I attended tonight’s PS&T meeting with MassDOT and DCR and found it highly informative. I think others did as well. H/T to Representative Ruth Balser and Transportation Director Bill Paille for putting this together. Waban was well represented with many skeptics of the new intersection design. Good questions were raised on regional traffic impact, the lack of a systemic approach to the Route 9 corridor, and particularly the potential for cut through traffic should the signals result in long queues. While I did not get answers to any of my questions on the Kendrick Street exit, I was glad to have the opportunity to raise these issues as well.
A couple of things I learned tonight:
- What sort of alternate designs were considered, given the restricted space available. The reverse diamond really blew my mind.
- The Wellesley Office Park exit has been tweaked with a median between route 9 and Williams Street, to make it more of a merge instead of a “weave”
- The increase in capacity is not only on the highway itself but also on ramps. This should help with flow on route 9 and also mean less diversion
- In response to city’s letter, MassDOT will do traffic counts before and after
- MassDOT refuses to speculate on mitigation should anything go wrong, but suggested neighborhoods should start thinking of proposals
I hope others will chime in with their observations and thoughts.
Interesting DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) simulation. But when I clicked on another one at random, it had commentary which helped a lot. This one (in North Carolina?) provides for bicyclists and pedestrians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=HD-0QnUlLOQ
Thanks for posting tis Adam. I got to talk with Bill Paille (City’s Department of Transportation) after the meeting. Along the concerns that that local residents have, including me, was missing documentation.
MassDOT has spoken with the Board of Aldermen several times about the add-a-lane project, and have either provided or referred to documents that show current conditions, environmental and traffic impacts, and design alternatives. Unfortunately, a good deal of this documentation is missing. For example, the 2010 Functional Design report is available online, but only about 30 pages of the 100+ page report. Key sections on assumptions, current conditions and forecast outcomes aren’t there.
(See http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/41622)
All of this is critically important as changes to this intersection come at the same time as other changes all along route 9. As Adam notes, The intersection can’t be viewed in isolation with the emphasis on the impacts just to Rt 128. There are existing problems all along Rt 9 as we all know well. The data shown last night proves this point. As a result, any change to Rt 9 has to be examined in a systemic fashion, looking at the roadway within the regional system.
MassDOT and DCR made commitments last night to ensure that this documentation is made available again, so I look forward to reviewing this in more detail.
A huge thank you to Representative Ruth Balser for helping to get all of the responsible parties together, and to Alderman Ciccone for continuing to facilitate the discussion.
Hi Adam:
I have to allow issues to percolate for awhile before commenting. A good night’s sleep has given me a little more perspective and a greater respect for transparency. First, I view the DOT Add-A-Lane Project less like a train roaring up 128 and more like a horse wearing blinders. I understand better the DOT’s enthusiasm to capture (and retain) the Federal Funds, while they have them, to upgrade the Route 9 bridge. (I remain unconvinced that they have met a standard to which they hold other intersections of “need” for rehabilitation.) The most telling remark of the evening came from a gentleman at the DOT end of the table (our right) who said: “It would be a shame to miss this opportunity.” My interpretation of that remark is : “Have Federal Funding, will travel.” (Are you old enough to remember Paladin?) That said, I did see a professional presentation that highlighted a wonderful improvement to Route 128. The poor sister, as Chris noted, is Route 9. While the DOT has on blinders to the effects that its project has on either side of its focused lens, they did enlarge their map to discuss, if not dismiss, Quinobequin Road, and the other Newton Streets further South off Kendrick with a “We’ll measure the change, but, rest assured, there won’t be any damage done!” Reasonable people can disagree. So they’ll put a “30MPH” here, a traffic signal there, a “Do Not Enter between 6AM and 9AM” somewhere, and we will soldier on, watching the joggers on Quinobequin fall like candlepins.
The story is in the Globe this morning. http://bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2013/03/10/newton-residents-question-state-plans-change-route-interchange-rte-plan-raises-questions/7yKosezklNcS7FHUEgyDyK/story.html
I have attended two meetings at city hall about this project and a third at the Waban library. I have yet to meet any user of Route 9 that thinks this new design is anything but idiotic. No one has shown a model that demonstrates this new design will reduce the total number of accidents at the interchange. It will move the weaving accidents from Rt.128 onto Rt.9 as drivers attempt to maneuver lanes so as to make the new left turns. It will also introduce more serious accidents onto Rt. 9 as cars will now be crossing over traffic lanes flowing in the opposite direction.
I am disappointed that the mayor has not been more publicly involved with this project. He should be more vocal either showing support for the new design or speaking out against it. I guess he has been too busy these last 6 months helping people get re-elected and pushing his override vote. This project appears to be a no-win political situation for him. If he supports the new design, he will anger the Newton voters, who he needs for his next mayoral run. If he supports the Newton residents, he run the risk of upsetting state officials, whom he may need for his future political ambitions. He owes it to the citizens of Newton to let us know his position.
When is the project going to completed ?