ROUTE 79/DAVOL STREET CORRIDOR STUDY
Summary of Working Group meeting
March 5, 2013, 4:00-6:15 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of Fall River
803 Bedford Street
Fall River, MA
Ethan Britland, MassDOT Project Manager, welcomed attendees to the third meeting of the Working
Group (WG) for the Route 79/Davol Street Corridor Study. He said the study team has concluded Task 2.
This meeting would review the study team’s assessment of existing conditions in the corridor, forecast
social, economic and traffic conditions in the year 2035 as well as get committee member’s feedback on
two alternative road alignments that were proposed in the 2008 study of Route 79/Davol Street.
Lenny Velichansky of the consultant team set the stage for understanding how traffic conditions can be
forecasted by explaining how a transportation model is developed. A mathematical model is developed
that takes population, employment, and household data, organized geographically into Transportation
Area Zones (TAZs), and predicts travel patterns using a four-step process. The model (1) identifies how
many trips a household will generate, (2) where people are going, (3) how people choose get to their
destination, e.g. whether they drive, walk, bike, take the bus or train, and (4) what routes they take. The
model used in this study was developed by MassDOT’s Central Transportation Planning Staff but also
took into account information generated by Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic
Development District (SRPEDD).
Margaret Collins of the consultant team said growth is projected in the study area. By 2035 the
population in the waterfront area is expected to grow by 112 people and 726 new jobs will be
generated. The economic outlook for the corridor is bright as anticipated job growth in the corridor
(104%) far exceeds the projected state average (8%).
There was extensive discussion about traffic analysis as the presentation of existing and future
conditions generated questions and observations. Currently traffic conditions in the corridor are good,
as traffic flows smoothly. Even if queues are long at traffic signals, intersections are functioning well
because most cars are able to pass through within one signal cycle. There is some indication, however,
that by 2035 the Davol St/President Avenue will degrade.
With increasing development at Commonwealth Landing, SRTA has added a new service loop to
accommodate demand and an additional loop extending to Battleship Cove will be examined for the
future as development increases. SRTA is also planning to add some evening bus service. Currently buses
stop running at 6 p.m.
Plans for South Coast are proceeding, with the Environmental Impact Statement nearing completion.
The planning team will have to think carefully about how rail service interacts with transit.
Connectivity to bike trails beyond the project area and to regional trails is being examined. Other
planning efforts are looking at future connections between the Quequechan River Bike Trail, through
downtown Fall River and extending to Battleship Cove.
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Transportation elements presented to the WG generated the following comments and questions in
italics below, with responses made by the project team:
Traffic
Was the St Anne’s Hospital expansion & Biotech Park included in the model?
Generally, the model considers a lot of background growth in the area and SRPEDD’s local knowledge
was factored into to this model.
Were South Coast Rail TOD and the new middle school included in the model?
Yes, also as background growth.
People living in the North End neighborhood have only two means to get out since Brightman Street was
made one-way. If there is an accident on I-195 we are gridlocked and can’t get out. Is there any way to
reverse traffic? Perhaps this could be done using a traffic light.
This has caused a lot of frustration in the neighborhood. Perhaps at the end of Brightman Street there
could be a small access road and light; it would take the pressure of that neighborhood.
We will look into the situation. We believe MassDOT is aware of these concerns but we have not been
involved to date in any discussions.
Please look at traffic projections of right turns from North Davol to North Main St. The queue doesn’t
clear through one signal cycle so if the intersection isn’t clearing now it won’t clear in 2035.
We will look at this intersection again. We want to make sure our data is good because we will use it to
develop recommendations of alternatives. Input from the Working Group helps ensure we have good
data.
Bicycle & Pedestrians
The DCR trail along the waterfront does not allow bicycles. The map color shows there is bike access
where it is not allowed. Please take a look at land ownership of parcels along waterfront where the
multiuse trail is.
We will check the ownership and confirm what’s accessible. Bicycles and pedestrian facilities in
transportation planning are often lumped together as they are considered a “non-motorized” means of
travel but we understand the need to have the right data.
A follow up research indicated that bicycle use of the DCR boardwalk is prohibited due to its condition,
rather than a matter of policy.
Is there really a bicycle loop on the Veterans Bridge?
Yes but it ends there.
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We are working with SRPEDD on how to connect to the Quequechan River Bike Trail. We are looking at
alternate routes, ones that would be safer. There is a desire for a bike path along the river.
Will this project be coordinated with the spaghetti ramp project?
Yes. Coordination will be part of the design/build contract.
When will we know the [spaghetti ramp] design is far enough along so we can see it?
The spaghetti ramp project will be awarded to a Design-Build team this spring.
This is new information [coordination with the spaghetti ramp project]. This is good; it shows less
rigidity. It’s consistent with what Secretary Davey said when he recently visited Fall River. He said how
important it was to get connected. People here are more interested in bicycles and pedestrians than cars.
From the neighborhood perspective connectivity is so important.
Does the no build option recognize to get to the waterfront by bike will be more difficult as traffic
increases?
Nobody is talking about pedestrians. People have to cross four lanes of traffic. I don’t hear safety as a
concern for people walking in the neighborhood.
Rail
How was the South Coast Rail station site chosen rather than Battleship Cove?
Battleship Cove did not have the real estate needed for parking.
