No subject
Wed Jul 9 10:35:30 EDT 2008
Ave in general is a ped/bike nightmare. I was asking a coworker of mine if
he had walked from his house in Ten Hills to Sullivan Square and he
basically said "I can't". I looked the map and satellite images, and it
basically is impossible without walking really far out of the way. I know =
a
Mystic Ave/28/93 interchange/intersection study is underway, and hopefully
that will end up in some drastic reconfiguration of ramps and roads, and
hopefully some nice connected sidewalks and bike lanes, but right now it's =
a
disaster. I wonder if there's anything we can suggest for short term
improvements with this process, for example, to widen, buffer, and/or add
sidewalks to Mystic Ave, and possible add bike lanes as well."
On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 5:10 PM, Moore, Alan at Boston <Alan.Moore2 at aig.com>wro=
te:
> Lynn:
>
>
>
> I think you are right but I always thought most open space advocates
> thought that the median was "bogus" open space that shouldn't even be
> counted as open space. Therefore I thought it had little value. I don't f=
eel
> so strongly about this so I can take it out, especially if I get comments
> from others agreeing.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alan
>
> PS: I'll also included the 1 other comment I've received so far immediate=
ly
> below:
>
> Hey Alan,
>
>
>
> Your comments look good overall.
>
>
>
> Regarding the bus stop issue, I think it's ok that the buses stop in the
> bike lane. This is a common situation in Cambridge where there is no
> on-street parking. (One example nearby, Somerville Ave in front of the
> Porter Square T station, where the 83 bus stops.) It's better than havin=
g
> pull-offs for the buses, because that only causes further delay for bus
> riders as the buses have to pull way off the road, and it causes a zig-za=
g
> in the sidewalk.
>
>
>
> Regarding the Kensington St crossing, I'm wondering if there is something
> they could install where motorists would have to yield to pedestrians no
> matter what, but if they wanted to they could push a button to stop
> traffic. We have some actuated signals in Somerville now (i.e. on
> Somerville Ave near the underpass), however, a pedestrian cannot legally
> cross (it says Don't Walk) UNLESS they push the button. I prefer to have
> the option: step out and cars should yield to me, or push the button to
> ensure that all traffic stops for a certain period while I cross.
>
>
>
> I know this is outside the scope of the project, but Mystic Ave in genera=
l
> is a ped/bike nightmare. I was asking a coworker of mine if he had walke=
d
> from his house in Ten Hills to Sullivan Square and he basically said "I
> can't". I looked the map and satellite images, and it basically is
> impossible without walking really far out of the way. I know a Mystic
> Ave/28/93 interchange/intersection study is underway, and hopefully that
> will end up in some drastic reconfiguration of ramps and roads, and
> hopefully some nice connected sidewalks and bike lanes, but right now it'=
s a
> disaster. I wonder if there's anything we can suggest for short term
> improvements with this process, for example, to widen, buffer, and/or add
> sidewalks to Mystic Ave, and possible add bike lanes as well.
>
>
>
> I agree that there are still some unanswered questions since the plan is
> still quite vague, but I'm hoping as the process continues there will be =
a
> back and forth with the developer and the community/city/bike committee
> about the details as they develop.
>
> Charlie
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Lynn McWhood [mailto:linwoodplace at earthlink.net]
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:50 PM
> *To:* Moore, Alan at Boston; convivial at rcn.com; BSTEINER at PARTNERS.ORG;
> genedebs1 at comcast.net; jbestor at law.harvard.edu; evartslan at gmail.com;
> lpaolella at rcn.com; minkavb at comcast.net; 'sbc members'; blucas at mapc.org;
> bnesson at mac.com; bnesson at nessonmedia.com; postbc at gmail.com;
> Charles.Denison at GeodeCapital.com; cdenison at comcast.net; dschartel at rcn.com=
;
> ereisner at rcn.com; eckumin at gmail.com; fredlori at rcn.com; 'Fred Berman (Fred
> Berman)'; wigzamore at rcn.com; 'Ellin Reisner'; 'Todd Kaplan';
> rnewman at thecia.ne; steppers at somervillestep.org;
> smackey at somervillechamber.org; smulder at rcn.com; SWinslow at somervillema.gov
> *Cc:* peter at mcintyreandmoore.com; 'Reinhardt, John (DEP)'; 'K Molloy'
> *Subject:* RE: Assembly Square DEIR comments on bike and ped issues
>
>
>
> Hi Alan,
>
>
>
> Thanks for sending this out. One comment: on Part 2, fourth item, you
> suggest narrowing the median in Main Street to make more room for bike
> lanes. I believe the median was widened in response to pressure to incre=
ase
> public open space in the development near the river, and that the develop=
ers
> have included programmed activities for this area. I do not think it wou=
ld
> be a good idea to narrow it given how little open space there is in the
> development as a whole.
