Mass DOT takes comments

Advocates for and against the rebuilding of Mass. Ave. in East Arlington went into overdrive, and comments from the public went into overtime, at a sometimes-raucous project hearing at Town Hall on April 12.

Some 400 people came to the Department of Transportation hearing on the Town’s proposed design. 79 gave comments, and many more were turned away when the hearing adjourned at 10:40.

Arlington Town Hall on Tuesday night. Not quite to capacity, but very full.

An incremental revision

The Town has posted a new set of drawings on its Mass. Ave. web page.

I can’t spot anything new, can you? Perhaps some technical detail has been added.

The drawings include an October 14 date and the words “Draft for discussion” are gone.

Older iterations are still available on the Town’s archive page.

Safer pedestrian crossings

In an apparent response to public comments, the latest (August 2010) plan for Mass. Ave. would make four unsignalized pedestrian crossings safer.

One item in the pedestrian-safety bag of tricks is extending the curb into the parking lane at pedestrian crossings. These bump-outs have the following benefits:

Proposed bump-outs

• The crossing distance is shorter curb to curb
• Pedestrians stand on a raised surface that is nearly even with the traffic-side edge of parked cars, where they are more visible to drivers
• It’s really clear that a pedestrian standing on a bump-out is crossing the street, not just hanging out
• Traffic responds by slowing down at crossings
• Cars are physically prevented from blocking the cross walk (unless they double park at one) by parking illegally there.

Selectmen approve 25% plans, 4-1

With the approval of Arlington’s police and fire chiefs, the Board of Selectmen last night voted to send so-called 25% plans for Mass. Ave to the state for review.

Arlington residents listen to the discussion of the 25% plan on Monday night.

The vote was the next step in a process that could net $4.5 million in state and federal funds for Arlington. Construction could begin as early as Spring 2012.

About 90 people attended the meeting in the Town Hall Auditorium.

The plans are not final, but describe such contentious issues as lane configuration and the location of traffic signals.