Notes provided by Representative Alice Wolf (email: alicewolf@alicewolf.org)

Participants

• Alice K. Wolf - State Representative
• Richard Rossi - Deputy City Manager
• Sue Clippinger - Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation
• Sam Corda - Managing Director of Water Department
• Charles Sullivan - Director, Historical Commission
• Owen O'Riordan - Assistant Commissioner for Engineering and City Engineer
• Susanne Rasmussen - Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning
• Richard Desantis - Massachusetts Highway Department
• Brian Zilinsky - Massachusetts Highway Department
• Ernie Monroe - Massachusetts Highway Department
• Joseph Cormier - S.E.A. Consultants, Inc
• Robert Collari - J.F. White Contracting
  

Summary of Progress

• Truck restriction to remain in effect
• Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) agreed to change concrete wall to look like stone wall and make fence more aesthetically pleasing
• Lanes/space for bikes to be wider after bridge completion
• Historic marker to be replaced upon completion of the bridge
• JF White to increase geographic area for pre- construction inspection
• City has requested that lanes be narrowed from 11 ft to 10 ft because research shows this slows down traffic and does not cause more accidents. This also leaves more room for bicycles.
• Bill Deignan of the Community Development Department will be the main contact person

Unresolved Issues

• Traffic Detours: Traffic intersections that are troubled (Upland Rd, Sherman St, Porter Square shopping area). Committee(s) to continuously review traffic detour situation. Traffic calming on Walden Street and Upland Road
• Communication process
• Aesthetics
• Cowpath
• Noise abatement (nights/weekends)
• Impact on local businesses

Next Steps

• Meeting Oct 11th, 6pm to 8pm for abutters
• Neighbors form traffic committees to work w/ Sue Clippinger
• City to implement website for information and updates
• JF White hiring consultant to handle pre-construction inspection of abutters' homes
• List of Issues that have been resolved by the City
• Aesthetics: The City worked with MHD on the aesthetics and have come to an agreement on a more aesthetically pleasing bridge. There could still be some improvement.
• Divider: The divider is a serious safety issue so it will not be a part of the new bridge.
• Communications: The City's Department of Public Works will be posting a webpage to inform the community about the bridge, construction updates, etc
• Trash and recycling: JF White handles the trash, recycling and mail. They have a good history of this with the City. If for any reason you are not receiving these services, contact the City and it will be taken care of.
• Pre-inspection: JF White will be handling pre-inspections for abutters.
• Trees: The City arborist will work to ensure that no unnecessary damage is done to the trees.
• Traffic: The City would like to establish a small subcommittee to monitor traffic and make changes as necessary.
• Traffic calming: The City made a request to MHD to make traffic calming modifications on Walden Street
• Truck exclusion: This will remain in place after the project is complete. Alice Wolf provided information on the City regulation and approval by Mass Highway in 1977. Changing this would require both the City and State to sign-off.
• Environmental impact: City will work with JF White on the process for notification of neighbors (JF White is required to notify neighbors if there is potential for negative impact). Soil tests were completed by the State and no contaminants were found.
• Worker parking: This will be restricted to the work site. If any workers are Cambridge residents, they have the right to park outside the work site as other Cambridge residents do.
• Pedestrian access: This is part of the construction plan and will be improved after completion of the bridge.
• Public art: The State does not have a 1% for public art program; only the City. The City will look into planters or other aesthetic improvements after completion of the bridge.

Summary of Issues Raised During the Meeting

• Delaying Project: Before moving into questions from the community, Rich Desantis of MHD told participants that a recent inspection of the bridge showed it was in desperate need of repair and would need a miracle to survive. A redesign of the bridge would require starting over which would also mean the possible loss of federal funding. If delayed, there is a chance the bridge would have to be closed down anyway which would mean a much longer period without a bridge.
• Pedestrian Access: During construction of pedestrian bridge, pedestrians will be able to walk on the west sidewalk (side where condos currently being constructed). The 8 foot wide pedestrian bridge will be located on the east side of the bridge. The work site is on Walden from corner at Richdale to King and Mead.
• Length of Construction: JF White explained that two year contract could mean only 15 months but contractor dependent on utility companies and NSTAR is notoriously slow. Rich Rossi promised to pressure NSTAR in any way he could to prioritize this and move the process along.
• Construction Office: Question arose about placement of the construction office. JF White told participants it was no longer looking at Creighton St. It is currently looking at possible rental space on Mass Ave.
• Traffic: Neighbors have great concern about traffic on Upland Rd and long-term promise from the City of traffic calming measures that have yet to be put in place. Upland Rd. traffic calming going to bid this fall with construction in spring of 2007. Neighbors should form a committee (Upland neighbors already have one) to work with Sue Clippinger on traffic issues.
• Sue Clippinger explained that the detours were set up so that people had a number of options and therefore all traffic wouldn't follow one detour route. People come from a number of different places and use this area as a cut through. The detour will most likely influence people who are traveling from further away to not use this as a cut through. Right now there are no plans for one-ways or getting rid of parking on certain streets. However, as the project goes along this can be changed if need be.
• Sue Clippinger explained that the entire redesign of the Porter Square area, including the left turn out of the shopping center, came out of a lengthy community process. It provides a number of new crosswalks for pedestrians. The downside is that Upland Rd is more backed up. The City is still working on making this area flow better.
• Bridge Design/Divider: A neighbor explained that this was an extremely dangerous bridge and that he believed the divider was put in place to make it safer. JF White explained that it is not actually a divider but a piece of steel put in place to hold the bridge up. It is actually very dangerous-it was not put in place to make it safer. The new bridge will not have a similar piece of steel.
• Water/Flooding: A neighbor expressed concern over the water and flooding situation and that raising the bridge would make this worse. JF White said the water run-off would be efficient after completion of this bridge.
• Workers: JF White will have dumpster in work site for trash; City will provide recycling bins; 2 port-a-potties for workers.
• Dust and Enviromental Impact: JF White explained that all of its equipment has the latest retrofits with scrubbers. JF White is obligated to notify MHD and neighbors if there are any problems. Soil borings were done on the surface with no indications of negative impacts. MHD send this to the City. City will ensure Sam Lipson has this information.
• Noise: JF White explained that most of the work will be done during the day with only some work done at night. Also, all of the equipment has mufflers on it and that this type of work should actually be relatively quiet.
• Process: Neighbors expressed deep concerns about the process. The last public meeting that allowed the community to have input on the design was in 2000. Only when the construction is about to start did neighbors have the opportunity to voice concerns and now it seems too late.

MHD, contractors and City agreed to hold meeting on October 11th from 6-8pm at the North Cambridge Senior Center for abutters to get detailed information about construction and their homes.Also, anyone who wanted to stay after the meeting and speak with the contractors and review plans was invited to do so.

Questions raised after the meeting

• Can Mass Ave traffic signs be changed to say "Abutters only" instead of "local traffic only"?
• Can parking spaces be provided for convenient store? (City will look into arranging this)
• Can something be done to ensure greater safety at the intersection of Richdale and Walden where parking (see above) is a problem?