Commissioner of Public Works David Turocy’s plans to undo the new curb cuts along Cypress and Parker Streets in Newton Centre are on hold until Newton Aldermen can vote on the matter on Aug. 14, Evan Allen reports on Boston.com
Technically, there should also be a 20-day appeal period after that but the board could choose to attach an “emergency preamble” to stop that.
But wait, there’s more…
The city originally intended to pay for the reversed construction with excess left over from the state contract, but Turocy said the state would not approve that use.
….Turocy said he did not know how much the work would cost. The excess left over from the state contract, he said, will simply go back to the state.
This is more or less how I expected this would have to play out. I am still not sure what the right solution to the problem is–whether to give it more time so the engineers can fix the timing of the lights, modify the configuration, or demolish it and start over. But it is clear the city will be footing the bill. More importantly, the state’s refusal to allow MassWorks funds to be used to undo the work does not bode well for getting state approval for the city’s upcoming applications for MassWorks funds to do other roadway improvements.
Hmmmm… So now the public has to wait until the people who screwed this up, vote to unscrew it. Our government at work. Yikes!
Sorry, Mike, but I actually think a knee-jerk reaction is not the best way to resolve this problem, particularly since the city relies on MassWorks funding for doing roadway improvements. None of this can possibly look good to the state (which underwrote this project).
lol
Ted,
You have to admit this is a comedy of errors.
I don’t know about that, Tom, but I do know that the people who call me while they are stuck in traffic in Newton Centre don’t think it is the least bit funny.
Ted. Your right. It’s not funny at all. It’s a complete embarrassment. I think voters deserve to hear what the Ward 6 aldermen have to say on this matter, especially Alderman Danberg who lives the closest to the problem and has been uncharacteristically silent on the issue.
With this an other forums available, there is zero reason to force voters to wait for mid August.
I’d like to hear what Greg Schwartz and Dick Blazar has to say about the Cypress Street contretemps.
@Tom: Not very mayoral, you know. (And yet you complain that your campaign isn’t taken seriously.)
@Charlie/Josh: I don’t have a problem hearing where the Ward 6 aldermen stand but this is not a ward issue. This is a city issue and something I’d expect all of Newton’s 23 aldermen will consider seriously.
Was there a meeting and discussion regarding the original change?
@Greg-
Yes it’s a city issue, and yes, all on the PF Committee had a say followed by the full Board.
However, Alderman Danberg, in particular, has historically been one to spend her time and energy to try and mold the structure of the Centre more to her liking. (including some nice clean up work and flower planting at the T during NewtonServes). For her to be silent on this debacle is puzzling, especially since the problem area is practically right around the corner from her house.
@Charlie: good point
What exactly would you like to hear from Alderman Danberg? Complaints? Gossip? An acknowledgement of complaints and gossip here on the blog? How we got here is a matter of public record. The Aldermen went along with a plan presented by engineers. The process is the same it’s always been, and it could be improved. Now a new staff of engineers is going to have to lead us to a better solution and the board will provide oversight. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking the board is going to design the intersection. When the item comes up for discussion, and data are presented with options, that would be a good time for our public officials to weigh in.
Nobody is thinking the BOA is going to design anything. Red herrings serve only to distract.
Seems like we just flushed a bunch of money down the drain and are inconveniencing thousands of residents and visitors, and contributing to pollution by increasing idling time stuck in traffic.
Given this unique situation, at the very least the local alderman/aldermen should have a neighborhood meeting with those affected most and be ready to present that info during the Committee meetings (which, by the way, only include a public comment option at the discretion of the chair.) OR at the lowest possible level of effort, post relevant/useful info on the blog for neighbors to read.
This does not necessarily apply in every case, but this was such an amazing cluster you-know-what, it would be nice if the fix took into account the neighborhood input. School is just around the corner. Traffic will be dramatically increased. Tick, Tick, Tick.
Greg,
You’re attitude about me not being a contender makes me a very dangerous person in this election. If I’m not going to change your mind on who to vote for I can say or do anything without repercussions. You can’t hold it over my head that you won’t vote for me.
