[SBC] Lower Broadway

[Denison, Charles]

I went to the lower Broadway meeting last night. It was actually the 5th
in a series of community meetings. Overall the plan looks really good,
and has been a product of community input and a team of consultants
focusing on a broad range of issues: maintaining traffic capacity,
maintaining parking, providing a much better pedestrian and bicyclist
experience, creating community gathering spaces, room for outdoor cafes,
etc. They emphasized many times that the roadway is under capacity for
the number of lanes, and that traffic (even with IKEA coming) can be
accommodated in two lanes. They said the bottlenecks are mainly at the
intersections, and that the synchronized light timings (for around 25
mph or so) will really improve things. Also, they mentioned how regional
and IKEA traffic should use 28 and Mystic Ave and signage will guide
people that way, so as not to use Broadway as a cut-through.
I spoke up in support of the bike lanes on behalf of the bike committee
and asked what the bounds of the lanes were. The project goes all the
way to McGrath (but not across) but the bike lanes start at Cross St.
The consultant said they know the McGrath intersection is a challenge
and are actively working with the city and DCR to improve it. I think he
said that the city actually wants to take ownership of McGrath from the
DCR so they can do what they want with it (YAY!).
Also, they're proposing a "bike station" where the current small parking
lot is at the eastern edge of the project. Apparently there has been
interest by bike shop owners to provide services there. Current
proposals include a combination of bike parking, repair services, and a
bike sharing station, so that people can take the T out to Sullivan
Square and then rent a bike to use to get around the area. Cool stuff!
Charlie