Mitigation of Station Traffic
I'm launching a feature on this site that will allow a threaded discussion board. So I picked a non-controversial :) topic to start it off.
The website fixthetraffic, voices the concerns of residents who fear 60,000 new cars a day will choke neighborhood streets and create a nightmare. I emailed the author of the site, John Harding, and he says traffic is the issue: they are not opposed to development or growth. Fix the traffic and there's no problem. Would a flyover ramp help or hurt? What about doing things to make the neighborhood streets less amenable to cut-through traffic, such as narrowing Canton St and Blue Hill Ave and adding sidewalks? If I lived in that neighborhood, I'd want to be able to walk to Westwood Station. Right now, the community is very much a traditional suburban development of nice houses and circuitous streets with nothing but residential. I don't think it is even feasible for most kids to walk to the Downey school which is located at the edge of the area and would require crossing busy Canton St.
a few thoughts on traffic
1. 50,000 cars a day is like a home game at Fenway or Gillette Stadium EVERYDAY! Did residents who voted us down at Special Town meeting realize this? Did they realize that Phase One of Westwood Station is as big as the Natick mall or the South Shore Plaza?
2. Flyover ramp is the obvious solution. Make CC&F spend the money to get access to their mall. A Link to State Executive Office of Transportation study is posted on www.fixthetraffic.com. The study details the ramp and its costs.
3. For neighbors to walk to Westwood Station we have to cross a 6 lane high speed off ramp from 128; don't think I'll be walking or biking to it.
4. Town of Canton doesn't want the I-95 northbound slipramp and the Canton street residents don't want the cut-thru traffic every time the I-95 cloverleaf is backed up. The I-95 off ramp will be a public safety nightmare for Dedham St. and Canton St.
5. Go ahead and build the mall; but keep the traffic off our neighborhood streets; that what Steve Rafsky promised hundreds of residents at many, many meetings.
WESTWOOD STATION AND DOUG OBEY
50,000 - 60,000 cars per day as estimated by various traffic consultants IS THE MAIN ISSUE. Also, WE DON'T want to walk to this monster of a mall and we don't want the foot traffic in our neighborhoods. Which is the reason for a NOISE/SAFETY BARRIER running behind the buffer zone from Whitewood Rd to Partridge St.
Residents on the other side of town absolutely do not care what happens to our neighborhood. All they are concerned about is the $$$$$$$. Statements from people like DOUG OBEY, who say "WESTWOOD STATION IS GREAT AND DON'T WORRY, IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOU" shows just how callous people in this town are. The fact that he is running for Selectman is a JOKE and falls right in line with tearing the town apart!!!!
DO NOT VOTE FOR DOUG OBEY
Who would you VOTE for then?
I agree Doug Obey is not the candidate. But then who is? I'm curious. I've been reading up on the candidates and scared me when only Doug and Greg were in the race.
Now we have 2 others and I'm torn between Phil Shapiro and Jason Lee.
Thoughts?
Truck Traffic on Clapboard Tree and Gay Streets
A related issue for those of us further removed from the Station will be cut through traffic on Clapboard Tree and Gay Streets. I am especially worried that during the years of construction, heavy trucks will be using these streets. For instance, if Tresca Brothers is delivering concrete to the site from its facility on Rt 109, it may be very convenient to cut down Clapboard Tree to reach the site. Lots of big, heavy, noisy trucks on a very narrow, winding street with no sidewalks.
Has anything been done to address these concerns? I hope that the Planning Board, Selectman and candidates are able to consider this question.
More traffic on Gay St than Clapboardtree
I don't think Clapboardtree is condusive to big trucks. I'd be more worried about Gay St than any other cut thru street from 109 to Westwood Station.
Good point nonetheless.
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