>
>
>
> - Lynn
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Moore, Alan at Boston [mailto:Alan.Moore2 at AIG.com]
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 07, 2008 2:26 PM
> *To:* linwoodplace at earthlink.net; convivial at rcn.com; BSTEINER at PARTNERS.OR=
G;
> genedebs1 at comcast.net; jbestor at law.harvard.edu; evartslan at gmail.com;
> lpaolella at rcn.com; minkavb at comcast.net; 'sbc members'; 'blucas at mapc.org';
> 'bnesson at mac.com'; 'bnesson at nessonmedia.com'; 'postbc at gmail.com';
> 'Charles.Denison at GeodeCapital.com'; 'cdenison at comcast.net'; '
> dschartel at rcn.com'; 'ereisner at rcn.com'; 'eckumin at gmail.com'; '
> fredlori at rcn.com'; Fred Berman (Fred Berman); wigzamore at rcn.com; Ellin
> Reisner; Todd Kaplan; 'rnewman at thecia.ne'; 'steppers at somervillestep.org';
> 'smackey at somervillechamber.org'; 'smulder at rcn.com'; '
> SWinslow at somervillema.gov'
> *Cc:* 'peter at mcintyreandmoore.com'; Reinhardt, John (DEP); K Molloy
> *Subject:* Assembly Square DEIR comments on bike and ped issues
>
>
>
> (Also attached)
>
>
>
> MEMO
>
> *To: SBC members and others*
>
> *RE: draft EIR for Assembly Square*
>
>
>
> I've reviewed the draft EIR for Assembly Square, focusing (
> http://www.mysticview.org/docs/draft_eir/cdindex.pdf
>
> on bicycle and pedestrian design issues.
>
>
>
> I have summarized my comments below:
>
>
>
> I have not received any comments from other any bike/ped. activists. Ther=
e
> is insufficient time for the Somerville Bicycle Committee to meet and vot=
e
> on providing any specific comments to the City.
>
>
>
> Therefore, please review the following and:
>
>
>
> 1. Provide any responses/comments to me that I will provide to the City a=
nd
> MEPA in my own name;
>
> and/or:
>
> 2. Provide comments yourself to:
>
>
>
> Secretary Ian A. Bowles
>
> Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
>
> Attn: Deirdre Buckley
>
> 100 Cambridge St., Suite 900
>
> Boston, MA 02114.
>
>
>
> Comments must include the reference number: EOEA #13989 and due tomorrow,
> August 8.
> email address is Deirdre.Buckley at state.ma.us
>
>
>
> *General comments:*
>
> =B7 I plan to preface my comments that the proposed p=
lan
> is much better than the original development plan for Assembly Square and
> thank the designers for all the considerations of open space, bicycle and
> pedestrian amenities. That said, the comments are meant to be constructiv=
e
> with the goal of achieving an even better plan without impacting the
> developer's development "needs".
>
> =B7 One "problem" with this process is that the level=
of
> design provided for this Environmental Impact Review may be appropriate f=
or
> a MEPA decision but not sufficiently detailed for a final determination o=
f
> many design features. However, when these design issues are provided in m=
ore
> detail in the future, the community may have no or limited opportunity fo=
r
> input or to request changes. An example is bus stops on Assembly Square D=
r.
> No provisions are shown for where a bus would stop since there is no park=
ing
> lane, only a bike lane where we would not want busses to stop within. Whi=
le
> I've not expecting that this DEIR must have detailed bus stop designs, ho=
w
> would the bicycling community address such as issue in the future when th=
e
> project is "approved" without understanding of some of these issues.
> Therefore, someone has proposed, and I think it's a good idea, that there
> should be some triggers for the public to request additional changes or
> mitigation in the future that the developer would need to implement. For
> example, page 3-21 lists a maximum of 55,000 vehicle trips pre day to the
> development. If this becomes exceeded, then the developer would need to t=
ake
> other measures such as more/better transit, free retail deliveries, paid
> parking (to discourage driving), better bicycle and pedestrian amenities,
> etc.
>
>
>
> *Specific Comments**:*
>
> *1. "IKEA" Multi-use Path*
>
> One very important issue is that while the developer has verbally announc=
ed
> that they are designing and planning a continuous shared use (bike and
> pedestrian) Path from the intersection of Assembly Square Drive at Mystic
> Avenue to the IKEA "park" (along the Orange Line tracks and behind the
> IKEA), these have not been included in the DEIR due to timing issues. The
> MEPA certificate should require that this Path be built.**
>
>
>
> *2. Bike lanes*
>
> Figure 2.4 shows bike lanes to be provided on Assembly Square Dr. (except
> for the last ~500' to Route 28), on G-Street along the Orange Line tracks=
,
> on New Road/IKEA Way and on Foley St. from.G Street to Assembly Square Dr=
.
>
> =B7 The bike lanes on New Road and Foley St. should continue to
> Middlesex Ave. It appears on Figures 5.85 and 5.86 that they do but this =
is
> not clear.
>
> =B7 The DEIR says there will be a car/bus drop-off in front of th=
e
> new Orange Line station along G Street. However, there are bike lanes on
> G-Street that will make a drop off problematic. Therefore, another soluti=
on
> needs to be considered.
>
> =B7 It appears that there is on-street parking on New Road/IKEA W=
ay
> and Foley St. which will be between traffic and the sidewalk/landscaping.
> Consideration should be given to have a cycleway for bicyclists alongside
> the sidewalk instead of the bike lane as shown on the attached drawings.
>
> =B7 It's not clear how "busy" other internal streets at Assembly
> Square will be. Therefore the developer's planners should consider bike
> lanes on Main (F) Street, B-Street and C-Street . Looking at the cross
> sections (Figure 1.10), it appears that there is sufficient width for bik=
e
> lanes by narrowing the median or median mall a little.
