By Jane Bradley Herlacher
(Editor’s note: This piece is in response to the March 7 Lincoln Squirrel article headlined “Repaving and more are planned for Route 2A.”)
As a homeowner living behind the Minute Man National Historical Park (MMNHP) ranger station for 35 years, I want to understand the MassDOT Route 2A Corridor Study Concepts. The study area is from the west side of I-95 in Lexington, along North Great Road and Bypass Road in Lincoln to Crosby’s Corner in Concord. For the past two and a half years, it has been disappointing that area residents were not identified as “stakeholders” and were not invited to the four stakeholder meetings. The only public link about the study is in the December 2020 issue of the Northside News. This lack of participation has never been the way Lincoln has been involved in projects of such importance.
At the October 2020 meeting, MassDOT announced that they were at the 25% design submittal stage and included the following concepts:
Traffic calming — Rotaries are proposed for Old Mass Avenue in Lexington and Hanscom Drive with slip lanes for bikes and pedestrians. Placemaking opportunities may enhance the road’s historic character, although nothing specific was shown or described.
Island treatments — Islands are suggested for the other roads even though they are designated scenic roadways exiting from rural residential areas which are separated by large reserved lands. Pedestrian/bike signs, not hardscape islands, are needed at just four proposed crosswalk locations (Brooks Road, Bedford Lane, Mill Street and Minuteman High School’s secondary driveway). No stop signs, only islands, were proposed for eastbound and westbound traffic on North Great Road at Bedford Road. The stop signs would more safely let pedestrians and bicyclists cross from the area’s only sidewalk, which is under the jurisdiction of MMNHP, not the Town of Lincoln.
Road widening — Since North Great Road is part of the Battle Road Scenic Byway and is an All-American Road (Massachusetts’s first and only federal designation as of February 2021), widening the corridor is inappropriate for this scenic road.
The repaving project must enhance the historic character of the MMNHP and the Battle Road Scenic Byway. Let’s consider:
- redesigning the intersections at Massachusetts Avenue and Forbes Road (Lexington)
- creating a rotary at Bypass Road (Lincoln) and Lexington Road (Concord)
- replacing 11 metal guardrails with wood ones
- eliminating the proposed sidewalk opposite Mill Street
- incorporating green space at exits of Mill Street and Bedford Road instead of painting the asphalt
- lowering the speed limit on North Great Road, not installing speed feedback signs
- removing the Route 2A designation from North Great Road and Bypass Road
Apparently the project is delayed because a presentation of the 25% design stage at a public meeting is now planned for Fall 2021 (not Fall 2020). At that time, will MassDoT seriously consider suggestions from Lincoln citizens? Lincoln has seen the benefit from full citizen participation in the outcome of the recent Route 2 project. Now we all ask for an open and transparent process for this project, too.
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Agreed: let’s not forget how the Commonwealth cut down countless trees along Route 2 at the beginning of the Crosby’s Corner flyover project without ever notifying the Selects or the residents of their intention!
MassHighway already lowered the speed limit on 2A. As the “stakeholders” presentation notes that the lower speed limit didn’t reduce speed. (The state engineers were surely aware that it would not, because speed limit signs in general don’t affect traffic speed. But when a stakeholder – NPS, in this case – calls for a favor, they do what they are told.)
I find it a general phenomenon that the so-called stakeholders in a project are not the residents and businesses most affected by it. When I lived in Newton the city was doing some work on my street, and I couldn’t get information (much less provide input). As a resident I was not important enough to be a “stakeholder.” I was a mere mortal without any advocacy group or lobbying money behind me. When they rebuilt Mass Ave in Arlington business owners found out the details too late to have any impact.
The presentation also predicts that removing the 2A designation would not affect traffic. I agree with that. Maybe decades ago it would have, back when 2A was routed around Concord center. But now computers tell people where to drive.
I agree that residents’ input should have been solicited and has to be considered. This notice is the first we have heard of any plans for 2A, on which we live. Shouldn’t the Board of Selectman weigh in with the state to insist on our involvement?
Please do not widen the road and take down the beautiful stonewalls.
The road will just become more of a speedway.
Nancy Bergen