I have gotten quite a few emails asking if I would email President Lennon and ask him to move up the date of the august 14th special meeting and here’s his reply:
Hi Tom
All is good with us. Hope you are doing well too. I’ll try and lay out some reasoning as best I can. I certainly looked at having this discussion sooner rather than later but procedurally it was becoming problematic. If this wasn’t summer it could happen much quicker as we meet more often during the year.
Right now if I called a special meeting it would be only to refer a new docket item to the Public Facilities Committee. There currently is no item to discuss this before the committee at this time. The previous item was passed so it was disposed of. A ‘new’ item to be discussed will be referred to the committee at our next Board meeting. If I called a special meeting say for next week, it would only be to refer that item. In order to take it up on the same evening as it is referred (currently not allowed per Board rules) is a separate vote requiring 3/4 of the Board to vote in the affirmative. A number of members have alerted me to vacation plans so I was pressing against quorum requirements. That also assumes everyone would vote in the affirmative. Knowing that members usually plan time off around our regularly scheduled summer meetings, I planned that we could refer the new item at our next regularly scheduled meeting (12th) and then take it up at a special meeting (with a Committee of the Whole) on the 14th. The 13th could tentatively be a Land Use meeting and still be discussing Riverside (I am talking that schedule with Ted on Tuesday). Attaching an emergency preamble to the item will also waive the 20 day appeal period. I asked members to let me know about their attendance for the 14th and so far many folks are around. I have asked they take time to formulate questions and have them submitted to the Commissioner ahead of time so he is well prepared to answer them all on the 14th. Lastly l also figured that the last week of July and first week of August would be the lightest traffic periods which would keep the current inconvenience at a minimum.
Believe me Tom I tried to weigh everything. I know people are frustrated but I also tried to plan this to make the best use of people’s time and at the same time get something accomplished in an expedited & efficient manner. I’ve spoken with the Commissioner multiple times and he did express confidence that if acted upon on the 14th he could get this pretty much done by 9/3. I hope this helps to answer some of the questions.
I’m available to talk to anyone at 617 584 5723 or via email.
Scott
Charlie is right. And the lack of accountability is astounding. I admire the heck out of Ted, for his willingness to always engage the public on any issue. But how a screw-up like this doesn’t blow-back on other elected officials, is just mystifying. The Mayor and the BOA appear to have left Commissioner Turocy, hanging out there by himself. Government by cowardice is not flattering.
Greg, in addition to Vicki Danberg’s record of spending her time and energy to try and mold the structure of the Centre more to her liking, she has a record of spending her time and energy in trying to mold Newton Center’s representation on the Board of Aldermen to her liking. For her to be silent on this debacle is puzzling, especially since the problem area is practically right around the corner from her house. For Greg Schwartz to be silent on this debacle is equally puzzling because Danberg was instrumental in helping Schwartz challenge and defeat Charlie Shapiro. Plus traffic related issues were part of Greg Schwartz’s campaign goals for Newton.
http://www.gregschwartz2011.com/goals-for-newton.html
It’s also relevant citywide because Newton is spending $1M/year extra for streets and sidewalks repairs, maintenance and improvements. If they can’t get this right, I’m worried how they are going to handle the other roadwork projects, one of which is in my neighborhood and is part of the 2013-2014 Capital Improvement Plan.
I think there was a neighborhood meeting on the subject not too long ago (not everyone found out about it, including myself) Neighborhood meetings are great for letting people blow off steam, but quasi-official ones, especially others I’ve been to in the past without proper notification or staff representation to present data and plans, often just add to the confusion. They may be therapeutic to some, but not necessarily constructive. If this is about pinning blame or pursuing some political agenda, as Joshua (not Charlie) suggests, that sounds like a red herring to me.
We’re going to have to be patient. We may suffer for a few more weeks before action is taken or meetings are even held. The engineers don’t always get it right, neither do the Aldermen, but this is an intersection that needed to be fixed. Hopefully, if we don’t rush to judgement, someone can find a better improvement than going back to the way it was. Re-aligning that section curb, if that is the outcome, is not a million dollar project, btw.
