Public officials met last week for a walkthrough of the Cross St. sidewalk plaza area to discuss a potential reconfiguration of the traffic and parking situation. The City’s Transportation Commissioner, Tom Timlin, attended along with MassDOT representative John Romano, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz and City Councilor Sal LaMattina. The officials agreed the situation presents public safety concerns and is therefore unsustainable. As if on-cue, Councilor LaMattina was nearly hit by a Jaguar trying to beat the light by using the cresent roadway that goes through the sidewalk area.
In addition to alternatives for the roadway, much of the discussion was the trade-off between merchant (day) and resident (night) parking spaces that exist today versus an increase in the pedestrian area. It appeared the interior parking closest to the buildings could be eliminated and mostly replaced by spaces on Cross Street, including the block where the cab stand now exists.
The transportation authorities are expected to coordinate on potential reconfigurations to be disclosed at upcoming public meetings.
Related posts:
Cross St. Sidewalk Comment Letter Issued by NEWRA
NEWNC “Tables” Confusing Plan for Cross Street Sidewalk Area
Revised Outdoor Seating/Parking Plan For Cross Street Sidewalk Plaza
I was just over there – it looks like the city didn’t plow the drive-through area. Whose responsibility is that? As the winter goes on, all that drifted and churned up snow will just keep melting a bit during the day and icing up at night, making it dirty, ugly and even more difficult for traffic to navigate and for pedestrians to trudge through to reach the stores.
Where was the BRA??? The organization that was saying how no reconfiguration was possible???