ROUTE 79/DAVOL STREET CORRIDOR STUDY
Summary of Working Group meeting
May 29, 2013, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of Fall River
803 Bedford Street
Fall River, MA
Ethan Britland, MassDOT Project Manager, welcomed attendees to the fourth meeting of the Working
Group (WG) for the Route 79/Davol Street Corridor Study. The purpose of the meeting was to review
and get feedback on the initial work completed on Task 3: Alternatives Development. The consultant
team will utilize comments received by the Working Group to further refine the long term alternatives.
In addition, the consultant team reviewed and solicited feedback on proposed short term alternatives
that could be implemented pending longer term improvements that required Right of Way, new
transportation infrastructure and substantial funding. Lenny Velichansky of the TranSystems consultant
team presented numerous short-term and long-term alternatives.
Short-Term Improvements: These improvements are focused on improvements in safety and bicycle
accommodation.
Safety Improvements:
1. U-turn areas at South and North Davol Streets
South Davol
 Trim trees & remove construction sign (to improve sight distance)
 Enhance pavement striping
North Davol
 Install a merge sign further south of the merge than the existing sign
 Install a stop sign
 Enhance pavement striping
2. President Avenue/No Davol Street (at Lindsey)
 Install a “do not block intersection” pavement markings and sign
 Install a crosswalk with yield to pedestrian sign
3. President Avenue/No Davol Street (at No Main)
 Modify signal phase
 Install protected left turn signal
A Working Group member asked if there could be a sign at the U turn, “stop ahead”?
Bicycle Accommodations:
Currently, bike lane from the Veterans Bridge stops at Wellington. Bikes could be better accommodated
on existing city streets through pavement marking – bike lanes and sharrows.
Bicycle accommodations would be provided in the southbound direction following Wellington Street,
Fulton Street, Brightman Street, Morton Street, George Street and Lindsey Street. In the northbound
direction, bicycle accommodations would be provided along Lindsey Street, Suffolk Street, Fulton Street
and Wellington Street.
A working group member commented that there currently were bicycle accommodations connecting the
end of the path at Wellington Street to Lindsey Street at President Avenue. Currently, green “Bike Route”
signs are provided, and sharrows along the route are proposed.
There was extensive discussion and divergent views among the Working Group about accommodating
bicycles, parking and safety. Some wondered if parking is required on Southbound Davol Street because
people don’t seem to park there. Eliminating parking would free up pavement for cyclists, perhaps
creating room for a shared use path. Others believe the city shouldn’t give up parking that
accommodates 30-50 cars. They said it’s needed for special events on the waterfront and potential
development at the Marina and Regatta. Also, shouldn’t a bike path be located nearer the water?
Bicyclists are not currently allowed on the boardwalk because of its condition, but some members said
bicycles, pedestrians and people with strollers should not use the same path.
Additional questions/comments from the Working Group were:
How do you get bikes from northbound to southbound?
I have a concern about riding bikes into the direction of on-coming cars as it seems dangerous to both.
Any thought on how to help bicyclists who have to go right onto President Avenue from Davol Street?
I can see a dangerous situation for bicyclists approaching President Avenue. They would have to cross
both President Ave and Davol Street to go southbound on Davol Street.
Long Term Improvements
Twelve alternatives were presented to the Working Group in three categories:
Alternative 1: Elevated, Limited Access Route 79, shifted to east from current alignment
Alternative 2: At Grade Boulevard
Alternative 3: At Grade Boulevard with Frontage Roads
There were some general themes voiced by the Working Group that applied all the varied designs within
the three categories of alternatives:
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The elevated highway is not favored; expect a lot of push back from the city.
More information is needed about reports that Route 79 must have some elevation for flood
control purposes. This would apply to all alternatives.
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A two-way traffic flow design for North Davol Street should extend as far as Brownell Street
because it’s the only direct street access to the waterfront.
Remove Davol Street connection between Turner Street and South Coast Rail
Alternatives that provide more developable land on the waterfront (west) side of Route 79 are
preferred by most, although one member raised the point that with South Coast Rail
development on the east side may be better as it would connect better with Fall River
neighborhoods and waterfront preference may be seasonal.
Tie-in access to the Brightman Bridge would be desirable
The Working Group should visually understand how this project would be integrated with the
spaghetti ramps project. [NOTE: the consultant will illustrate connection at the next meeting]
Working Group members had specific additional comments about these alternatives
Alternative 1A:
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It was a mistake from Day One – this alternative repeats it.
It cannot be discarded until we know what will be permitted [for flood control]
Will the cost of maintaining bridges be a consideration when evaluating alternatives?
Alternative 1B:
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Like 2-way traffic on Davol Street
Realignment of Route 79 creates more developable land
Make North Davol Street two way if possible
Alternative 2B:
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This alternative “landlocks” the neighborhoods
Combine 2A and 2B (eliminate the road to Point Gloria Condos and give extra land to Marina
development)
Reconfigure shared-use path
Alternative 2C:
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This alternative has less connection to the waterfront
Alternative 3B:
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More land available with one-way streets
3B is simpler than 3A
Can you tie in bike access to the Brightman Bridge
Alternative 3C & 3D:
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Concern that additional developable land is not on waterfront
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With South Coast Rail, east side development may be more valuable for year round use
Alternative 3E:
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Extends developable land the furthest north – maximizes use of returned land
Opens Brightman Street
Provides connections to waterfront
Seems to have some problems by Point Gloria
Supports potential of old Brightman Street Bridge as a destination.
The Working Group was asked to submit all additional comments on the twelve alternatives by June 7 as
the consultant team hopes to have the refined alternatives ready for the Working Group to review at
the meeting the end of June.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
In attendance:
Brian Pearson, Fall River Bicycle Committee
Pedro Amaral, Office of State Senator Michael Rodriques
Pamela Haznar, MassDOT District 5
Ronald Thomas, North End Neighborhood Association
Sandy Dennis, Fall River Park Advocates
Dave Dennis, Fall River City Council
Steven Camara, Lower Highlands/Highlands Neighborhood Associations
Linda Pereira, Fall River City Council President
Lisa Estrela-Pedro, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
Jean Fox, MassDOT (South Coast Rail)
Alan Macomber, Commonwealth Landing
Jamie Fosburgh, National Park Service
Lynn Creamer, Fall River Office of Economic Development
Mike Miozza, Fall River City Council
John Keppel, Fall River resident
Byron Holmes, City of Fall River
Grace Arthur, MassDOT
Anthony Vielleux, Representative Schmid’s office
Rep Paul Schmid
Thomas Lowney, Fall River resident
Bill Travers, MassDOT District 5
Project Team
Ethan Britland, MassDOT Project Manager
Joe Cahill, TranSystems, Consultant Project Manager
Lenny Velichansky, TranSystems
Teresa Sandell, TranSystems
Jill Barrett, Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.