Public Participation; MassDOT oversight for compliance on
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Stephen Buckley
Nov 20, 2014, 11:07:23 PM11/20/14
to Frank DePaola, Clinton Bench, Mark Guenard, Michael Furlong, Thomas Currier, Pamela Haznar, Mary-Joe Perry, Jill Goldsmith, Gloria Freeman, Tim Wood
To: Frank DePaola <frank....@state.ma.us>
From: Stephen Buckley <sbuc...@igc.org>
Subject: Public Participation; MassDOT oversight for compliance on
Cc: Clinton Bench <clinto...@state.ma.us>, Mark Guenard <mark.guenard@state.ma.us>, Michael Furlong <michael...@state.ma.us>, Thomas Currier <thomas....@state.ma.us>, Pamela Haznar <pamela...@state.ma.us>, Mary-Joe Perry <mary-jo...@dot.state.ma.us>, Jill Goldsmith <jgold...@chatham-ma.gov>, Gloria Freeman <free...@comcast.net>, Tim Wood <tw...@capecodchronicle.com>
Bcc: govmi...@earthlink.net, openc...@googlegroups.com
Attached:
Mr. Francis DePaola
MassDOT Highway Division Administrator
10 Park Plaza, Room 4160
Boston MA 02116-3973
also via: frank....@state.ma.us
November 20, 2014
Subj: Public Participation; MassDOT oversight for compliance on
Dear Mr. Paola,
I am writing to request an official opinion from MassDOT as to whether a project proponent has complied with the specific requirements for Public Participation, as specified in MassDOT " Project Development and Design Guide" (2006), with regard to the project proposed for Route 28 in West Chatham (Project # 60659 6 ).
I have already raised this issue a number of times this year at meetings of the Cape Cod MPO (Metropolitian Planning Organization) where Pamela Haznar, MassHighway District 5, has participated as your representative. However, the only response that I have received has been dismissive and only verbal (i.e., unofficial). I believe that the following information is enough to justify further investigation by MassDOT.
During the Spring 2013 Town Meeting in Chatham, its citizens were so frustrated with the public planning process for the Route 28 project in West Chatham that they voted for the Town to withdraw (p. 30) from the process altogether. But, because the Board of Selectmen were not bound by that vote, they continued with the process, promising that the new (i.e, fourth) consultant would finally present the public with a "slew of options" to review.
Six months later, however, at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of 11/12/13, under an agenda item referred to merely as an "Update", the consultant made a power-point presentation of its roadway study, followed by the Selectmen deciding (at the video's 02:46:00 mark) to go forward with the consultant's recommended design alternative ... all without any opportunity to the public to review documents (because there weren't any) before a decision was made. (!)
While that action, of course, is in stark contrast to the very public promises made at the previous Town Meeting, it also contradicts your MassDOT Guide (on page 2-23) requirements for the "Project Presentation Meeting" where the proponent (Town government) is required to hold a meeting for the public "to overview the alternatives" and "to solicit input" after providing "handout materials" describing the alternatives, including a "visual depiction" of each design alternative.
I've looked at your website and can not find an office responsible for state-wide oversight on this topic, so that is why I am contacting you. I would be glad to share additional background and details with whomever you designate.
By copy of this letter to the Chatham Board of Selectmen (via the Town Manager), I am also requesting that this matter of (non)compliance be added as an Agenda Item for discussion at a future Board meeting. I expect that they may already be preparing to discuss this matter, as I publicly raised the issue in the Cape Cod Chronicle (11/6/14) as a "Letter to the Editor" (see below).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the number below.
sincerely,
Stephen Buckley
15T Balfour Lane
Chatham, MA 02633
(508) 348-9090
http://www.twitter.com/Op enChatham.com
P.S. As a retired federal engineer experienced in Public Engagement, I am also interested in helping MassDOT to improve its efforts to involve the affected public in a timely and meaningful way (e.g., the "Third Bridge" proposal for Cape Cod Canal). As a Cape Cod native, it is fascinating to see the local variety of approaches for Public Engagement, which is valuable for comparison with my peers at the national level.
collaboration engineer @OpenGovMetrics
http://www.OpenGovMetrics.com
=================================================
Cape Cod Chronicle, Chatham Edition 1 1/06/2014, Page 23
Public Hasn’t Seen All Options
Editor:
In his recent letter (“Changes Sought in Project,” Oct. 30), David Burns reported on some of the public comments about the West Chatham Route 28 turning lane that were made to Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at the Cape Cod Commission on Oct. 20. I understand how the MPO would prefer that we not continue our years of back and forth at their meetings over the issue of the turning lane. What is different now, however, is that the MPO (and MassDOT) has been made aware, since last spring, that the citizens of Chatham have not been properly informed by their town government, in accordance with MassDOT requirements, about a third design option presented by the town government’s traffic consultant last November.
During that presentation, the consultant spoke to the board of selectmen about a third option, in addition to the status quo (existing layout) and a two-lane design (no turning lane). He called it “Left-turn with Turning Pockets,” which is a raised median with occasional openings to shift over and allow a left turn without holding up traffic. It also improves crosswalk safety by providing an island between two lanes of traffic. However, the consultant’s presentation did not show any “visual depiction” that would inform the public what this third option would look like. That is specifically required by MassDOT’s “Project Development and Design Guide.”
I pointed out this failure to the board of selectmen (and the consultant) in an email during the public comment period last December, but have never gotten a response.
To see a drawing of a “Left-turn with Turning Pockets”, i.e., the third option that you should have been shown a year ago, go to www.bit.ly/1bvHm9H . You can also find it, along with the MassDOT Guide (see page 2-23), at OpenChatham.com (scroll down to links for December 2013). I am also waiting to hear from MassDOT about their review of this project for non-compliance with their requirements for public planning.
