by eila in Accessibility, Development and Zoning, Neighborhoods and Squares, Pedestrians, Public Health & Safety, Seniors, Traffic & Parking, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Union Square, Ward 2, Ward 3
Posted on August 7, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Last Modified on August 14, 2010 at 10:40 pm
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Considering how the Somerville Avenue Reconstruction Project has been implemented between May 2007 and now, it’s amazing how muffled the outcry has been from businesses and pedestrians along this route.
On April 23, 2007, the mayor held a public meeting at the Somerville High School to roll out the Somerville Avenue Street Reconstruction Project.
When folks asked, “How will pedestrian access be maintained throughout the Project?,” mayor Curtatone said to the crowd: “Pedestrian access is among my highest priorities.”
The City’s stated minimum requirements included maintaining pedestrian access (page 13 of 97078 Presentation 4-23-07.pdf). Responsible parties collaborating on these efforts were named as: City of Somerville, Somerville Ave. Advisory Committee, MA Highway Department, P. Gioioso and Sons, Inc. and Design Consultants, Inc.
“Somerville Avenue is not only a major artery for the city but also the gateway to the entire Union Square development district,” said Curtatone, in an earlier press release.
Here’s that gateway, weekend of August 6 – 8, 2010:
here’s that gateway, a week earlier:
here’s that Gateway in Summer, 2009:
In 2008, the city’s designated ADA Coordinator responded to 18 complaints regarding lack of pedestrian safety and access along Somerville Ave during construction as follows (12/29/08 communication to State):
“The City of Somerville has worked very closely with Mass Highway to ensure that access along Somerville Avenue has been maintained… The next phase is scheduled for the spring [2009] beginning with full sidewalk reconstruction which will elevate all of these issues…”
Elevated. Right.
State regulations (521 CMR 3.10) require that a temporary accessible route always be provided around construction sites. Federal regulations state the same requirement.
Three years after the Somerville Avenue Reconstruction Project began, Union Square businesses are still hindered by lack of thoughtful pedestrian planning during construction; and Union Square residents, visitors and workers are still unable to walk these streets with confidence and comfort.
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Union Square is currently a pedestrian’s nightmare, with little or no guidance provided during yet another phase of construction.
Basically, it’s just “Tough Luck, folks, you’re on your own! Have a Nice Day!”
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…and as for the sidewalk cyclists wreaking havoc on pedestrians in Union Sq. with their own brand of Cyclists Behaving Badly, check out the rogue cyclists in NYC, in a CBS Special tonight (8/16) entitled “Bike Bedlam.”
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/16/bike-bedlam-nypd-goes-after-bad-bicyclists/
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What is going on with all the cross walks along Somerville ave. The pavement isn’t down which means there are 3-4 inch (or more) bumps in the road at every intersection, making driving very difficult and bicycling suicidal. What a complete mess.
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This square is disgusting already. I have lived outside of Union Square for almost 6 years and for the entire time there has been construction. It is a complete shame that pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers cannot get around this square. Shame on you, Somerville!
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Wow, haven’t you guys ever heard of under construction? Yes, Somerville Ave has been a mess, but they’re doing a massive amount of work and the street will look wonderful by the time it’s done. I’d say give the construction team a break. It’s a work in progress right now.
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SML, if the world followed your lead Individuals with Disabilities would still be forced to live in institutions. If the non-Disabled can proceed to walk around a construction zone, Individuals with Disabilities should also be given the opportunity to finish their daily activities.
I’m curious if you have ever heard of Civil Rights, no?
As for the current ADA Coordinator: Mrs Campbell does not know the issues surrounding Access needs & requirements, and has intentionally sabotaged efforts to do the right thing! Many curb cuts and street Access via sidewalks etc..are in violation of not only ADAAG but the MA AAB. Another issue I have seen personally, and it is a common practice by some Somerville employees, is the fact that they park city owned vehicles in Accessible parking spaces, which is a violation of the HP laws, then they leave them there for extended amounts of time.
Get Mrs Campbell out of that position and put an Individual in that will truly look out for the best interest of the Somerville residents that need the improved and law required Access.
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Scott,
I’m puzzled as to what this article has to do with individuals with disabilities specifically? If the author intended to complain about access for the disabled they did a really poor job of getting their point across.
If I had to sum up the article, I would have said that seems like the author is unhappy because she feels that pedestrians and businesses have not complained enough about the city’s maintenance of good overall pedestrian access to Union Square throughout the project.
If the author was attempting to highlight an issue important to the disabled folks in our community perhaps some quotes from them would have been nice. Or, pictures of specifically tough areas. That would have been a helpful way to educate those of us who do not encounter accessibility issues frequently on the problem.
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