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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-29 Route 128/93 Interchange Advisory Committee MinutesKd1~.t,+ ' HIVED "'O CLERK Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Route 128/I-93 Interchange Me`e tk"NG, MASS. August 29, 2002 2002 SEP 23 P 1: 31 The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman George Hines, CPDC Member Neil Sullivan, Members Jim McDonald, Bill Webster, George Katsoufis, Jeff Everson, Audrey Doyle. Also present were Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Selectman Richard Schubert, Carla Abate, Jim O'Rourke, Mrs. O'Rourke, Bernice Corey and Maureen Arakelian. Approval of Minutes On motion by Everson seconded by Sullivan, the minutes of August 14, 2002 were approved, as amended, by a vote of 6-0-1, with Katsoufis abstaining. Several amendments to the minutes adding information to be requested from Mass Highway for the next meeting were included. Audrey Doyle asked if she can't be at a meeting, can Brian Mahoney substitute? Chairman George Hines noted that he can attend and participate but would not be able to vote. Chairman George Hines indicated that he has seen the new plans at Edwards and Kelcey's Office. The new plans do have considerably less impact. South Street is not "cut off." I-93 South to Route 128 still effects the Border Road area. New access is provided at the former T-stop on Mishwam Road instead of the existing access across from Converse Way. The project appears to achieve the goals and meet the most stringent requirements. The Route 28 intersection does not appear to be different than previous plans. Chairman George Hines has been told that Mass Highway will address all of the questions that were raised at the previous hearings. Review Status of Request for Documents from Mass Highwav Debartment - The Town Manager indicated that two of the documents were received - the April 25`h map in color was distributed. Also, the Edwards and Kelcey contract and correspondence related thereto were included. The Town Manager will recopy the Edwards and Kelcey contract because we only copied every other page. Several comments were made with regard to the Edwards and Kelcey contract. Jeff Everson noted that the report was suppose to look at possible concepts. The work done to date ignores other concepts including management, etc. Audrey Doyle noted that page A-4, third sentence, the item was not done. This sentence requires "major stakeholders such as municipalities and major abutters would get an opportunity to participate so that the study task can conclude with agreement that a full range of options has been identified." This item will be added to the letter to Mass Highway. Advisory Committee on the Route 128/I-93 Interchange - August 29, 2002 - Page 2 Audrey Doyle also noted that on page A-5, "Screening of Alternatives," that this was not done. Jeff Everson referred to information on Page 7 of 9 and 5 of 9 and noted that all of the engineering was focused on construction, not on alternative designs. On Page A-2, under Traffic Data, not listed is the JHK Study in 1994 on Intelligent Vehicles. This should have been included in the studies to be reviewed. Jeff Everson handed out copies of the Executive Summary and Section 8 under Management. He noted that some work had been done on implementing some of these items but ramp metering had not been done and had not been recommended. Bill Webster asked if the requirements of the E and K contract on right of way noting "proposed right of way and layout lines will be established for each alternative and the comparative right of way and relocation impact will be estimated. The number of displaced residents and businesses will be estimated along with acquisition costs to determine the magnitude of socio-economic impacts." Audrey Doyle noted that on page A-1, paragraph 2, the third sentence "weaving sections between interloop entrance and exit ramps are especially deficient and are a contributing factor in making this interchange one of the highest accident areas in Massachusetts." She asked what the accident data was. i Review Material re: Lincoln Nebraska process from Jeff Everson - Jeff Everson distributed a copy of the Lincoln, Nebraska report. He noted that this process seemed more reasonable. Chairman George Hines noted that many of the issues in the Lincoln, Nebraska project will be done during the Environmental Impact report. This is part of the environmental process. Carla Abate felt that the letters and information should be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DEP now, and this information should be followed up at a later date. Selectman Richard Schubert noted that his understanding is that this has to go through the MEPA and NEPA process if State money is involved, then it is the MEPA process only, and if Federal money is involved, than it is the NEPA process. Chairman George Hines noted that is the process that would have to be used on transit projects but he is not sure about highway projects. There was discussion about the realtor's meeting and realtor's disclosure. It was indicated that realtors are using disclosure in some areas. Advisory Committee on the Route 128/I-93 Interchang e - August 29, 2002 - Page 3 Review of Scenic Roads Status -There was discussion about scenic roads and whether or not portions of South Street and the remainder of Walnut Street could be put on the Scenic Road list. George Katsoufis asked if regional traffic models were used and if all projects were in the model CTPS. There was further discussion that each lane should handle 2,000 vehicles per hour. Would the project as proposed or as may be modified be adequate to handle the traffic volumes. Where is the justification for spending $100 million. Review of Stoneham letter and e-mail from Town Counsel - The Committee reviewed the Stoneham letter and an e-mail from Town Counsel. It was agreed that this would be kept on the Agenda but no action would be taken at this point since Town Counsel does not believe that there is any legal meaning to the designation of an impact zone that Stoneham has proposed. Status of PRESERVE Meeting with MHD - The meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, at 10:00 a.m. at Mass Highway. Jeff Everson, Susan and Carla Abate and Jim O'Rourke will be attending. The Town Manager noted that the MHD has set up their meetings to respond to questions and issues raised at previous meetings and hearings and present a new plan. The meeting in Reading will be the first of three meetings in the three affected communities. Reading's meeting will be on the 23rd of September at the High School Auditorium from 7:30-9:00 p.m. The Route 128/I-93 Advisory Committee's next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 in the Town Hall Conference Room at 7:30 p.m. On motion by Sullivan seconded by Everson, the Route 128-I-93 Advisory Committee voted to adjourn their meeting of August 29, 2002 by a vote of 7-0-0. d, oby S R PcIretary ful s itte