Re: Winthrop Street meeting

[Ann Frenning Kossuth]

Dear Team George & Winthrop:

Please note: the results of the Winthrop Street traffic study will be announced at a meeting next week with VHB, as confirmed by Tufts (below) for 9AM on Tuesday, December 4th, Room 201, at Medford City Hall.  Also, the Mayor will be in attendance.  There will be extra copies of the traffic study report made by Tufts, so if anyone would like their own copy, please let me or Barbara Rubel know.  Also, Susan Altman has kindly agreed to take minutes, which will be shared on the Team George & Winthrop website.  If I have missed anyone on the distribution list, please forward this information to them.

Thank you all, and we will keep in touch regarding next steps.

Ann

Ann Frenning Kossuth

88 Winthrop Street

Medford, MA  02155

781-395-2482

On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 8:35 AM, Rubel, Barbara G. <Barbar...@tufts.edu> wrote:

Hi,

We are confirmed with Howard Muise from VHB.  Please let everyone else know.

We'll meet in room 201 at City Hall at 9:00 and the Mayor will be there, too.

Thanks for your patience.

Best,
Barbara


--
Barbara Rubel
Director of Community Relations
Tufts University
Office - 617 627 3780
Fax – 617 627 3383

[Ann Frenning Kossuth]

That's great, they will be handing them out at the meeting.  

Pastor Shin will not be in attendance, as he has a funeral that morning.  /Ann

On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 11:28 AM, Alexa Mase <alex...@gmail.com> wrote:

I would like a copy. I will also be in attendance.

--
Alexa

[Alexa Mase]

I would like a copy. I will also be in attendance.

On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 5:44 PM, Ann Frenning Kossuth <afre...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
Alexa

[Julian Orbanes]

I may be a few mins late.  Coming from Leo's pre-school...

[Ann Frenning Kossuth]

Is #2 crosswalk or "raised" crosswalk.

On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Julian Orbanes <julian....@gmail.com> wrote:

Out of curiosity,  does anyone NOT agree with Susan's notes section entitled "our recommendations"?

--------------------

Our recommendations in order of priority (first is #1):

1.     1. Use the $40,000 to accomplish the following, promptly:

a.     Signs and road markings (following recommendations in VHB’s report) on length of Winthrop St (from Church at Orchard to ball fields after South St)

b.     Prepare design for church crosswalk*

2.      2. Install crosswalk at church  (least expensive location)

3.      3. Continue conversation about other crosswalks (George St, South St, West St, ball fields)

[Julian Orbanes]

Out of curiosity,  does anyone NOT agree with Susan's notes section entitled "our recommendations"?

--------------------

Our recommendations in order of priority (first is #1):

1.     1. Use the $40,000 to accomplish the following, promptly:

a.     Signs and road markings (following recommendations in VHB’s report) on length of Winthrop St (from Church at Orchard to ball fields after South St)

b.     Prepare design for church crosswalk*

2.      2. Install crosswalk at church  (least expensive location)

3.      3. Continue conversation about other crosswalks (George St, South St, West St, ball fields)

[Julian]

Yes #2 is raised crosswalk, essentially a speed hump with a crosswalk on it. What we've been taking about all along.  See 'anatomy of crosswalk' slide from church presentation for components details. 

Alexa mentioned that on #3 "Continue Conversation" Should be "plan and persue". 

With this in mind and what Chris and Roberta just wrote:

-> Vicki can we give the Mayor the go ahead to do this? <-

 I think he can move on the signage quite quickly.

[Ann Frenning Kossuth]

Just add the word "raised" please, to #2 for clarity.  I seriously want to be clear on this.  /Ann

[Julian Orbanes]

Agreed.  That is critical Ann.

Also, when I wrote signage I meant all the "Immediate Measures" the report / Susan's notes refers to.  Including those awesome vertical yellow stripes on the sign poles already in place @ Tufts.

Can we get a digital copy of the report?

ps.  Thanks again so much Barbara + VHB.  I think they did a great job.

[Julian Orbanes]

pps.  Ann, the type of raised crosswalk schematic we are looking for is here:

orbanes.com/slides.pdf

slides: #1, #20, & #21

[Alexa Mase]

Dear Team Medford: After a long time considering what transpired in the meeting today, I feel the need to go on the record as saying I am disappointed with the conclusions the group reached. I do not agree that we should ask that the $40,000.00 be used for a crosswalk in front of Wesley Church. My concern is still with the dangerous situation at Winthrop and George. Here are my reasons:

-What guarantee do we have that a raised crosswalk nearly a full city block from the problem area will slow the cars coming from three directions? How do we justify this so-called traffic calming measure so far from the place that the girl got hit by a car?

-What guarantee do we have that the school bus stop can or will be moved, and if so, how will doing so ensure an increase in safety? Certainly children will still need to cross Winthrop, whether the stop is on Winthrop proper, or even located down the street on George. 

-I understand people are impatient for action, but for action that will yield little or no benefit? I propose we go back to the drawing board, and look hard at the recommendations made by the traffic study. I for one am glad to return to the Mayor and the City Council with a request for a realistic budget to remedy this problem. After all, a pretty crosswalk is very appealing in the short run, but when another child is hurt, we will wonder why a year was spent on trying to find a real solution.   

On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 4:16 PM, Julian <julian....@gmail.com> wrote:

--
Alexa

[Vicki]

It was my impression that we had reached consensus to implement the immediate recommendations which includes advancing design of the raised crosswalk at the 
church.   The mayor mentioned the relocation of the DPW coming up so personnel might not be available for a couple of weeks.  I'm happy to try to call and get him to clarify that.  

Would it still be in the scope of VHB's contract with Tufts to complete the ground survey and subsequent design?   I don't have that in front of me right now. 

Vicki
Sent from my iPad

[Julian Orbanes]

On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 8:52 PM, Vicki <vicki...@gmail.com> wrote:

Would it still be in the scope of VHB's contract with Tufts to complete the ground survey and subsequent design?   I don't have that in front of me right now. 

Chris D mentioned that since the VHB contract with Tufts is on the low dollar side it may be unlikely.  Perhaps that's not the case?

I think (/ hope :) the city budgeted in the crosswalk design with the allocated $40k?

 

[Ann Frenning Kossuth]

Here is the original VHB contract, all:  

http://orbanes.com/vhb.pdf

Ann