@Adam-
You are one of the most knowledgeable and involved residents. You have volunteered your time and energy on many efforts and you know the system and the players quite well. In fact, you’d be a terrific Alderman.
If Adam didn’t know about a constituent meeting regarding a public safety/biking/pedestrian issue in your neighborhood then there had to be virtually no attempt to publicize it.
I don’t view neighborhood meetings as a hold hands kumbayah therapy session. I see them as a way to solicit input from stakeholders and take that input into the formal decision making process.
Adam, I’m not suggesting any political agendas at all.
I’m just reminding people that Greg Schwartz made traffic issues part of his campaign platform in 2011.
Schwartz said that he’ll push pedestrian and bicyclist safety at every turn. He will press the Board–whenever it uses its budgetary, permitting, and zoning powers–to promote these goals.
Maybe he should spend some time focusing on issues involving motorists. Newton residents are committed to excellence in pedestrian/bike safety but let’s keep in mind that Newton is a city, not a bike path.
Charlie Shapiro reminded people of Vicki Danberg’s record of spending her time and energy to try and mold the structure of the Centre more to her liking.
I reminded people that Danberg also has a record of spending her time and energy in trying to mold Newton Center’s representation on the Board of Aldermen to her liking.
It’s also worth noting that Danberg is the aldermanic member of the Traffic Council so it’s worth hearing what Danberg and Schwartz have to say about this issue.
http://www.vickidanberg.com/accomplishments/
I don’t believe that holding elected officials accountable when their campaign rhetoric does not match up with their results to be pursuing a political agenda at all.
Joshua, to get the facts straight: Ald. Danberg served on PS&T and Traffic Council several years ago, prior to the term served by Ald. Shapiro. The Alderman who has been member of both committees during this project is Ald. Ciccone. The set of Aldermen on PS&T, PF and Finance committees, those generally responsible for approving public works projects, makes up pretty much the whole board (and the whole board votes on the actions of each committee). Everyone, including the Ward 6 aldermen, aldermen-at-large, and even other ward aldermen have a stake here. When they post relevant facts, as Ald. Hess-Mahan has, it’s great, but I don’t expect Aldermen to come here to speculate.
Charlie, I admire those residents who serve their city as Aldermen. I do not for a moment pretend that I have the stamina to do so, but thanks for the kind words 😉
Ald Danberg is on Public Facilities, not traffic council. Current information is available at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/aldermen/default.asp
The link to the Newton Newsmakers program which dealt with this entire issue can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/newtonnewsmakers
To be fair to the aldermen, the board meets much less often in the summer, folks may be on vacation, etc.
Adam, I was going off what she put on her website.
When our city government is dominated by members of the same political party for the last twenty years, I don’t expect aldermen to come here to speculate either. Nor do I expect Newton’s residents to hold them accountable for their records either.
I am amazed at how many managerial/operational issues have bubbled upward since March 13.
My one fear is that the BoA may decide in August to push this back into committee for further study, or otherwise may find a way to delay making a decision.
On the other hand, if it drags into September maybe that’s ok. Once school traffic resumes and business commuters return to peak volume, select aldermen will be getting an earful from a lot more angry constituents. If they don’t act action that might be enough to prompt some BoA turnover.
This intersection needs to be improved but not by reconstruction. This would be costly, most inconvenient for car drivers and wouldn’t solve the problem. There are too many cars coming in to the intersection at rush hours.
Put a stop sign back on Centre St. to ensure safety for the drivers coming from Newton Highlands. Remove the yield sign from the left hand turn lane on Centre St. As it was in the past allowing easy flow onto Cypress. Keep the stop sign for the drivers entering from Cypress to Centre St. and extend the length of the green light on Centre as it cr0sses over Beacon. Give that traffic flow extra time than the green light coming the other way on Centre as it crosses Beacon from the north side.
The B of A is correct to step in here and take time to reassess the situation. But should do so quickly and not slow down the solution too much.
Folks, it’s not like someone forgot to pay the electric bill for the county hospital and some babies died in incubators…
And in terms of costs, while THM will put up a stink about the cost in front of the BoA, they should be reminded that the $20,000 is less a whole lot less than the price of this year’s primary election where there will be ONE vote to make.
I think it’s going to cost a lot more the $20K to reverse. Plus, if part of the money is from the State, will this impact their future decisions to give Newton $s for roadwork?
How do we know the problem isn’t just adjusting to change? There were lots of loud complaints when the Grant Ave/Commonwealth intersection near me was changed about a year ago. Now it seems to be a non-issue.
I guess the complaints have more importance when it is an election year. What a real waste of State and City money.
I agree with Joanne and Lucia. MassWorks funds projects all over the state, and it is unclear what impact the way the city handled this project will have on future applications. The other question I have is, assuming the work will be done “in house” by DPW workers in order to save money, what other work that was previously scheduled will be postponed?
Ted, I’ll remind you that there’s a DPW crew a block away at Pelham installing curb and pouring concrete (and may still be, if the BOA is able to resolve this quickly) Ironically, there’s an opportunity for some efficiency there. Sure it’s going to push the schedule out and some other section of sidewalk could have to wait until next year, but I think that’s something we’d have to live with. It’s not like they’re reversing the entire $1.8M project.
By “the way the city handled this project” do you mean that the city negotiated a design other than what was suggested by the state? DOT has forced designs on the city that are less than adequate. Or is that the city may have gotten it wrong and wishes to make a correction? Your complaints about that so far have been around aldermanic review, not the merits of the plan. In what way should this jeopardize future grants?
The BoA blew it. The DPW wants to fix it. The Mayor should order it done.
The 2013 campaign is “for Newton” at least that is the Hess-Mahan spin. Yet nothing to date has reflected that. Nothing. Throw NEWTON under the bus as being a bad Federal grant allocation?? Maybe we need to read more about waste, abuse and outright corruption of funds playing throughout most of our Commonwealth, absent of Newton’s participation thorughout the decades. Newton is a bad allocation of Federal grants? Come on now, play on voters with some personal value proposition, not a bash-Newton prop
The BOA are following the rules – the Mayor is playing Politics in Waban and Newton Center.
Last time I checked THM is ONE of 24 BOA. Was the vote 1 vs 23???
The only person really playing politics here is the Mayor. The rest are playing by the rules.
Let’s set politics aside and be practical. The changes were bad. The situation needs to be fixed before the school year begins. Why must everything be bantered about by 24 aldermen? Just do it!
For the record, we currently have 23 aldermen. But carry on.
By the time the aldermen fix it, there will be 24 again. This is why we have a mayor.
@Mike Striar: The BOA didn’t blow it, at least not on its own: the BOA simply approved the plan proposed by the Mayor. The conceptual plan proposed by the Chestnut Hill Square developer, which the BOA reviewed and approved as part of the special permit, included the original configuration–that you want to go back to–with traffic and pedestrian crossing lights.
@Adam, there are a number of other roadway projects going on in the city which could be affected, including, among others, my regular route to City Hall down Lowell Avenue and Homer Street. In additon. the city’s decision to hurriedly reverse a project paid for with MassWorks funds is not unlike tearing down renovations to a school built with assistance from the MSBA. I believe that may well jeopardize future MassWorks applications. I hope I am wrong about that.
@Hoss, I am not bashing Newton. I am concerned that if the Riverside Station project is approved, the city’s application for Massworks funding for roadway improvements on Grove Street needed to mitigate the major traffic impacts of that project will be delayed or denied because of the Cypress/Centre Street project.
@Ted– I understand that the BoA didn’t screw this up on their own. And I’m not absolving the Mayor of responsibility. Of everyone involved in the fiasco, I think the Ward 6 aldermen are the most to blame. But now it’s time to fix the problem, and that’s the Mayor’s responsibility. Instead of taking charge, he’s left David Turocy, blowing in the wind.
I drove through this intersection at 330 pm and at 5pm yesterday (friday). There were no backups at cypress and centre either time. And traffic was backed up in other parts of town, so its not that it was a sleepy vacation friday.
I’m sure there have been and will be backups here going forward, but, except for the active construction phase, its hard to argue this is more than the usual Newton gridlock.