>
>
>
> *3. Access to the new Assembly Square Orange line Station*
>
> =B7 Although the plans for the new Assembly Square Orange line
> Station do not appear in the DEIR, I understand that the conceptual desig=
n
> produced by the developers include only 1 headhouse on the north end of t=
he
> station and access only from G Street. There should be a second headhouse=
on
> the south end to better access to IKEA, preferably with a direct overhead
> connection to IKEA.
>
> =B7 There also need to be a direct exit from the station (which
> reportedly which will be above the tracks) over the commuter rail tracks =
to
> the Mystic River, Draw 7 Park and the future Amelia Earhart dam crossing.
> Otherwise, T riders and bicyclists will need to go far out of there way t=
o
> reach these destinations.
>
> =B7 While everyone is grateful to the developer for agreeing to a
> $15 million contribution to the station, the community, the City and the
> State should be deciding the design, not the developer.
>
>
>
> *4. Orange Line underpass*
>
> The present passageway under the Orange Line to Draw 7 Park the future
> Amelia Earhart dam crossing is narrow and there doesn't seem to be any
> proposed changes even though a rebuilt street (G Street) and connected
> Mystic River Path and the entire Assembly Square development will be
> bringing a huge increase in pedestrians, bicycles and motor vehicles to t=
his
> small intersection. The DEIR does not indicate how all these users will
> interact safely at this "blind" intersection. Therefore an enlargement of
> this passageway should be considered and a well-thought out plan for the
> intersection must be designed.
>
>
>
> *5. Kensington Rd.** crossing*
>
> The only bike/ped crossing of Route 93 between Route 28 (and this is and
> will remain a very difficult intersection for bikes and peds to cross) an=
d
> Lombardi Way (a distance of a half a mile) is the present dangerous cross=
ing
> starting at Kensington St. near the new Stop and Shop that crosses 3
> high-speed, 50 MPH ramps of I-93 and then Mystic Ave. The developer plans=
to
> improve this crossing (Figure 5.86) be installing a yellow flashing advan=
ced
> beacon that will flash when pedestrian/bicyclists approach. This appears
> totally insufficient. These crosswalks needs real stop lights and walk
> signals actuated by the pedestrian or bicyclist.
>
>
>
> *6. Lombardi Way***
>
> The proposed redesign of Lombardi Way from Mystic Ave. to Broadway (Figur=
e
> 5.80) is an improvement over the existing situation in that it adds bike
> lanes to both directions. However, it eliminates the sidewalk on the nort=
h
> side due to width constraints and 5 traffic lanes. While the official
> planned pedestrian route appears sufficient, it seems very likely that ma=
ny
> pedestrians will not walk the longer distance and instead walk in the bik=
e
> lane. Therefore, the planners should take another look if there is some w=
ay
> to put the sidewalk back in without removing the bike lane (by narrowing =
or
> eliminating a traffic lane).
>
>
>
> *7. Assembly Square** median*
>
> The median in Assembly Square Dr. does not seem at all necessary and take=
s
> away from wide bike lanes, sidewalks and potential open space. Could the
> developer please reconsider these medians?
>
>
>
> *8. Community Benefits*
>
> Page 3-20 and 3-21 list amounts of monies to various City projects. Some =
of
> the projects seem duplicative, i.e., $250,000 for the DCR parkland on the
> Mystic River and $100,000 for pedestrian walkways adjacent to the site, b=
oth
> which are mentioned elsewhere as being done by the developer. Are all the=
se
> monies for projects not described in the DEIR or are they simply estimate=
s
> of what the developer will spending on these "small" improvement projects=
.
> This should be made more clear please.
>
>
>
> *9. Missing Items?*
>
> The transportation section does not seem to include all the projects list=
ed
> in Article III, Section E-2 of the settlement agreement between the
> developer and FRIT, specifically:
>
> "FRIT shall evaluate, plan and advocate for pedestrian connections:
>
> a) from Foley Street under Interstate Route 93 to Foss Park;
>
> b) to the States Avenue section of East Somerville under Interstate
> 93 (probably aligned with New Street)
>
> c) across the Ameila Earhart Dam; and
>
> d) along the waterfront to Sullivan Square and Ryan Park."
>
> * *
>
> *10 . Other important issues:*
>
> Others in the City have noted that other key elements (not necessarily bi=
ke
> and pedestrian related) of the legal settlement agreement between FRIT (t=
he
> developer) and Mystic View Task Force are missing and that not all the
> material that the certificate on the EENF requested are included. Some of
> the issues identified by others are:
>
>
>
> =B7 There's nothing regarding about working out a Long Range Plan f=
or
> the entire Assembly Square area that would make it possible for existing
> retail uses (the 2-yr. old hs with ) to be transformed into higher value
> uses over time.
>
>
>
> =B7 The chapter on air pollution is cursory. Astonishingly, it ma=
kes
> no mention of the Health Impact Study for the route 93, 38 and 28 corrido=
rs
> funded by the developers as part of the settlement agreement and it makes=
no
> mention of the issue of fine particles in relation to traffic. I don't h=
ave
> the technical expertise to judge the conventional air study information t=
hey
> present.
