Swansea Mall Drive Improvements Community Workshop #2

SWANSEA MALL DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #2 JANUARY 10, 2024 PRESENTATION TO

TOWN OF SWANSEA

TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE

Welcome to the Swansea Mall Drive Design Workshop!

6:00PM

WELCOME AND PROJECT PRESENTATION

6:30PM

DESIGN STATIONS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION AND CAPTURING YOUR SUGGESTIONS

7:30PM

CLOSE DESIGN STATIONS AND MEETING ADJOURNED

INTRODUCTIONS

Katherine Patch, PE Senior Transportation Engineer

Matthew Skelly, PE, PTOE Senior Project Manager

Arnold Robinson, AICP Planning Director

Ajeet Sandhu, EIT Project Engineer

PROJECT INTRODUCTION

PROJECT AREA Swansea Mall Drive from Wood Street to Milford Road (1 mile)

PROJECT GOALS A complete street rehabilitation of Swansea Mall Drive with full upgrades to pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations.

The project is compatible with the Town’s 2021 Complete Streets Program and implements elements of the Swansea 2024 Comprehensive Plan

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)

Community Workshop Alternatives Development Environmental Permitting Preliminary Design Final Design Construction Engineering

2028

2027

2026

2025

2024

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sept

Aug

July

Task

June

PROJECT SCHEDULE / TABLE EXAMPLE

You are here

WORKSHOP 1 RECAP

MENTIMETER TRANSITION PLEASE GO TO MENTI.COM AND ENTER CODE 17 92 38 5

DID YOU ATTEND THE LAST PUBLIC WORKSHOP IN JUNE? MENTIMETER PRESENTATION

WORKSHOP #1 – WHAT WE LEARNED (VEHICLES) Speed and configuration concerns at the Wood Street intersection Lots of support for a roundabout at this intersection

More accessibility for driveways on Swansea Mall Drive Support in removing the existing center median

Existing intersection of Swansea Mall Drive at Wood Street. Only side streets are stop controlled.

WORKSHOP #1 – WHAT WE LEARNED (CYCLISTS) Existing shoulders are wide enough to accommodate cyclists Utilizing these unprotected shoulders can still be dangerous

There is a desire for protected bicycle lanes The bike paths condition was noted to be in poor condition Bike detection is desired

Painted bike lane is present on the eastern side of Swansea Mall Drive, north of its intersection with Swansea Crossing.

WORKSHOP #1 – WHAT WE LEARNED (PEDESTRIANS) Better accessibility for pedestrian systems is desired Ensuring ADA accessibility is present and signal times allow for slower users to safely cross

Continuous sidewalks on both sides of the roadway are desired More crossings/better intervals of crossings A more human scale to the roadway is desired Shade trees and other greenery is desired

Sidewalks are present on both sides of the roadway until south of the Swansea Veterinary Clinic. Any pedestrians travelling southbound on the east side of the roadway will need to walk back to Wood St (approximately 0.25 miles north) to cross the road or risk crossing illegally here.

MENTIMETER TRANSITION PLEASE GO TO MENTI.COM AND ENTER CODE 17 92 38 5

HOW DO YOU OFTEN USE SWANSEA MALL DRIVE? MENTIMETER PRESENTATION

KEY CONCEPTS & IMPLEMENTATION

COMPLETE STREETS IMPROVEMENTS

ROUNDABOUTS

POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

ROADWAY AND ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

Sidewalks Two Way Left Turn Lanes (TWLTL)

Sidewalks Two Way Cycle Track

GREEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS

GREEN SPACE DESIGN CONCEPT Green Space

CLIMATE IMPROVEMENTS Heat Island Effect: Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas.

Environmental Protection Agency

Dark surfaces absorb more energy from sunlight than lighter surfaces, which is released over time as heat energy.

Vegetation and soil absorb and release moisture, which cools the air. Trees also provide shade, which has a cooling effect.

MENTIMETER TRANSITION PLEASE GO TO MENTI.COM AND ENTER CODE 17 92 38 5

WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE FOR SWANSEA MALL DRIVE? MENTIMETER PRESENTATION

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.

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 the different concept designs prepared for Swansea Mall Drive: Station 1: Two Way Left Turn Lane Design Station 2: Road Diet Design Station 3: Median/Linear Park Design

STATION PROMPTS 1. What elements of this concept are POSITIVE that should be

kept or enhanced?

2. What elements of this concept are NEGATIVE that should be

eliminated or changed (and how/why)?

3. What other ideas do you have for improving this roadway?

MENTIMETER TRANSITION PLEASE GO TO MENTI.COM AND ENTER CODE 17 92 38 5

WOULD YOU SUPPORT CHANGING THE NAME OF THE ROAD TO SWANSEA DRIVE? MENTIMETER PRESENTATION