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MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE
WORKING SESSION NOTES
October 25, 2013 - 2:00 PM
Conference Room B, 3rd Floor, Town Hall
Voting Members Present: Len Belli, Charlie Corley, Julie Torres
Ex Officio Members Present: Michael Burks
Others Present: Jennifer Burke, Kerin Shea, Michelle Ciccolo, Ralph Wilmer (VHB)
Members Not Present: Terrence Joyce, Lorraine Nelson, Jim Quinn, Arthur Redding, Lynn Valcourt, Dave Stephens, Tony Marques, Brian Choquette, John Blood, Justin Provencher, Chris Sandini, Rodney Frias, Don Garcia, Sam Wong, Chris Yates
Update
Revisions have been made, incorporating comments into the Housing chapter. The Economic development chapter is still being revised. VHB hopes to have it to us by next week (week ending 11/1/13).
Review of DRAFT Transportation Chapter
There were many comments to include in this chapter.
7.1 Introduction -
- Hudson has excellent highway access, not limited. We have two exits off of 495. We are also located off routes 290, 62 & 85. We are a cut through for routes 20, 27, 117, 70 & even route 2.
- Add site plan review to complete streets
- Add way finding to signage
7.2 - Regional context –
- Studies have shown fixed route transit doable in transportation analysis zones. Have high density in center & west of Town. *MC to follow up?
7.2.1 - Regional planning –
- Clarify – sub-regions (MAGIC) within MAPC. We are adjacent to MWRC.
- Marlboro – is there a separate Route 20 plan or is that just a section of the Marlboro Economic Development Plan?
7.2.2 – Statewide TIP –
- It was the MPO’s 25 year plan, not MAPC’s
- There are no projects programmed for Hudson. Change from “planned for Hudson”. We have the Washington Street Bridge planned as an Accelerated Bridge Project (ABP). It is not on the TIP until the design is done.
7.3.1 - Regional planning –
- Mention the discontinuance of Rte 85 - .79 miles
- State owned Rd from Brigham St to Walgreens, not to the Bolton town line.
7.3.2 – Roadway Network –
- Add I-290 to the roadway network. Never mentioned at all?!
Rte 62 -
- Rte 62 – it’s Wilkins St & Coolidge St, not Rd.
- Coolidge St now 4 lanes in some sections, not 2 lane cross-section.
- Highland Commons has private drives.
- Use term Downtown or the Downtown, not Town Center. MAKE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT.
- There is a rotary downtown, not a roundabout. *MC to send clarification.
- Tower St is the easternmost segment, not western.
Rte 85 -
- Recommend parking demand management.
- Rte 85 - Re-order the road segments so it is continuous – Bolton line to Cox St, Cox St to Main St, Main St to Marlboro line.
- Lincoln St has limited sidewalks on 1 side – to Temi Rd.
- Mention 4 way stop at Cox/Lincoln/Packard? Put in last spring, 2012. Still meet HSIP criteria of 2010 w/stop sign in place?
- Mention South St. Developed as 2nd Main St & for traffic flow. Recommend it gets reclassified as __________.
- Main St – Berlin line to Main St or to rotary? Then Main St to Stow line?
- Recommend bike lane on Lincoln St, Cox St to Bolton line if width available.
- Evaluate traffic pedestrian mobility, parking etc in Downtown. Recommendation?
- Congestion – mention South St considered to be one way.
- Highland Commons traffic study – said rotary would fail when commons full. Put funds in place to configure rotary into 2 lanes. Have to relocate parking. MOST IMPORTANT TRAFFIC CONUNDRUM IN HUDSON. *MC to send paragraph.
- Mention the planning studies we wish to accomplish, traffic, circulation & infrastructure study, as well as the parking study. *MC to send paragraph.
- Widening of Washington St Bridge affect rotary & parking. *MC to send clarification.
- Cox/Lincoln/Packard made 4-way stop. Recommended for light, but DOT low priority.
- No parking along west side of Lincoln St. Parking allowed on eastern side.
