potential for transit signal priority and/or queue jump lanes. The project is coordinating with the MBTA and the DCR Fresh Pond/Mt. Auburn Street corridor study.
Discussions with the MBTA include replacement of overhead catenary wires, which will improve bus operations by reducing breakdowns. Bus stop locations were previously studied as part of the MBTA Priority bus route program and will be revisited as needed.
• Wider sidewalks for pedestrians, including shorter crossing distances through the use of bump-outs, and improved pedestrian signal equipment. Pedestrian visibility at mid-block crosswalks will be improved using bump-outs, warning signage, and flashing beacons, where warranted.
• Bicycle travel time and connectivity to the regional bicycle network would be improved by the addition of bicycle lanes to the corridor, as well as signage directing bicyclists to other on- and off-street bicycle routes, including the Watertown Community Path andWatertown-Cambridge Greenway. Providing bicycle facil ities on the road will significantly improve safety for the estimated 360 bicyclists that travel the corridor daily.
Click here for 12/16 Concept Plan—Patten Street to School Street
Click here for 12/8/16 Informational Presentation—Patten Street to School Street
National Grid Gas Main Replacement Program
The DPW works with National Grid to coordinate gas main replacements in advance of planned utility and road reconstruction work.
How Park
As requested by the Town Council, the DPW has prepared a concept plan for improvements at How Park. The proposed work would include providing an ADA-compliant entrance from Bacon Street, resurfacing of the area, and slope stabilization.
Edenfield Avenue Green Streets
Working with the Charles River Watershed Association, and with partial funding from EPA, the Town is reconstructing Edenfield Ave. using a “green streets” approach. The road is currently 34-feet in width, which is exceedingly wide for a residential street. In accordance with Town policies, we will be providing a “road diet” for the street whereby the width is reduced to 26-feet. This will allow for a reduction in impervious area, better aesthetics for the neighborhood, and traffic calming.
As part of the greening, the Town will be installing stormwater management systems to permit percolation of stormwater into the ground and pollutant reduction.
Click Here for Construction Drawings
Click Here for Charles River Watershed Association Project Summary
Click Here for 4/14/16 Neighborhood Plan
Click Here for DPW Green Infrastructure Web Page
Belmont Street Planning and Design
DPW is coordinating with the City of Cambridge to reconstruct Belmont Street, between Francis Street and Mount Auburn Street. The goal of the project will be to extend the “complete streets” design of Belmont Street, from the end of the Trapelo Road/Belmont Street project completed by MassDOT and the Town of Belmont.
Note that Belmont Street is owned and maintained by the City of Cambridge, who is managing the project.
MassDOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program
MassDOT is funding safety improvements at two locations in Watertown: Pleasant Street at Howard Street and Main Street at Thaxter Street/Post Office.
Town Hall/Post Office Crosswalk Improvements: A mid-block crosswalk is located on Main Street and connects Town Hall, the library, the post office and an MBTA bus stop.
The crosswalk receives heavy pedestrian use and suffers from poor visibility and high traffic volumes. These conditions lead to poor compliance by vehicles at the crosswalk.
The Town seeks to install a bump out and pedestrian activated rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) at this location. The RRFB has been successfully installed at two other locations in Town. The proposed work would include drainage improvements, new curbing, new handicapped accessible ramps, thermoplastic in-laid crosswalk, and solar powered RRBD installation.
Pleasant Street at Howard Street: This crosswalk serves the terminus of the Watertown Community Path and provides and important access point to the DCR trails along the Charles River. Howard Street serves as an important connector between Main Street and Pleasant Street serving the industrial and heavy commercial uses in the area.
There is poor vehicular compliance at the crosswalk, due in part to the geometry of Pleasant Street and building locations. The Town worked with MassDOT to review the intersection and the installation of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) was recommended.
Arsenal Street Corridor Study
DPW has participated in the Arsenal Street Corridor Study, initiated by MassDOT. Additional information can be found at the MassDOT web-site:
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/Main/CurrentStudies/ArsenalStreetCorridorStudy.aspx
For questions or more information, email dpwdept@watertown-ma.gov or call 617-972-6420.
I attended the two public meetings regarding the Hosmer neighborhood construction project. All I can say is that this has to be one of the most poorly thought out, and ill-conceived ideas that is typical for these type of endeavors.
Despite its stated intent, It will do little or nothing to address safety concerns, promote cycling or walking to school. Whatever marginal benefits it does claim to have is minor compared to the negative impact it will have on our neighborhood.
What it will do is place an unnecessary hardship, inconvenience and burden on neighborhood homeowners and residents. Additionally, it will present driving and parking challenges for parents dropping off and picking up their kids during the school year. Anyone who lives in the affected area can attest to the present situation and how chaotic it can be.
1) Driveways will be extended (in some cases an appreciable length), forcing homeowners to contend with even more snow to remove during the winter months. Adding insult to injury, homeowners will not be permitted to park on the additional space.
2) Large areas of green space will be added that will need to be maintained. Who will be responsible for maintaining those areas is a gray area that needs to be addressed.
Representatives from the town stated that the more expansive areas would be their responsibility, however their words were less than reassuring. At the very least, there needs to be a written commitment from the town that it will be their responsibility
for those areas.
