HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes i Board of Selectmen Meeting
June 7,2006
The meeting convened at the Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, Massachusetts.
Present were Chairman Camille Anthony, Vice Chairman Richard Schubert, Secretary
Stephen Goldy, Selectmen James Bonazoli and Ben Tafoya. Also present were Town
Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and the following list of interested parties: Bob Frey, George
Katsoufis.
Discussion/Action Items
Potential Improvements to Route 128/I-93 Interchange - Chairman Canaille Anthony noted that
the purpose of this meeting was for State transportation staff and their consultant to present
information on the different components of layout of potential improvements to the Route 128/I-
93 Interchange.
Bob Frey from Mass Highway noted that the best place for information is the 9395info.com
website. The purpose of this process is to solve the problems at the intersection while
incorporating community concerns. The specific goals are to lessen congestion, improve safety,
minimize property takings and maintaining current local access. The study area is from Route
129/Route 128 in the east, Route 129/I-93 in the north, Route 128/Route 38 in the west,.and I-
93/Montvale Avenue in the south.
The process which could take 8-10 years is the planning study, followed by the environmental
study, followed by funding, followed by final design, followed by construction. We are in the.
planning phase.
This Interchange carries 375,000 vehicles per day on average. During the next 20 years, this is
projected to increase 21% overall. With regard to the safety issue, there are a lot of accidents
along with a lot of traffic but this is one of the higher accident rate sites in the State. They have
reviewed 2002 and 2003 accident reports and.note that there are clusters of accidents particularly
where weaving, acceleration and deceleration take place. With regard to congestion, the
northeast loop is a major problem in the a.m. and p.m. A demonstration was shown as to how
this congestion affects the entire Interchange. The causes are we are using a very short
compressed space that is much shorter than design guidelines will provide in the Interchange,
weaving between intersections which are also closer than design guidelines, the eastbound Route
128 lane drop and the geometry of the Interchange is outmoded.
In addition to the goals of improving traffic flow, improving safety, avoiding takings and
maintaining local access, additional goals are to minimize noise and visual impact, develop a
project that is doable and improve overall mobility.
There are two strategies being discussed — the highway strategy and the non-highway strategy.
The strategy has been to look at the different components of the Interchange, to screen options to
determine what the best ones are, and then to combine options for different components in the
Board of Selectmen Meeting—June 7,2006—Page 2
packages. All of the components shown can be done within the existing right of way ' there are
a couple of minor exceptions which will be shown. There was discussion about metered access
and Mass Highway will look at that.
Mass Highway went over the plan views of the different components and answered questions.
-George Katsoufis asked if they could look at the Route 128/Route 28 Intersection, particularly
the northwest ramp. The interest is in seeing if better and more direct access can be achieved to
the Addison-Wesley property. Mass Highway indicated that one of the optimal solutions would
be to allow for future H.O.V. lane design.
There was considerable discussion on sound barriers. The area between north of West Street to
east of Walnut Street and west of Walnut Street to almost Route 128 is currently being studied
for Type 2 sound barrier. If project construction goes forward, then sound barriers would
definitely be built as part of the project. Noise studies are being done currently. .
Mass Highway handed out but did not focus on the "potential transit/TDM components
(5/31/06)." Comments will be accepted on these components.
On motion by Schubert seconded by Bonazoli, the Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn
their meeting of June 7,2006 at 9:10 p.m. by a vote of 5-0-0.
Respectfully bmitted,
retary