>
>
>
> =B7 It's not clear that the alternatives analysis was really done a=
s
> required by the certificate on the EENF. VHB's approach was to compare
> no-build, to a compilation of previously approved developments (IKEA on t=
he
> river, Main Street, and Yard 21/Sturtevant plan) to the current proposal.
> The compilation didn't include the Mall, and the current proposal did, so=
it
> seemed like apples and oranges to me. The analysis was cursory and didn'=
t
> seem to me to address the requirements laid out.
>
>
>
> =B7 The intersection analysis was expanded to include Wellington an=
d
> Sullivan Square as requested by the certificate. I didn't see the reques=
ted
> parking analysis in the main text. I didn't notice anything about design
> alternatives for the I-93/28/38 intersection. I didn't see anything abou=
t
> water transportation plans, but perhaps that would have been included in =
the
> Chapter 91 analysis. The commitment to support water transportation
> (Article III, Section G) should be clearly stated.
>
>
>
> =B7 Not enough attention has been paid to public transportation
> between Assembly Square and the rest of Somerville. I am also concerned
> about planning for bus stops and bus routes within Assembly Square. The
> cut out by the IKEA flag circle on Assembly Square Drive that I thought w=
as
> supposed to be a bus stop is described in the DEIR as a place for pick up
> and drop off. The two uses are not compatible. Since the proposed Drive
> will not have parking lanes, it is critical to plan to build in space for
> bus stops.
>
>
>
>
>
> Alan Moore
> AIG Consultants, Inc.
> Cost Cap Monitoring Division
> 99 High Street, 30th Floor
> Boston, Ma. 02110
> tel. 617-457-2829
> fax. 617-457-6884
> mobile: 617-459-2984
> email:* **alan.moore2 at aig.com*
>
>
>
> "IMPORTANT NOTICE:
>
> The information in this email (and any attachments) is confidential. If y=
ou
> are not the intended recipient, you must not use or disseminate the
> information. Receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient is not a
> waiver of any attorney-client or work product privilege. If you have
> received this email in error, please immediately notify me by "Reply"
> command and permanently delete the original and any copies or printouts
> thereof. "
>
>
>
------=_Part_70151_7199697.1218548459422
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline
<div dir=3D"ltr"><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;"><span style=3D"color:=
rgb(0, 0, 0);">These comments (copied below) from Charlie Denison are wort=
h following up. I would be very interested in a discussion of bike/ped. imp=
rovements to Mystic Ave., especially<i> </i>if the bike/ped./public transit=
community feels that there have been corners cut (literally) on the commun=
ity's preferred design for Assembly Square. /EKumin</span><br style=3D"=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>From CDenison: "I know this is outside the scope of the
project, but Mystic Ave
in general is a ped/bike nightmare. I was asking a coworker of mine i=
f he
had walked from his house in Ten Hills to Sullivan Square and he basically =
said
"I can't". I looked the map and satellite images, and i=
t
basically is impossible without walking really far out of the way. I =
know
a Mystic Ave/28/93 interchange/intersection study is underway, and hopefull=
y
that will end up in some drastic reconfiguration of ramps and roads, and
hopefully some nice connected sidewalks and bike lanes, but right now it=
9;s a
disaster. I wonder if there's anything we can suggest for short t=
erm
improvements with this process, for example, to widen, buffer, and/or add
sidewalks to Mystic Ave, and possible add bike lanes as well."</span><=
/font><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 5:10 PM, Mo=
ore, Alan at Boston <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:Alan.Moore2 at aig.co=
m">Alan.Moore2 at aig.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, =
204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"purple" lang=3D"EN-US">
<div>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Lynn</span></font><font color=3D"n=
avy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family:=
Arial; color: navy;">:</span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I think you are right but I always=
thought
most open space advocates thought that the median was "bogus" ope=
n space
that shouldn't even be counted as open space. Therefore I thought it ha=
d
little value. I don't feel so strongly about this so I can take it out,
especially if I get comments from others agreeing.</span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Thanks,</span></font></p>
<div>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Alan </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">PS: I'll also included the 1 o=
ther comment I've
received so far immediately below:</span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Hey Alan,</span></font><font color=
=3D"red"><span style=3D"color: red;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Your comments look good overall.</sp=
an></font><font color=3D"red"><span style=3D"color: red;"></span></font></p=
>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Regarding the bus stop issue, I thin=
k it's
ok that the buses stop in the bike lane. This is a common situation i=
n Cambridge where there is
no on-street parking. (One example nearby, Somerville Ave in front of=
the Porter
Square T station, where the 83 bus stops.) It's better than havin=
g
pull-offs for the buses, because that only causes further delay for bus rid=
ers
as the buses have to pull way off the road, and it causes a zig-zag in the
sidewalk.</span></font><font color=3D"red"><span style=3D"color: red;"></sp=
an></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Regarding the Kensington St crossing=
, I'm wondering if
there is something they could install where motorists would have to yield t=
o
pedestrians no matter what, but if they wanted to they could push a button =
to
stop traffic. We have some actuated signals in Somerville now (i.e. o=
n Somerville Ave near the underpass),
however, a pedestrian cannot legally cross (it says Don't Walk) UNLESS =
they
push the button. I prefer to have the option: step out and cars shoul=
d
yield to me, or push the button to ensure that all traffic stops for a cert=
ain
period while I cross.</span></font><font color=3D"red"><span style=3D"color=
: red;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">I know this is outside the scope of =
the
project, but Mystic Ave
in general is a ped/bike nightmare. I was asking a coworker of mine i=
f he
had walked from his house in Ten Hills to Sullivan Square and he basically =
said
"I can't". I looked the map and satellite images, and i=
t
basically is impossible without walking really far out of the way. I =
know
a Mystic Ave/28/93 interchange/intersection study is underway, and hopefull=
y
that will end up in some drastic reconfiguration of ramps and roads, and
hopefully some nice connected sidewalks and bike lanes, but right now it=
9;s a
disaster. I wonder if there's anything we can suggest for short t=
erm
improvements with this process, for example, to widen, buffer, and/or add
sidewalks to Mystic Ave, and possible add bike lanes as well.</span></font>=
<font color=3D"red"><span style=3D"color: red;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt; color: red;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">I agree that there are still some
unanswered questions since the plan is still quite vague, but I'm hopin=
g as the