That notwithstanding, given time, the green spaces will soon deteriorate into an eyesore of crab grass, weeds, dying/dead vegetation, mud holes and trash regardless of who is maintaining them.
3) The project will result in narrower streets in a neighborhood where the streets are narrow enough as it is. This situation can oftentimes result in a standoff between drivers as to whom will pass first.
The width of Boylston St. east of School St. will be reduced by 3′ (from the current 32′ ± down to 29’± ). The current layout is either a mix of sidewalks> narrow strip of grass> parking> roadway, or mix of sidewalks> narrow strip of asphalt > parking> roadway.
Typically, residents in this area will park with their passenger side wheels on the narrow strip of asphalt. This long standing parking arrangement exists on both sides of the street. Anyone who has traversed this section of Boylston street is well aware of
the situation when trying to pass approaching vehicles with parking on both sides. Reducing the width of the roadway will only result in an even more precarious situation.
I realize that there are legitimate concerns regarding vehicle owners who park on the portion that is the concrete sidewalk. With the proposed narrowing of the street by 3′, will it result in an even greater danger to motorists and cyclists alike, or will it result in a parking ban on one side of the street?
This problem can be alleviated by eliminating the green spaces and existing asphalt strips, and placing the proposed curbing up to the edge of the existing sidewalk.
And let’s keep in mind that this situation will only be made worse after several (or one good-sized), snowfalls and the snow banks encroach further out into the roadway.
4) The disruption, and quality of life concerns, are expected to last “one construction season”. Think about that for a moment… when has any public roadway project ever been completed on time? This project will involve major changes to road and sidewalk reconfiguration, digging up and relocating underground utility lines (gas, water,sewer), stripping and resurfacing of the roadway, relocation of a utility pole, etc.
The dirt, the noise, the detours: Will we be able to get down our street or not? Will we be able to get in or out of our driveways or not?
5) This proposal is being thrust upon us by a number of overly concerned ‘helicopter parents’ and administrators at the Hosmer School. They only have to be concerned with 180 days of the year (minus any days of inclement weather when biking or walking to school is not an option). Hosmer neighborhood residents will have to live with this year round. Safety concerns are one of the two issues that are at the heart of this proposal; promoting a “healthy lifestyle” is the other.
I have no opinion on the latter, however I believe the former, is being blown way out of proportion. If one is stating a “safety issue” that assumes there is a dangerous condition present. Where, and what exactly is the danger? The neighborhood in question is easily one of the safest, especially given the presence of crossing guards and traffic conditions. If I were a worrisome parent, I’d be more concerned about the route my child would have to take to enter this safety zone. School St. can potentially have ‘safety issues’ due to speeding; however, the proposal does not include any changes or alterations to the above.
6) This all stems from the allure of Federal funding… in other words, ‘free money’ (minus the anticipated financial costs to the town). Just because something is there for the taking, does not make it wise, needed or necessary to do so.
The town and supporters of this project need to reevaluate its benefits and necessities and weigh it against its shortcomings and flaws.
Hopefully, they will come to the conclusion that it should be abandoned altogether.
“Hosmer Administrators” have nothing to do with this construction project.
Nothing to do with it you say?…
From the ‘Hosmer Abutter Meeting’
http://www.watertowndpw.org/Pages/construction/Hosmer%20Abutter%20Meeting.pdf
-Request for Assessment from Hosmer School parents and staff
Sent to MassDOT in May of 2012-
From the ‘Preliminary Assessment
December 10, 2015
An assessment request was submitted to MassDOT by the Hosmer Elementary School in May 2012
Completed SRTS School Assessment Request Form
Submitted by the Hosmer Elementary School, Watertown, MA
Contact Name Robert LaRoche, Principal
Through the assessment request process, Hosmer Elementary School and Town of Watertown staff have identified a number…
(Correction to add Preliminary Assessment link)
Nothing to do with it you say?…
From the ‘Hosmer Abutter Meeting’
http://www.watertowndpw.org/Pages/construction/Hosmer%20Abutter%20Meeting.pdf
-Request for Assessment from Hosmer School parents and staff
Sent to MassDOT in May of 2012-
From the ‘Preliminary Assessment
December 10, 2015
http://www.watertowndpw.org/Pages/construction/Hosmer%20Elementary%20School%20SRTS%20Assesment.pdf
An assessment request was submitted to MassDOT by the Hosmer Elementary School in May 2012
Completed SRTS School Assessment Request Form
Submitted by the Hosmer Elementary School, Watertown, MA
Contact Name Robert LaRoche, Principal
Through the assessment request process, Hosmer Elementary School and Town of Watertown staff have identified a number…
Yes, sir. If you look at the date of the request and survey you will see May 2012. The current Principal came on in August 2013 and inherited the project. The name is listed to identify the current administrator. To be fair, you could state that “past” Hosmer administration was involved. Than you.
Who wrote this “review”? The significant delay of the project is caused by the local business, which is not interested in this development due to the fact that it is using the public land, which supposed to be the part of Watertown-Cambridge Greenway. All local residents are looking forward to the completion of the project.