Stephen Buckley
Chatham
From: Stephen Buckley <sbuc...@igc.org>
Subject: Public Participation; MassDOT oversight for compliance on
Cc: Clinton Bench <clinto...@state.ma.us>, Mark Guenard <mark.guenard@state.ma.us>, Michael Furlong <michael...@state.ma.us>, Thomas Currier <thomas....@state.ma.us>, Pamela Haznar <pamela...@state.ma.us>, Mary-Joe Perry <mary-jo...@dot.state.ma.us>, Jill Goldsmith <jgold...@chatham-ma.gov>, Gloria Freeman <free...@comcast.net>, Tim Wood <tw...@capecodchronicle.com>
Bcc: govmi...@earthlink.net, openc...@googlegroups.com
Attached:
Mr. Francis DePaola
MassDOT Highway Division Administrator
10 Park Plaza, Room 4160
Boston MA 02116-3973
also via: frank....@state.ma.us
November 20, 2014
Subj: Public Participation; MassDOT oversight for compliance on
Dear Mr. Paola,
I am writing to request an official opinion from MassDOT as to whether a project proponent has complied with the specific requirements for Public Participation, as specified in MassDOT " Project Development and Design Guide" (2006), with regard to the project proposed for Route 28 in West Chatham (Project # 60659 6 ).
I have already raised this issue a number of times this year at meetings of the Cape Cod MPO (Metropolitian Planning Organization) where Pamela Haznar, MassHighway District 5, has participated as your representative. However, the only response that I have received has been dismissive and only verbal (i.e., unofficial). I believe that the following information is enough to justify further investigation by MassDOT.
During the Spring 2013 Town Meeting in Chatham, its citizens were so frustrated with the public planning process for the Route 28 project in West Chatham that they voted for the Town to withdraw (p. 30) from the process altogether. But, because the Board of Selectmen were not bound by that vote, they continued with the process, promising that the new (i.e, fourth) consultant would finally present the public with a "slew of options" to review.
Six months later, however, at the Board of Selectmen's meeting of 11/12/13, under an agenda item referred to merely as an "Update", the consultant made a power-point presentation of its roadway study, followed by the Selectmen deciding (at the video's 02:46:00 mark) to go forward with the consultant's recommended design alternative ... all without any opportunity to the public to review documents (because there weren't any) before a decision was made. (!)
While that action, of course, is in stark contrast to the very public promises made at the previous Town Meeting, it also contradicts your MassDOT Guide (on page 2-23) requirements for the "Project Presentation Meeting" where the proponent (Town government) is required to hold a meeting for the public "to overview the alternatives" and "to solicit input" after providing "handout materials" describing the alternatives, including a "visual depiction" of each design alternative.
I've looked at your website and can not find an office responsible for state-wide oversight on this topic, so that is why I am contacting you. I would be glad to share additional background and details with whomever you designate.
By copy of this letter to the Chatham Board of Selectmen (via the Town Manager), I am also requesting that this matter of (non)compliance be added as an Agenda Item for discussion at a future Board meeting. I expect that they may already be preparing to discuss this matter, as I publicly raised the issue in the Cape Cod Chronicle (11/6/14) as a "Letter to the Editor" (see below).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the number below.
sincerely,
Stephen Buckley
15T Balfour Lane
Chatham, MA 02633
(508) 348-9090
http://www.twitter.com/Op enChatham.com
P.S. As a retired federal engineer experienced in Public Engagement, I am also interested in helping MassDOT to improve its efforts to involve the affected public in a timely and meaningful way (e.g., the "Third Bridge" proposal for Cape Cod Canal). As a Cape Cod native, it is fascinating to see the local variety of approaches for Public Engagement, which is valuable for comparison with my peers at the national level.
collaboration engineer @OpenGovMetrics
http://www.OpenGovMetrics.com
=================================================
Cape Cod Chronicle, Chatham Edition 1 1/06/2014, Page 23
Public Hasn’t Seen All Options
Editor:
In his recent letter (“Changes Sought in Project,” Oct. 30), David Burns reported on some of the public comments about the West Chatham Route 28 turning lane that were made to Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at the Cape Cod Commission on Oct. 20. I understand how the MPO would prefer that we not continue our years of back and forth at their meetings over the issue of the turning lane. What is different now, however, is that the MPO (and MassDOT) has been made aware, since last spring, that the citizens of Chatham have not been properly informed by their town government, in accordance with MassDOT requirements, about a third design option presented by the town government’s traffic consultant last November.
During that presentation, the consultant spoke to the board of selectmen about a third option, in addition to the status quo (existing layout) and a two-lane design (no turning lane). He called it “Left-turn with Turning Pockets,” which is a raised median with occasional openings to shift over and allow a left turn without holding up traffic. It also improves crosswalk safety by providing an island between two lanes of traffic. However, the consultant’s presentation did not show any “visual depiction” that would inform the public what this third option would look like. That is specifically required by MassDOT’s “Project Development and Design Guide.”
I pointed out this failure to the board of selectmen (and the consultant) in an email during the public comment period last December, but have never gotten a response.
To see a drawing of a “Left-turn with Turning Pockets”, i.e., the third option that you should have been shown a year ago, go to www.bit.ly/1bvHm9H . You can also find it, along with the MassDOT Guide (see page 2-23), at OpenChatham.com (scroll down to links for December 2013). I am also waiting to hear from MassDOT about their review of this project for non-compliance with their requirements for public planning.
Stephen Buckley
Chatham
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