Nov. 8 concern prompted call next day
About six weeks after that, on Nov. 8, several residents, including Schlichtman, expressed concerns to the Select Board about the lack of significant progress on safety improvements to the intersection. Read a news summary >>
The next day, Chouinard sent an email to Fallon, asking whether MassDOT has made a determination on proposed changes for Mystic Street.
Six days later, on Nov. 15, Chouinard saw that his email had been returned and recognized that the Chestnut Street submission was too large for the state email system. He broke down the email files and successfully sent them to MassDOT.
On Nov. 22, Chapdelaine updated the Select Board, saying: “we’re now back on MassDOT’s radar.” Read a news summary >>
Two days later, on Nov. 24, Stedman, MassDOT District 4 Highway Division director, responded to the Nov. 9 email. He wrote that the state did not receive the July 30 email, likely due to the size of the attachments. He wrote, “Overall, we do not believe that the proposed changes will negatively impact the intent of those prior improvements.” The response addressed Chouinard’s list of issues in detail.
Nov. 30 records request, then positive news
Schlichtman filed his records request with the town Nov. 30, “because it didn’t feel plausible that the state has been sitting on the request for several months. I wanted to see exactly when the request was sent to the state,” he told YourArlington on Dec. 12.
In response to the records request, also sent to the Select Board and others, Chapdelaine emailed Schlichtman and the board on Dec. 15. Here is a summary of that email — with positive news:
1: Sidewalk Replacement at Municipal Parking Lot — A temporary sidewalk replacement has been completed with asphalt and a more permanent concrete replacement will be completed next construction season and coordinated with the repaving of the roadway:
2: “No Turn On Red” Sign — This has been installed.
3: Install Pedestrian Crossing and Advanced Warning Signs for the Two Cross Walks — The signs have been acquired and will be installed before the end of this week if not sooner.
4: Review Options on Street to Determine how to Delineate Temporary Curb Extensions — This review has been completed, bollards have been acquired and they will be placed/installed before the end of this week.
5: Review Options to Determine how to Delineate Temporary Median Islands — This review has demonstrated that the delineation of either temporary or permanent median islands will need to await the completion of a survey of the roadway and the drafting of construction ready engineering drawings. We plan to issue an RFP for survey, design and engineering services this week. Our intention is to have construction drawings ready for next construction season so that work can be coordinated with the planned roadway repaving work. We also plan to include a preliminary analysis of the intersection of Mystic/Chestnut (and the slip lane) in this scope of work.
6: Review Further Requirements for Longer Term Study, Traffic and Pedestrian Counts Prior to Installing Rapid Flash Warning Beacon — This work will be included as part of the survey, design and engineering work referenced under Item No. 5.
As to related requests to have the crosswalk at Chestnut Terrace repainted, Chapdelaine wrote: “We will plan this repainting effort to be coordinated with the planned work for next construction season.”
Nov. 29, 2021: Frustration meets Chestnut St. repair delays; town now on MassDOT’s radar
This news summary was published Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
