[MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?

[Eric Breitkreutz]

I know that there was a much-touted success in preserving Newburyport's 
historic High Street from a destructive DOT widening project back in the 
mid-1990s, but I cannot remember any of the details anymore.  Hopefully 
my recollection will jar the memory of those in Newburyport much more 
closely involved in the preservation effort, and they can provide some 
more specific information to you, Suzanne.

Best of luck,

Eric Breitkreutz
Wakefield



Joseph S. Larson wrote:
> In 1998 citizens of Pelham objected to the Selectmen having entered 
> into a contract with the state for widening a road without much prior 
> warning to the town. In 1999 Town Meeting amended the two "boiler 
> plate" articles that appear in each Annual Town Meeting Warrant to 
> authorize the Selectmen to: 1. Accept state or federal funds or 
> grants, and 2. Enter into contracts with Mass Highway for construction 
> and/or maintenance of public highways.
>  
> The amendment to each article added the following language:
> "...provided that no funds shall be expended to widen, or to enter 
> into a contract to widen, any town road unless the Board of Selectmen 
> has held a public hearing advertised at least fourteen (14) days in 
> advance with any proposed contract and/or plans for such road 
> improvements being posted for public viewing prior to the public 
> hearing, and further provided that such policy is consistent with 
> state and federal requirements."
>  
> The amended form of the two articles has been used each year since 
> 1999. On one or two occasions the articles were presented without the 
> additional language and each time Town Meeting has amended them before 
> voting to pass them.
>  
> In 2002 Town Meeting enacted the Scenic Roads bylaw and applied it to 
> all town roads, except the two state highways, Routes 202 and 9.
>  
> So far these provisions have seemed to provide the public 
> participation that citizens want to have. However, new road 
> construction or re-construction in Pelham has been minimum.
>  
> Joseph S. Larson, Chairman
> Pelham Historical Commission
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Suzanne W Pelton <mailto:sw.pelton at verizon.net>
>     *To:* MassHistPres MA <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>     *Sent:* Saturday, June 20, 2009 2:10 PM
>     *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Keeping Village Roads Narrow?
>
>     Lenox is poised for a road improvement project in 2010 to:
>     reconstruct existing surface, improve the shoulders for bicycle
>     lanes, rebuild the sidewalk, and provide drainage and sewer
>     improvements on a 2-lane minor highway (known in
>     Highway Department-land as "Other Through Highway.") The road is
>     to be widened to accommodate bike traffic though one doesn't see
>     much of that on this rather steep hill. residents were given a
>     choice of widening the sidewalk or widening the road, neither
>     option being desired.
>
>     The Lenox HC wonders if there are communities who have succeeding
>     in preserving their narrow historic roads rather than widen for
>     bike paths (and more traffic?) The road is not heavily trafficked
>     except following Tanglewood concerts, maybe 30 times in the
>     season. We are concerned that the paring away of parkway will
>     change the character of the road leading into our historic village.
>
>     Suzanne Pelton
>     Lenox HC
>
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