The design for the station is an engineering design, not an urban planning or architectural design. I want
to see a process of why that station is a good location.
The guts of the South Coast Rail project came out of the Cecil Group, a $500,000 study.
The rail project was developed over several years with multiple public meetings. Economic development
of the region is clearly tied into South Coast rail. The Governor supports it and we hope it can move
ahead over the next one to two years while this Governor is in office.
Other
Please double check the census data to be sure the most up to date information about high school
education level is used.
We will verify that we have the latest information available.
Does the green color on your map illustrate floodplain or velocity zone?
We don’t have that information with us but will get back to you with an answer.
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Subsequent clarification: green color indicates a 100-year flood plain caused by waves. This is different
from a traditional 100-year flood plain zone which is shown in yellow color on the same map.
I really applaud the focus on east-west connectivity in this study and am hoping this group can influence
the process of connectivity in other areas, particularly north-south connections with Pearce and Central
Streets.
Review of Constraints and Opportunities
Joe Cahill of the study team summarized existing transportation, socioeconomic and environmental
limitations and identified potential opportunities in the Route 79/Davol Street corridor. Crash rates
rates on President Avenue and Davol Street are high and a number of crashes involved pedestrians.
Traveling though the corridor by bicycle on foot is difficult. It lacks continuous bicycle and pedestrian
paths, especially between areas east and west of Route 79.
Socioeconomic indicators reveal income and poverty levels are lower than the regional average and
unemployment rates are also high. Currently low real estate prices indicate weak demand. There are
underutilized real estate sites on the west side of Davol Street and the ability to develop on the east side
is limited by shallow lots. There is a rail barrier on east side of study area from Central to Pearce Street.
Parks, open space and the Taunton River, designated a Wild & Scenic River, are both a resource and
limitation. They present a natural attraction yet regulations -coastal zone, tidelands, wetlands, and
floodplain make development along the waterfront more restrictive and complex.
The study team saw several opportunities for the Route 79/Davol Street corridor:
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Excess capacity on Route 79 allows some flexibility in development of alternatives
Reconfiguration of Route 79/Davol Street corridor will facilitate safety and circulation
improvements for all modes
South Coast Rail –Transit Oriented Development potential
Good supply of redevelopment sites along the river
Riverfront becoming a regional draw
Feedback on alternatives
The WG was asked to comment on two alternatives that were developed in the 2008 Route 79/Davol
Street study. These alternatives are being used only as a starting point; more alternatives will be
developed in this study. The consultant team wanted feedback from the Working Group to inform the
team’s thinking on how to approach alternatives that would respond to perceived needs and the group’s
desires for the corridor.
Alternative B
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This alternative features an at grade urban boulevard, replacing the limited access road that currently
exists. There are three crosswalks on Davol Street – at President Avenue, South Coast Rail and Pearce
Street. With the removal of Route 79, about 10 acres of developable land would be opened up.
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This alternative provides a lot more frontage. It gives us waterfront that we don’t have now.
Right now we have a wall.
Urban boulevards are safer for pedestrians.
Is crossing an 8-lane road safe for pedestrians? How long would it take to cross the road? If
there’s a median in the middle of the crossing and how wide would it be?
I like the idea that the road’s not straight as some curve discourages speed.
Is there parking along the boulevard? Parking slows down cars and helps businesses. I’d like to
see it on both sides of the road and would prefer angle/back out parking.
Can you eliminate the east-west access point?
This alternative has created 10 corners with street lights. That’s highly desirable from an
economic point of view.
Are there bike lanes?
Alternative E
This alternative features a limited access road but is shifted to the east. Some developable land is
opened up but the parcels are narrow and total about 5 acres. The existing local road network remains
unchanged.
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This alternative isn’t much of an improvement over what we have now.
I’d like to see more access points as this would create more foot traffic. Successful waterfronts
are built with foot traffic.
Next Steps
A public information meeting is planned for March 21, 2013 at the Visitors Center of the Fall River
Heritage Park from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Many Working Group members took meeting flyers to distribute to
their organizations and offered to distribute flyers via e-mail lists.
Ethan Britland said the study team will be developing new alternatives and will be bringing them back
for review and discussion at the next Working Group meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:15
In attendance:
Brian Pearson, Fall River Bicycle Committee
Pedro Amaral, Office of State Senator Michael Rodriques
Pamela Haznar, MassDOT District 5
Peter McCarthy, Boys & Girls Club of Fall River
Sandy Dennis, Fall River Park Advocates
Dave Dennis, Fall River City Council
James Bartley, Lower Highlands/Highlands Neighborhood Associations
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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)
Ken Fiola, Fall River Office of Economic Development
David Sullivan, State Representative
Alan Macomber, Commonwealth Landing
Tony Dias, North End Neighborhood Association
Robert Mellion, Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce
Alfred Lima, Green Futures
Glenda Izaguirre, Congressman Keating’s Office
Rodney Jacques, William Starck Architects
Ben Dowling, Central Transportation Planning Staff
John Raposo, MassDOT
Project Team
Ethan Britland, MassDOT Project Manager
Joe Cahill, TranSystems, Consultant Project Manager
Lenny Velichansky, TranSystems
Paul Schmiek, TranSystems
Margaret Collins, Cambridge Economics
Deanna Peabody, TrafInfo
Jill Barrett, Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.
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