process continues there will be a back and forth with the developer and the
community/city/bike committee about the details as they develop.</span></fo=
nt><font color=3D"red"><span style=3D"color: red;"></span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"red" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: =
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: red;">Charlie </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=
;"> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div style=3D"text-align: center;" align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Times New=
Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align=3D"center" size=3D"2" width=3D"100%">
</span></font></div>
<p><b><font face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font=
-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font face=3D"T=
ahoma" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> Ly=
nn McWhood
[mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:linwoodplace at earthlink.net" target=3D"_blank">lin=
woodplace at earthlink.net</a>] <br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, August 07,=
2008
4:50 PM<br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Moore, Alan at Boston; <a=
href=3D"mailto:convivial at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">convivial at rcn.com</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:BSTEINER at PARTNERS.ORG" target=3D"_blank">BSTEINER at PARTNER=
S.ORG</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:genedebs1 at comcast.net" target=3D"_blank">gened=
ebs1 at comcast.net</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:jbestor at law.harvard.edu" target=3D"=
_blank">jbestor at law.harvard.edu</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:evartslan at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">evartslan at gmail.co=
m</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:lpaolella at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">lpaolella at rcn=
.com</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:minkavb at comcast.net" target=3D"_blank">minkavb@=
comcast.net</a>; 'sbc members'; <a href=3D"mailto:blucas at mapc.org" =
target=3D"_blank">blucas at mapc.org</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:bnesson at mac.com" t=
arget=3D"_blank">bnesson at mac.com</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:bnesson at nessonmedia.com" target=3D"_blank">bnesson at nesson=
media.com</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:postbc at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">postbc=
@gmail.com</a>;
Charles.Denison at GeodeCapital.com; <a href=3D"mailto:cdenison at comcast.net" t=
arget=3D"_blank">cdenison at comcast.net</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:dschartel at rcn.=
com" target=3D"_blank">dschartel at rcn.com</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:ereisner at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">ereisner at rcn.com</a>;=
<a href=3D"mailto:eckumin at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">eckumin at gmail.com</=
a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:fredlori at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">fredlori at rcn.com</a>;=
'Fred Berman
(Fred Berman)';
<a href=3D"mailto:wigzamore at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">wigzamore at rcn.com</a=
>; 'Ellin Reisner'; 'Todd Kaplan'; <a href=3D"mailto:rnewma=
n at thecia.ne" target=3D"_blank">rnewman at thecia.ne</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:steppers at somervillestep.org" target=3D"_blank">steppers at s=
omervillestep.org</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:smackey at somervillechamber.org" tar=
get=3D"_blank">smackey at somervillechamber.org</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:smulder=
@rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">smulder at rcn.com</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:SWinslow=
@somervillema.gov" target=3D"_blank">SWinslow at somervillema.gov</a><div clas=
s=3D"Ih2E3d">
<br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> <a href=3D"mailto:pete=
r at mcintyreandmoore.com" target=3D"_blank">peter at mcintyreandmoore.com</a>;
'Reinhardt, John (DEP)'; 'K Molloy'<br>
</div><b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> RE: Assembl=
y Square DEIR comments on bike and
ped issues</span></font></p>
</div><div><div></div><div class=3D"Wj3C7c">
<p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=
;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Hi Alan,</span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> Thanks for sending th=
is
out. One comment: on Part 2, fourth item, you suggest narrowing the
median in Main Street
to make more room for bike lanes. I believe the median was widened in
response to pressure to increase public open space in the development near =
the
river, and that the developers have included programmed activities for this
area. I do not think it would be a good idea to narrow it given how
little open space there is in the development as a whole.</span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> - Lynn</s=
pan></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"navy" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:=
10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style=3D"text-align: center;" align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Times New=
Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align=3D"center" size=3D"2" width=3D"100%">
</span></font></div>
<p><b><font face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font=
-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font face=3D"T=
ahoma" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> Mo=
ore,
Alan at Boston [mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:Alan.Moore2 at AIG.com" target=3D"_blank=
">Alan.Moore2 at AIG.com</a>] <br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, August 07,=
2008
2:26 PM<br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a href=3D"mailto:linw=
oodplace at earthlink.net" target=3D"_blank">linwoodplace at earthlink.net</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:convivial at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">convivial at rcn.com</a=
>; <a href=3D"mailto:BSTEINER at PARTNERS.ORG" target=3D"_blank">BSTEINER at PART=
NERS.ORG</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:genedebs1 at comcast.net" target=3D"_blank">ge=
nedebs1 at comcast.net</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:jbestor at law.harvard.edu" target=3D"_blank">jbestor at law.ha=
rvard.edu</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:evartslan at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">eva=
rtslan at gmail.com</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:lpaolella at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank=
">lpaolella at rcn.com</a>;
<a href=3D"mailto:minkavb at comcast.net" target=3D"_blank">minkavb at comcast.ne=
t</a>; 'sbc members';
'<a href=3D"mailto:blucas at mapc.org" target=3D"_blank">blucas at mapc.org</=
a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:bnesson at mac.com" target=3D"_blank">bnesson@=
mac.com</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:bnesson at nessonmedia.com" target=3D=
"_blank">bnesson at nessonmedia.com</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:postbc at gm=
ail.com" target=3D"_blank">postbc at gmail.com</a>';
'Charles.Denison at GeodeCapital.com'; '<a href=3D"mailto:cdenison=
