HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-09-22-TAC-rpt.pdf TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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September 22 , 1977
To The Board of Selectmen
Planning Board
Representative Lincoln Cole , Jr
From The Transportation Advisory Committee
On September 21st , the committee met to discuss the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Red Line Extension to
Arlington Heights, and the following report expresses the views
of the committee
The committee focused its attention primarily on the plans
for a rapid transit station at Arlington Heihgts, and the implied
impacts of this station on the Lexington and Heights area We
believe the plans have not adequately dealt with the following
items
• a 350 car garage at Arlington Heights is planned to
meet the needs of the Heights residents only , and supply
will be greatly exceeded by demand No adequate plans
have been made for controlling or dealing with the spill-
over which is inevitable
• A revitalization of the area is being encouraged, but again
no plans are forthcoming to reconcile the increased parking
demand the changes will bring with the need to provide
parking for the transit patrons
• A station at Arlington Heights will attract riders from
Bedford, Burlington and Lexington, however bus service from
these areas has been planned to increase only minimally
If good bus service is not provided , residents of these
towns will drive to the Hieghts and try to park, thereby
increasing traffic on Lexington' s already congested streets
and gravely adding to the parking problems at the station
area
• Increased traffic along Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington
will be inevitable , and make it very difficult for cars to
make a left turn when entering the Avenue Plans for
signalization , particularly at Bow Street and Fottler Ave-
nue should be given serious consideration
During the construction period, plans call for transporting
materials over the Lexington Branch No details have been
provided regarding the point of loading, nor the frequency
of travel for the freight trains
In summary , the Transportation Advisory Committee believes
that more detailed planning is needed to meet the serious increase
in demand for parking which will occur in the Arlington Heights
area Furthermore , the META should re-examine its plans for bus
service from adjacent communities Specifically, it should consult
with the communities involved and seriously consider the benefits
of substantially increasing the level of service to Arlington Heights
If the MBTA fails to do so, then plans should be made for coping with
the increased traffic along Massachusetts Avenue, Routes 4 - 225,
and Lowell Street in Lexington
The Transportation Committee believes that Lexington should
respond to the Final Environmental Impact Statement All statements
are due by September 26th, and should be sent to
Mr Peter Benjamin, Director
Office of Program Analysis
Department of Transportation
Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Washington, D C 20590
We trust that this report will help you understand the
impacts that can be expected from the extension of rapid transit
to Arlington Heights
Yours sincerely,
/&,c
Joyce Hals, Chairman
COPY TO Board Members
Town Manager
Town Counsel
9-23-77
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