Sudbury Residents Asked to Pay $700K Toward Plan to Rebuild Town Center
Board of Selectmen approve the plan that will help with traffic flow.
Photos
Pdfs
The malfunctioning of the Town Center lights couldn't have come at a more ironic time, but Public Works Department Director Bill Place said it had nothing to do with the overall plans to reconstruct the area.
Place, along with Planning and Community Development Director Jody Kablack and Police Chief Richard Glavin, reviewed plans that will help the traffic flow in the congested part of town during Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting.
Place said the area has more concerns than just the lights, including:
- alignment
- queing
- accident rates
- and alternate routes.
"We have three times the state average in accidents (in that area)," Place said.
But it was agreed the most pressing issue today is the lights. On Feb. 14, Sudbury officers worked the traffic detail until technicians got them working again. But Place said it is only a temporary fix.
"We do not know how to fix the control," Place said, adding that it will be about two weeks before the fix is permanent and that the cost for the temporary fix is $10,000. "I'm hoping to have an estimate to fix them (soon)."
Among the other changes for the intersection is an expansion of Concord Road by 12 feet, which will help larger vehicles make safer left-hand turns.
"What's the cost and how will we pay for it?" Selectman John Drobinski asked.
Kablack said the estimated cost is $1.8 million and that residents will be asked to shoulder approximately $700,000 of the cost, with the remaining funds coming from the Town's allocation of Chapter 90 State Roadway Funds ($1 million) and Community Preservation Act funds ($100,000).
"I think this is well overdue," Glavin said.
The Board unanimously endorsed the plans for Annual Town Meeting.
Engineered plans of the intersection can be viewed here: Sudbury Center Intersection Plan - Engineered
Kirsten Vandijk
7:32 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Ironic time? Inevitable is more like it. Without a Legend attached to the engineered plans it makes for difficult reading. My main concern is the removal of the Historic Structure at Grinnell Park to make way for more traffic in such a tiny configuration. But with the recent purchase of the abutting land to the West the stone wall will most likely be rebuilt. The demolition delay bylaw covers stone walls--I'm sure the Town is working with both the Historic Districts Commission as well as the Historical Commission to do everything by the book. It still enables faster and heavier traffic instead of calming the traffic. How unfortunate we could not look to our neighbor Concord for clues as to how to manage traffic while encouraging foot traffic. This will definitely impact the character of the center. Instead of lines of commuter traffic we will now see more 18 wheelers in the mix. If you build it they will come.
Sudbury Citizen
8:42 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Kirsten No Passion, we don't care about your opinions. Go to Bristol, R.I. today and see if they have a site that you can comment on. I bet with a week they will want you to move from their. How was Valentine's day for you. Rumor has it that it was a bust. I guess the boycott is working and all of Sudbury prefers Frugal Flower. They are cheaper and don't sell wilted flowers.
M
12:46 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
At least they have lights. How about Landham/RT 20 intersection? That is a public safety nightmare. Does the town need a new police station before lights at Landham? I dont think so..
Kirsten Vandijk
6:16 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
That intersection is the purview of the State and not the Town of Sudbury as it is a state highway.
Rob
1:57 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
"We do not know how to fix the control," ~ Bill Place
kdroop
5:53 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Kirsten, I am sure this will improve things there. Safety is a real issue. Rob, I heard that the reason they could not fix the light is because they do not make the part anymore.
Spirit of 01776
6:55 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Does that make KD Roop Assistant Community Housing Specialist?
pmotw
9:37 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Are we really paying someone to drive Miss Rust around?
kdroop
9:55 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
To the last three posters. Never have been a driver. Do not work for community housing, and have never been a "mouthpiece" for anyone. Silly comments by uninformed posters lack credibility.
kdroop
7:50 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Answer number one; yes. I work 5 hours a week for the planning office. I have absolutely nothing to do with the housing office. Again, do your homework. Answer number two; yes. If you go back to many many meetings and issues in town, you will see that I had many issues I did not share the same point of view with both. So the question is this; does this matter enough for you to check, and to what end? I have said before,I have no agenda other than to do what in my opinion is what is best for my community. Thank you.
Rob
8:06 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Show me a piece of equipment they dont make parts for and ill show you the internet. NASA bought parts from ebay when their parts broke that were no longer manufactured they didnt scrap the old equipment and say sorry folks we cant do it. To say the part isnt out there is an easy way out however i highly doubt it cant be found by a resourceful person. Pro Tip: www.google.com
SueChap
7:00 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Rob - couldn't agree with you more. Sudbury has expiring debt and those that be are diligently looking to spend, spend, spend, so our tax bills do not decrease. God Forbid we have an underride and actually see a little financial relief.