@comcast.net" target=3D"_blank">cdenison at comcast.net</a>'; '<a href=
=3D"mailto:dschartel at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">dschartel at rcn.com</a>';=
'<a href=3D"mailto:ereisner at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">ereisner at rcn.co=
m</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:eckumin at gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">eck=
umin at gmail.com</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:fredlori at rcn.com" target=3D=
"_blank">fredlori at rcn.com</a>'; Fred Berman
(Fred Berman);
<a href=3D"mailto:wigzamore at rcn.com" target=3D"_blank">wigzamore at rcn.com</a=
>; Ellin Reisner;
Todd Kaplan; '<a href=3D"mailto:rnewman at thecia.ne" target=3D"_blank">rn=
ewman at thecia.ne</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:steppers at somervillestep.or=
g" target=3D"_blank">steppers at somervillestep.org</a>';
'<a href=3D"mailto:smackey at somervillechamber.org" target=3D"_blank">sma=
ckey at somervillechamber.org</a>'; '<a href=3D"mailto:smulder at rcn.com=
" target=3D"_blank">smulder at rcn.com</a>';
'<a href=3D"mailto:SWinslow at somervillema.gov" target=3D"_blank">SWinslo=
w at somervillema.gov</a>'<br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> '<a href=3D"mailto=
:peter at mcintyreandmoore.com" target=3D"_blank">peter at mcintyreandmoore.com</=
a>';
Reinhardt, John (DEP); K Molloy<br>
<b><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Assembly Square D=
EIR comments on bike and
ped issues</span></font></p>
</div>
<p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=
;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color=3D"#ff6600" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-si=
ze: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">(Also attached)</sp=
an></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">MEMO</span></font></p>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">To: SBC members and others</span></font>=
</b></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">RE: draft EIR for Assembly
Square</span></font></u></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">I've reviewed the draft EIR for Assembly Square, focusing =
(<a href=3D"http://www.mysticview.org/docs/draft_eir/cdindex.pdf" target=3D=
"_blank">http://www.mysticview.org/docs/draft_eir/cdindex.pdf</a></span></f=
ont></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">on bicycle and pedestrian design issues. </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">I have summarized my comments below:</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">I have not received any comments from other any bike/ped.
activists. There is insufficient time for the Somerville
Bicycle Committee to meet and vote on providing any specific
comments to the City. </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Therefore, please review the following and:</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">1. Provide any responses/comments to me that I will provide
to the City and MEPA in my own name; </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">and/or:</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">2. Provide comments yourself to:</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Secretary Ian A. Bowles</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs</span><=
/font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Attn: Deirdre Buckley</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">100 Cambridge
St., Suite 900</span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Boston</span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">, MA 02114</span></font><f=
ont face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: =
Arial;">.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;">Comments must include the reference number: EOEA #13989 and
due tomorrow, August 8.<br>
email address is <a href=3D"mailto:Deirdre.Buckley at state.ma.us" target=3D"_=
blank">Deirdre.Buckley at state.ma.us</a></span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">General comments:</span></font></b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt=
; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbol" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"fo=
nt-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman=
" size=3D"1"><span> &n=
bsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">I plan to preface my comments =
that
the proposed plan is much better than the original development plan for Ass=
embly Square and
thank the designers for all the considerations of open space, bicycle and
pedestrian amenities. That said, the comments are meant to be constructive =
with
the goal of achieving an even better plan without impacting the developer&#=
39;s
development "needs".</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt=
; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbol" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"fo=
nt-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman=
" size=3D"1"><span> &n=
bsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">One "problem" with t=
his
process is that the level of design provided for this Environmental Impact
Review may be appropriate for a MEPA decision but not sufficiently detailed=
for
a final determination of many design features. However, when these design
issues are provided in more detail in the future, the community may have no=
or
limited opportunity for input or to request changes. An example is bus stop=
s on
Assembly Square Dr. No provisions are shown for where a bus would stop sinc=
e
there is no parking lane, only a bike lane where we would not want busses t=
o
stop within. While I've not expecting that this DEIR must have detailed=
bus
stop designs, how would the bicycling community address such as issue in th=
e
future when the project is "approved" without understanding of so=
me of
these issues. Therefore, someone has proposed, and I think it's a good =
idea,
that there should be some triggers for the public to request additional cha=
nges
or mitigation in the future that the developer would need to implement. For
example, page 3-21 lists a maximum of 55,000 vehicle trips pre day to the
development. If this becomes exceeded, then the developer would need to tak=
e
other measures such as more/better transit, free retail deliveries, paid
parking (to discourage driving), better bicycle and pedestrian amenities, e=
tc. </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><b><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">Specific Comments</span></font></b><u><f=
ont face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: =
Arial;">:</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">1. "IKEA" Multi-use Pa=
th</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">One very important issue is that
while the developer has verbally announced that they are designing and plan=
ning
a continuous shared use (bike and pedestrian) Path from the intersection of
Assembly Square Drive at Mystic Avenue to the IKEA "park" (along =
the
Orange Line tracks and behind the IKEA), these have not been included in th=
e
DEIR due to timing issues. The MEPA certificate should require that this Pa=
th
be built.<i><span style=3D"font-style: italic;"></span></i></span></font></=
p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">2. Bike lanes</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Figure 2.4 shows bike lanes to be
provided on Assembly Square Dr. (except for the last ~500' to Route 28)=
, on
G-Street along the Orange Line tracks, on New Road/IKEA Way and on Foley St=
.
