Swansea, MA
Swansea Mall Drive Improvements
Community Workshop #1
Presentation to Town of Swansea
6, 2023
June
Timeline of Events
Swansea submitted a Letter of Intent to MassDOT to initiate complete streets recognition
FEB
OCT 2021
2022
Swansea Mall Drive project approved by MassDOT SUMMER 2023
2022
Swansea's Complete Streets Prioritization Plan was completed 2021
Swansea became a Complete Streets Community by passing municipal legislation on complete streets
JAN
Swansea's first Complete Streets project was approved for funding - Bark Street Sidewalks SEPT
Bark Street sidewalk construction
Coordinated Project
Compatible with Town’s 2021 Complete Streets Program
Implements Elements of the Swansea Comprehensive Plan 2024
TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE
6:00pm Welcome and Project Presentation
6:30pm Design Stations Open for Questions, Discussion, and Capturing Your Suggestions
7:30pm
Close Design Stations and Provide Recap
8:00pm
Design Stations Close and Meeting Adjourned
Welcome to The Swansea Mall Drive Design Workshop!
Introductions
Matthew Skelly, PE, PTOE Senior Project Manager
Ajeet Sandhu, EIT Project Engineer
Katherine Patch, PE Senior Transportation Engineer
Arnold Robinson, AICP Planning Director
Project Area
Swansea Mall Drive from Wood Street to Milford Road (1 mile)
Project Funding
First two phases of design are covered under Chapter 90 and cover up to $500k
• Construction cost is projected at approx. $9.1M
− Will be paid for by State and Federal funds
• The project is included in the MassDOT Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
•
What are ‘Complete Streets’ ?
“A Complete Street is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes – walking, biking, transit, and motorized vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities. Designing streets with these principles contributes toward the safety, health, economic viability and quality of life in a community…”
Source: MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program Guidance (2016)
What are ‘Complete Streets’ ?
Project Goals
• Improve safety for all roadway users
− Slow vehicle speeds
− Improve accessibility
− Improve access to public transit
• Enhance connection to and from key locations
• Promote economic development
• Incorporate public green space
Project Schedule
Task
Community Workshop
You are here
Alternatives Development
Environmental Permitting
Preliminary Design
Final Design
Construction Engineering
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Existing Conditions & Key Issues
• Vehicles •
Cyclists
• Pedestrians
Vehicles - Existing Conditions & Key Issues
• Wide travel lanes and shoulders
• High vehicle speeds
Vehicles - Crash History
2018-2020 Top 5% vehicle crash cluster for Massachusetts
Vehicles - Project Goals
• Create safer intersections
• Calm vehicle speeds
Cyclists - Existing Conditions & Key Issues
• Bike safety
• Bike user comfort
• Existing road configuration does not meet MassDOT complete streets design standards for a principal arterial road
Cyclists - Project Goals
•
• Make biking more comfortable
Least Comfortable
Most Comfortable
Create required safe bicycle accommodations
City of Boston Better Bike Lanes, https://www.boston.gov/departments/boston-bikes/better-bike-lanes
Source:
Pedestrians - Existing Conditions & Key Issues
• Crossing safety and visibility
• Accessibility compliance of sidewalks, ramps, and transit stop
Pedestrians - Crash History
2017-2019 Top 5% pedestrian crash cluster for Swansea
Pedestrians - Project Goals
• Ensure accessibility of all sidewalks and ramps
• Improve pedestrian crossing visibility
COMMUNITY INPUT
Tonight's Goals
HOW DOES THE EVENT WORK?
At tonight’s Workshop we’re focused on getting YOUR input into the upcoming improvements for the Swansea Mall Drive project area. We’ll share a brief presentation on the project, then spend most of our time hearing from on what you see as important upgrades to Swansea Mall Drive in Swansea.
You’ll be able to talk with the engineers and planners who’ll be designing the improvements and share your ideas. We’ve set up Design Stations, each focused on different, but interrelated, parts of the project:
• Station 1: Vehicle Drivers
• Station 2: Cyclists and Bike Facilities
• Station 3: Pedestrians and Walking Connections
Station: Vehicles
1. For vehicles and drivers, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Positive that should be kept or enhanced?
2. For vehicles and drivers, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Negative that should be eliminated or changed (and how)?
3. What other ideas do you have for improving things for vehicles and drivers?
Station: Bicycles
1. For bicycles, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Positive that should be kept or enhanced (and how)?
2. For bicycles, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Negative that should be eliminated or changed (and how)?
3. What other ideas do you have for improving things for cyclists?
Station: Pedestrians
1. For pedestrians, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Positive that should be kept or enhanced (and how)?
2. For pedestrians, what elements of Swansea Mall Drive are Negative that should be eliminated or changed (and how)?
3. What other ideas do you have for improving things for pedestrians?
