Arsenal Street Corridor Study
Working Group Meeting 1
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September 30, 2015
Agenda
Introduction of project, project team and
overview of schedule
Role of Working Group
Overview of study area
Study goals, objectives, evaluation criteria
Update on data collection
Update on Public Participation Plan
Next Steps
Questions/Discussion
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September 30, 2015
Study Background and Purpose
Evaluate existing and future multimodal
transportation conditions along Arsenal Street
Develop and analyze alternatives that are
intended to improve transportation conditions
A primary focus on the bus service along
Arsenal Street and locations where the bus
service ties into other crossing bus routes
The alternatives will be evaluated relative to
criteria that relate to the study goals and
objectives
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September 30, 2015
Study Process - Schedule
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September 30, 2015
Study Process – Team and Key
Contacts
Michael Clark
MassDOT
Laura Castelli
VHB
Sarah Paritsky
RVA
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October 1, 2015
Role of Working Group
Working Group meetings will be scheduled at
key project milestones
The project team will solicit input from the
members throughout the project to best guide
project development
The Working Group will advise on local issues,
represent and report back to their respective
organizations, and provide regular feedback
on study topics
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September 30, 2015
Working Group Members
MassDOT
MBTA
FHWA
Communities of Watertown, Newton, Cambridge, Belmont, Boston, Waltham
State and local elected/appointed officials
Watertown Public Safety (Police/fire)
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Economic Development
Mass Smart Growth Alliance
Perkins School for the Blind
Armenian Cultural and Educational Center
Area businesses
Watertown Public Transit Task Force
Watertown Pedestrian Bicycle Committee
Watertown-Belmont Chamber of Commerce
Watertown Commission on Disabilities
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September 30, 2015
Study Area
Local (quantitative)
Arsenal Street from Watertown Square to
Birmingham Parkway
Regional (qualitative)
Galen Street
Mt. Auburn Street
Belmont Street
Main Street
North Beacon Street
Pleasant Street
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September 30, 2015
Study Area Map
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September 30, 2015
Local Study Area Map
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September 30, 2015
Goals and Objectives
The alternatives will be evaluated
relative to criteria that relate to the study
goals and objectives
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Improve Mobility and Traffic
Flow
Decrease congestion and reduce delays*
Improve system reliability
Minimize local street impacts
Maintain emergency vehicle and first
responder mobility
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Enhance Safety*
Identify, eliminate, or mitigate locations
and situations that pose hazards*
Verify that the transportation
infrastructure meets current design
standards*
Identify structurally deficient
infrastructure
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Improve Access/
Connectivity For All Modes
Explore ways to reduce auto dependency*
Seek opportunities to improve existing public
transportation services*
Coordinate existing transit services
Improve bike and pedestrian connections*
Promote active transportation*
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Meet transportation goals while
supporting economic development
and improving quality of life
Support existing and projected economic development
Minimize negative economic effects to tax bases, and
seek opportunities to enhance local and regional
economic activity where possible
Improve non-motorized access and connectivity
between business centers and employment centers*
Improve access to the regional highway system
Avoid/minimize/mitigate social equity impacts
Incorporate healthy community design features*
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Meet transportation goals while
minimizing impacts to the environment
Support smart growth, anti-sprawl initiatives*
Avoid/minimize/mitigate impacts to the natural
environment
Minimize greenhouse gas emissions*
Reduce CO and particulate matter impacts*
Minimize transportation-related noise impacts
along the corridor*
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Develop a range of multi-modal
recommendations that support
ongoing changes and have lasting
benefits
Identify solutions that include both short-term
and long-term actions to improve traffic flow,
mobility and operational efficiency*
Identify solutions that are cost-effective in the
context of state transportation planning
Identify solutions that comply with MAP-21
and incorporate sustainable growth principles*
* Denotes public health goal/objective
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Develop a range of multi-modal
recommendations that support
ongoing changes and have lasting
benefits
Identify solutions that meet criteria for federal
funding
Identify steps necessary to advance priority
projects
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Encourage consensus through
an open and inclusive process
Document and consider the input of the
Working Group and the public
Attempt to reach reasonable consensus on
study recommendations
Keep adjacent communities and the public
informed throughout the study
Provide opportunities for public comment
throughout the study
Encourage feedback from traditionally
underserved population(s)
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September 30, 2015
Goal: Develop recommendations that
target demonstrated needs
Quantify or qualify the needs – such as safety,
traffic flow, reliability – as clearly as possible
Provide justification for any additional
recommended actions over and above what
analyses show is necessary
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September 30, 2015
Public Involvement Plan
Six working group meetings
September 2015 – March 2017
Three public informational meetings
February 2016, June 2016, January 2017
Project website updates and email blasts
Database
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September 30, 2015
Public Involvement Plan
Social media announcements
Print materials – distributed at meetings
and posted to website
Media outreach through MassDOT’s
Press Office
Public comment processing – 30-day
comment period on Final Report
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September 30, 2015
Data Collection - ongoing!
Traffic volume data collected and being
processed
Weekday peak hour turning movement counts
20 locations from Bus Yard to Soldiers Field Road
48-hour automatic traffic recorder counts
Vehicle classification and travel speed
All other data collection underway in
October/November
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September 30, 2015
Next Steps
Evaluation of existing conditions
All transportation modes
Environmental Resources
Land Use and Community Effects
Public Health
Identification of issues/opportunities
Identification of constraints
WG Meeting 2 – mid-January 2016
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September 30, 2015
Open Discussion
Michael Clark | Michael.Clark@state.ma.us | 857.368.8867
Laura Castelli | LCastelli@vhb.com | 617.607.2764
mass.gov/massdot/arsenalstreet
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September 30, 2015