from.G Street to Assembly Square Dr. </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The bike lanes on New Road and=
Foley St. should continue to Middlesex Ave. It
appears on Figures 5.85 and 5.86 that they do but this is not clear. </span=
></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The DEIR says there will be a
car/bus drop-off in front of the new Orange Line station along G Street. Ho=
wever,
there are bike lanes on G-Street that will make a drop off problematic.
Therefore, another solution needs to be considered.</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">It appears that there is on-st=
reet
parking on New Road/IKEA Way
and Foley St.
which will be between traffic and the sidewalk/landscaping. Consideration
should be given to have a cycleway for bicyclists alongside the sidewalk
instead of the bike lane as shown on the attached drawings.</span></font></=
p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">It's not clear how "b=
usy"
other internal streets at Assembly
Square will be. Therefore the developer's planners
should consider bike lanes on Main (F) Street, B-Street and C-Street . Look=
ing
at the cross sections (Figure 1.10), it appears that there is sufficient wi=
dth
for bike lanes by narrowing the median or median mall a little.</span></fon=
t></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">3. Access to the new Assembly Square Orange
line Station</span></font></u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt=
; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbol" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"fo=
nt-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman=
" size=3D"1"><span>
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Although the plans for the new
Assembly Square Orange line Station do not appear in the DEIR, I understand
that the conceptual design produced by the developers include only 1 headho=
use
on the north end of the station and access only from G Street. There should=
be
a second headhouse on the south end to better access to IKEA, preferably wi=
th a
direct overhead connection to IKEA. </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">There also need to be a direct=
exit
from the station (which reportedly which will be above the tracks) over the
commuter rail tracks to the Mystic
River, Draw 7 Park and
the future Amelia Earhart dam crossing. Otherwise, T riders and bicyclists =
will
need to go far out of there way to reach these destinations.</span></font><=
/p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Symbo=
l" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">While everyone is grateful to =
the
developer for agreeing to a $15 million contribution to the station, the
community, the City and the State should be deciding the design, not the
developer.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">4. Orange Line underpass</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The present passageway under the
Orange Line to Draw 7 Park the future Amelia Earhart dam crossing is narrow=
and
there doesn't seem to be any proposed changes even though a rebuilt str=
eet (G
Street) and connected Mystic River Path and the entire Assembly Square
development will be bringing a huge increase in pedestrians, bicycles and m=
otor
vehicles to this small intersection. The DEIR does not indicate how all the=
se
users will interact safely at this "blind" intersection. Therefor=
e an
enlargement of this passageway should be considered and a well-thought out =
plan
for the intersection must be designed.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">5.
Kensington Rd.</span></font></u><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> crossing</span></font></u><=
/p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The only bike/ped crossing of Rou=
te
93 between Route 28 (and this is and will remain a very difficult intersect=
ion
for bikes and peds to cross) and Lombardi Way (a distance of a half a mile)=
is
the present dangerous crossing starting at Kensington St. near the new Stop=
and
Shop that crosses 3 high-speed, 50 MPH ramps of I-93 and then Mystic Ave. T=
he
developer plans to improve this crossing (Figure 5.86) be installing a yell=
ow
flashing advanced beacon that will flash when pedestrian/bicyclists approac=
h. This
appears totally insufficient. These crosswalks needs real stop lights and w=
alk
signals actuated by the pedestrian or bicyclist. </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">6.
Lombardi Way</span></font></u><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The proposed redesign of Lombardi=
Way from Mystic Ave. to
Broadway (Figure 5.80) is an improvement over the existing situation in tha=
t it
adds bike lanes to both directions. However, it eliminates the sidewalk on =
the
north side due to width constraints and 5 traffic lanes. While the official
planned pedestrian route appears sufficient, it seems very likely that many
pedestrians will not walk the longer distance and instead walk in the bike
lane. Therefore, the planners should take another look if there is some way=
to
put the sidewalk back in without removing the bike lane (by narrowing or
eliminating a traffic lane).</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">7.
