City Council Transportation Sub Committee

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes Date: January 17, 2017 Time: 5:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA Transportation SC January 17, 2017. PRESENT: Present on Roll Call were C. Rourke, C. Belanger and C. Leahy. Also present were Joshua Trearchis (VHB); Matthew Kealey (VHB); Patricia Domigan (VHB); Nicolas Bosonetto (Traffic Engineer); Manager Murphy; C. Milinazzo; C. Leary; C. Samaras; M. Kennedy; C. Mercier; and C. Elliott. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: C. Rourke called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber. ORDER OF BUSINESS: Manager Murphy introduced team responsible for project noting that access to the Hamilton Canal District (HCD) was critical to any design. Mr. Bosonetto introduced VHB team who were design consultants for the project. Mr. Bosonetto made presentation to committee entitled “Presentation Lord Overpass Redesign – City Council Transportation SC – January 17, 2017”. Mr. Bosonetto commented on grants from the State and that MassDOT would be having oversight of the construction and design. Mr. Bosonetto outlined the following design elements which MassDOT would require in projects; 1. Purpose, 2. Community Context, 3. Users, and 4. Transportation needs. Mr. Bosonetto noted that Thorndike Street widening and Lowell Connector redesign of on ramps would coincide with this project. Mr. Bosonetto outlined four design alternatives before the board which included redesign of existing structure; a filling in of the overpass; a multimodal concept; and an HCD fill in access concept which encompassed a lot of elements from alternatives. Mr. Bosonetto noted that the HCD concept fulfilled the MassDOT measures of effectiveness for their projects. Mr. Bosonetto discussed each of the following measures; safety, economic development, capacity, City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 2) community, Complete Streets Grant compliance, community aesthetics, and transportation equity. C. Leahy questioned some turning points on this concept. C. Milinazzo noted support of the HCD alternative and questioned effect on rail road tracks. C. Belanger supported HCD concept as it was based on data and community input. Mr. Bosonetto commented that the concept may change slightly as they progress but traffic would improve as the lights would be running of central control. M. Kennedy questioned some features of the HCD concept and noted that the current scheme should be viewed as two bridges and that new scheme could be more confusing with more control lights if they went to at grade concept. Ms. Domigan noted that they could research M. Kennedy question regarding one ramp at each side of connector but noted that such a design would enhance traffic in other parts of the City. Mr. Bosonetto noted that the bridges are in disrepair and in need of work which if done would not make them State compliant and that maintenance of them would be costly as well. The meeting was open to public in which two members addressed the body. Motion by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leahy to recommend to City Council to adopt the HCD access fill in concept for the project. Adopted per Roll Call vote, 3 yeas. So voted. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn by C. Belanger, seconded by C. Leahy. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov