[MassHistPres] Road Work in LHD

[Dennis De Witt]

With two exception Brookline's Commission has not faced this issue much.

We have asserted gotten recognition our historic street name signs are  
subject to review within LHDs.

About 10 years ago we were also consulted with respect to our only  
instance of traffic calming changes in an LHD -- something instituted  
as a result of great neighborhood pressure.

We accepted, with some misgivings the various curb changes and street  
markings to one of the oldest streets in town -- without having been  
made aware of the horrendous visual clutter of additional signage that  
the project would also generate.  It completely appalled much of the  
neighborhood.  Eventually, after several neighborhood meetings with  
the traffic planners, perhaps half the added signage was eliminated.   
The argument for keeping the remainder was liability to the town  
because of the humps and bump-outs.  There still is a lot of visual  
clutter.  It is not clear that, if it was put to a neighborhood vote  
today, the traffic calming changes would still be supported by a  
majority of the neighborhood.  Before the sign clutter was reduced, I  
think a majority of neighbors would have voted to eliminate it.

We were also once consulted about the relocation of a utility pole.

If you do assert a right to review "traffic control devices" (signage,  
stripes, etc.), you may have the MUTCD [Manual of Uniform Traffic  
Control Devices] thrown at you as an overriding "Federal Mandate."   
You will need to read this difficult document very carefully and learn  
to distinguish its "should"s from "shall"s.  But you should also be  
aware that under its present Commissioner MassHighway has published a  
guideline document intended to make MassHighway projects more  
sensitive to local conditions and needs.

Dennis De Witt
Brookline

On Jan 5, 2009, at 11:51 AM, Sullivan, Charles M. wrote:

> Over the years the Cambridge Historical Commission has reviewed new  
> traffic signals, light poles, and crosswalk striping in the Old  
> Cambridge Historic District. Now that traffic calming is a big thing  
> we’ve also been reviewing neckdowns, chicanes, islands, and the like.
>
> We do not have standards or guidelines for reviewing these  
> alterations beyond the Ch. 40C provisions for ensuring  
> “appropriateness.” With signal masts and light poles we’ve tried to  
> minimize their number consistent with safety standards, and require  
> that they are painted rather than bright stainless or aluminum. We  
> prevented one signal installation in favor of all-way stop signs.  
> With traffic calming measures, we look at placement, materials, and  
> future maintenance, among other things, and evaluate each  
> installation in the context of its surroundings. We’re always trying  
> to reduce the number, size, and placement of signs to a reasonable  
> minimum.
>
> We have never tried to prevent reasonable measures for traffic  
> safety, but many things designed by traffic engineers can be  
> improved so that they have a more appropriate appearance while still  
> performing their necessary functions. There’s no question that we  
> have the basic authority over local roads, but a measured approach  
> helps preserve our jurisdiction.
>
> Charles Sullivan
> ________________________________
> Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
> Cambridge Historical Commission
> 831 Massachusetts Avenue
> Cambridge, Mass.  02139
> 617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu 
> ] On Behalf Of Gretchen Schuler
> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 9:03 AM
> To: Historic Preservation List-serv
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Road Work in LHD
>
> Does anyone have experience of a local historic district commission  
> reviewing (and approving) road work on roads maintained by the local  
> DPW or Highway Department?  If you have information about what you  
> reviewed (traffic light infrastructure, crosswalks, curbs,  
> sidewalks, etc.) and how you established any standards by which you  
> "measured" the proposed work, please do tell us.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> Gretchen Schuler
> Wayland Historic District Commission
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