Assembly Square</span></font></u><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span=
style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> median</span></font></u></=
p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The median in Assembly Square Dr.
does not seem at all necessary and takes away from wide bike lanes, sidewal=
ks
and potential open space. Could the developer please reconsider these media=
ns?</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">8. Community Benefits</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Page 3-20 and 3-21 list amounts o=
f
monies to various City projects. Some of the projects seem duplicative, i.e=
.,
$250,000 for the DCR parkland on the Mystic
River and $100,000 for
pedestrian walkways adjacent to the site, both which are mentioned elsewher=
e as
being done by the developer. Are all these monies for projects not describe=
d in
the DEIR or are they simply estimates of what the developer will spending o=
n
these "small" improvement projects. This should be made more clea=
r
please.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">9. Missing Items?</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The transportation section does n=
ot
seem to include all the projects listed in Article III, Section E-2 of the
settlement agreement between the developer and FRIT, specifically:</span></=
font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> "FRIT shall evaluate, plan and
advocate for pedestrian connections:</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 45pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span>a)<fo=
nt face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">from Foley Street under Inter=
state Route 93
to Foss Park;</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 45pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span>b)<fo=
nt face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">to the States Avenue
section of East Somerville under Interstate 93
(probably aligned with New Street)
</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 45pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span>c)<fo=
nt face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">across the
Ameila Earhart Dam; and</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 45pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span>d)<fo=
nt face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">along the
waterfront to Sullivan Square
and Ryan Park."</span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 27pt;"><i><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"> </sp=
an></font></i></p>
<p><u><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-=
family: Arial;">10 . Other important issues:</span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 6pt;"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Others in the City have noted tha=
t
other key elements (not necessarily bike and pedestrian related) of the leg=
al
settlement agreement between FRIT (the developer) and Mystic View Task Forc=
e
are missing and that not all the material that the certificate on the EENF
requested are included. Some of the issues identified by others are:</span>=
</font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><font face=3D"Symbol=
" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">There's
nothing regarding about working out a Long Range Plan for the entire Assemb=
ly Square
area that would make it possible for existing retail uses (the 2-yr. old hs
with ) to be transformed into higher value uses over time.</span></fo=
nt></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><font face=3D"Symbol=
" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The chapter
on air pollution is cursory. Astonishingly, it makes no mention=
of
the Health Impact Study for the route 93, 38 and 28 corridors funded by the
developers as part of the settlement agreement and it makes no mention of t=
he
issue of fine particles in relation to traffic. I don't have the
technical expertise to judge the conventional air study information they
present.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><font face=3D"Symbol=
" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">It's not
clear that the alternatives analysis was really done as required by the
certificate on the EENF. VHB's approach was to compare no-build, to a
compilation of previously approved developments (IKEA on the river, Main St=
reet, and
Yard 21/Sturtevant plan) to the current proposal. The compilation did=
n't
include the Mall, and the current proposal did, so it seemed like apples an=
d
oranges to me. The analysis was cursory and didn't seem to me to =
address
the requirements laid out. </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><font face=3D"Symbol=
" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The
intersection analysis was expanded to include Wellington and Sullivan Squar=
e as requested by the
certificate. I didn't see the requested parking analysis in the m=
ain
text. I didn't notice anything about design alternatives for the
I-93/28/38 intersection. I didn't see anything about water transp=
ortation
plans, but perhaps that would have been included in the Chapter 91
analysis. The commitment to support water transportation (Article III=
,
Section G) should be clearly stated.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><font face=3D"Symbol=
" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Symbol;"><span>=
=B7<font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span> =
</span></font></span></span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Not enough
attention has been paid to public transportation between Assembly Square an=
d the rest of Somerville. I am
also concerned about planning for bus stops and bus routes within Assembly =
Square.
The cut out by the IKEA flag circle on Assembly Square Drive that I thought=
was
supposed to be a bus stop is described in the DEIR as a place for pick up a=
nd
drop off. The two uses are not compatible. Since the proposed D=
rive
will not have parking lanes, it is critical to plan to build in space for b=
us
stops.</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-fam=
ily: Arial;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D""><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10p=
t; font-family: Arial;">Alan Moore</span></font>
<br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">AIG
Consultants, Inc.</span></font> <br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">Cost
Cap Monitoring Division</span></font> <br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">99
High Street, 30th Floor</span></font> <br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">Boston</span></font><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">, Ma. 02110</span></font>
<br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">tel.
617-457-2829</span></font> <br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">fax.
617-457-6884</span></font> <br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">mobile:
617-459-2984</span></font><br>
<font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family=
: Arial;">email:</span></font><u>
</u><u><font color=3D"blue" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; colo=
r: blue;"><a href=3D"mailto:alan.moore2 at aig.com" target=3D"_blank">alan.moo=
re2 at aig.com</a></span></font></u></p>
<p style=3D""><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font=
-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in;"><font=
color=3D"navy" face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"1"><span style=3D"font-siz=
e: 9pt; color: navy;">"IMPORTANT
NOTICE:</span></font><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt;"> </s=
pan></font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in;"><font=
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt;">The i=
nformation in this email (and any attachments) is
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use or
disseminate the information. Receipt by anyone other than the intended
recipient is not a waiver of any attorney-client or work product privilege.=
If
you have received this email in error, please immediately notify me by
"Reply" command and permanently delete the original and any copie=
s or
printouts thereof. "</span></font></p>
<p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=
;"> </span></font></p>
</div></div></div>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br></div>
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