By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
12/10/09
Selectmen have questions about whether a plan to narrow the Central Avenue corridor and construct a 10-foot-wide multi-use path will have a negative impact on vehicle access on the roadway. Among the concerns the board expressed at its Nov. 30 meeting were potential reductions of on-street parking on Central Avenue, increased risk of having more pedestrian traffic near cars, and the inherent problem of plowing and shoveling additional snow from the new path, which would be on the Turners Pond side of the road.
“Would people have to shovel an additional 10 feet to get out of their driveway? I don’t know if this necessarily makes sense,” said Selectman Kathy Fagan, who said a better alternative may be to have painted white lines for bikers on Central Avenue rather than a wider multi-use path.
“I think when people were supporting a bike path they were thinking painted lines,” Fagan said.
At the meeting, Public Works Director Joe Lynch explained aspects of the project to Selectmen. He said the plan, a $3.1 million project currently seeking federal funding, originated several years ago when U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch called on communities to submit plans for infrastructure improvements. He said Lynch was particularly interested in projects that would link up with previous road-improvement plans.
The DPW director explained to Selectmen that Lynch was excited about the Central Avenue plan, which previous DPW Director Walter Heller envisioned, because it would link the bike path to the Neponset River Greenway path and would also connect road improvements to those previously made in the Central Avenue business district.
The town is working with the Massachusetts Highway Department and a privately hired consulting team to design the project.
Lynch said “75 percent of the project has yet to be designed” and it will only move forward if there is community-wide support.
“At the end of the day, if the community doesn’t support it, what’s the use of getting the money?” he said.
Selectmen Chairman John Shields said roadway improvements to Central Avenue are needed.
“Certainly the speed of that road is a huge problem. I think the project has to be done,” he said, adding that public input will be important in how it gets designed.
Selectmen Marion McEttrick was most concerned with how parking availability will be impacted with the bike-path construction. She questioned whether a 10-foot path is really necessary.
“I like the concept. But the parking is … a major issue,” she said. “There’s already a sidewalk there. So I don’t know why you need a 10-foot path. You need a bike path, but you already have a sidewalk.”
To see the current design of the Central Avenue project on the town’s Web site, go to www.townofmilton.org and, under Town Departments, click on Department of Public Works.