- Technology Dr meeting HSIP crash cluster – how data affected by intersection upgrades due to rte 85 project?
Cox St -
- Cox St – limited sidewalks Manning St to Stratton Dr.
- Second bike lane to be added on Packard St.
- Explain Cox St Bridge
7.3.3 Vehicular Traffic –
- Incorporate the MAPC Bike/Ped Study.
- Incorporate the MAGIC Suburban Mobility Study.
- If a high # of residents work in town, there should be a high recommendation for bike/ped mobility upgrades.
- Explain why tables 7-4 & 7-5 are different, why both are important.
- Who is MetroBoston? Is there such an organization?
- Table 7-7, mention the # of households in Town & determine 3 of cars per household.
7.3.4 - Safety
- Rename to Intersection Safety. *MC would like conversation about this section.
- Main St & Lewis St, not Brook St.
7.3.5 Transit –
- Explain why Town not in RTA. *MC to clarify.
- 4 way stop at Cox/Lincoln/Packard - Put in last spring, 2012. Still meet HSIP criteria of 2010 w/stop sign in place?
- What “service improvements” was Hudson found to have a high potential for?
- Cite data to back up statement re: higher population & employment densities, population with no cars, low income, disabled, etc.
- Hudson Senior Shuttle does not take the disabled.
- Explain what transit connections & mobility are “necessary”.
- Mention Suburban Mobility Study – Phase 1 & 2, resulted in public/private TRA.
- Have a small section of the Mass Central Rail Trail (Wayside Trail) built along Railroad Ave, between Church St & Pope St.
7.3.6 Ped/Bike –
- What funding has been earmarked? None from town..
- Funding is not primary obstacle to sidewalks. ROW is, in addition to planning directives, too.
- “…town plans to pursue funding, once again…” Funding through where? What is “once again”? When have we pursued in past? *MC would like to follow up with this section.
7.3.7 Bridges -
- Mention Broad St & Main St bridges – new construction, replaced when?
- Explain difference between Cox St & Washington St bridges – why we are pushing Washington St. *MC to follow up with VHB.
7.4.1 Challenges -
7.4.2 Planned Developments -
- Add Broadview Heights, 33 condos on Broad St
Goals for Transportation -
- Expand transportation options for travelling WITHIN Hudson, not “with” Hudson.
- Add more context to the Parking Management & Infrastructure Plan.
1. Expand Transportation Options -
- “Develop & test(?) new bike facilities…” What? How?
- Clarify “non-traditional” sources.
2. Expand Public Transportation Options -
- Expand upon existing elderly & INCLUDE handicapped para-transit options…
3. Expand Complete Streets Programs -
- Complete Streets is defined as being safe for all users & encouraging active forms of transportation
Traffic Calming Measures -
- Remove “rumble strips”, may not even be in MUTCD anymore. Change to speed tables instead, or remove line completely.
4. Intersections -
- Again, affects of 4-way stop on Cox/Lincoln/Packard?
- Main St & Brook St, not Lewis St
5. Pedestrians -
- “…how they can travel between these DESTINATIONS,”, not “uses”.
- “Improve pedestrian mobility on rural residential roads…” By doing what? How? Trails? Easements?
6. Bicyclists -
- Check with Parks & Rec – do we have bike racks around Town? *VHB to follow up with LG.
- “Improve pedestrian mobility on rural residential roads…” By doing what? How?
- Wilkins St is also the trail head for the Mass Central Rail Trail (Wayside Trail), As well as the Assabet River Rail Trail.
- Subdivision should be required to connect to the ARRT when possible.
Review of DRAFT Energy Chapter
Due to time constraints, the review of this chapter will be rescheduled until a later date.
Other Business
Please get any additional comments on the Transportation chapter back to Jen or Kerin by November 1st. We will forward along to VHB for inclusion. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday November 21st at 9:00 am. We will be going over the Open Space & Historical/Cultural/Natural Resources Preservation chapters.
No members had any other questions or concerns at this time.
Minutes
There was no quorum to approve the minutes of March 14, 2013 & May 16, 2013.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:42 PM.
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