Today, 2 residents from the Community Access Project of Somerville (CAPS) took their digital levels and measuring tapes and perambulated down Holland Street. We checked both sides of the sidewalk, from Winter Street to the Traffic and Parking Building (133 Holland St.) and then went back to Davis Square via the other side. Just along Holland Street’s sidewalks, we found 27 discrete curb cut and walkway violations!
At a recent Board of Alderman meeting (4/24/08), Ald. Sullivan placed a Resolution: That this Board requests that the Traffic Commission evaluate the incline at the MBTA station (College Ave. exit) for a possible handicap ramp. 185483 Approved
We did the job and found that incline to be a 23% slope! (State Code requires that slopes do not exceed 8.3%).
At this same BoA meeting, related to the April 17 Senior Services Committee Report: Order 33B By Ald. White and Connolly: That the Director of Traffic and Parking survey all handicap ramps and sidewalks around senior housing complexes, and smooth those that are not in compliance with ADA regulations. 185490 Approved
Therefore, we will now offer this survey to the Senior Services Committee, since the condition of these sidewalk crossings directly affects the safety and access quality of Life issues for residents of Ciampa manor and surrounding streets. Since the order to “smooth” all noncompliant sidewalks was accepted, these 27 safety and access violations should keep DPW quite busy…
Join the fun! The map we created is found here.
Others can post pictures along the route, and add more notes and comments.
Posted in Accessibility, Development and Zoning, Neighborhoods and Squares
