Two groups join forces on petition to limit I-93/95 expansion
Published on July 3rd, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Volunteers from the tri-community highway Action Group (THAG) will be circulating petitions in Stoneham and Woburn over the next few weeks, collecting signatures to oppose the expansion of the Route 93/95 interchange as it's now being proposed to add to those already collected by another group opposed in Reading.
THAG and PRESERV (Protect Residential environment with Sensible Engineering and Residents' Voices), a Reading group, will be presenting the petitions to state officials urging the feasibility study process be stopped.
Richard Circle resident Darlene Bruen, leading the charge as president of THAG said the two groups "have common ground. We absolutely don't agree with the proposals we've seen so far."
The flyover option reportedly being favored by the state would eliminate more than 100 homes or businesses in Stoneham, Reading, and Woburn. In Reading alone, the estimate is more than 70.
Bruen continues to say THAG acknowledges there are legitimate traffic issues with the interchange that must be addressed, but not at such great expense to local residents and businessowners.
The Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) announced plans last fall to redesign the interchange to improve one of the most notorious commuter traffic back-ups in the state.
They presented information including three preliminary sketches of options under consideration at a meeting in Stoneham June 4. Many residents were taken aback, surprised at the level of impact on the abutting communities.
A meeting of concerned residents in Reading was held June 24; an official meeting for MassHighway officials to present information in that community is scheduled for July 16, according to Bruen.
Last Wednesday, THAG held a regular board meeting to get petition volunteers, update members on the June 4 meeting, and to plan for a meeting scheduled for July 8 between MassHighway and THAG to develop a process for the THAG engineers to review the plans and be involved with presenting ideas.
In addition, she noted, THAG is "starting to analyze some of the traffic data ourselves to make sure it's accurate. We'll see."
She said some of the data is four years old and THAG is working to get more current data from the communities.
Bruen said if the community groups can work together and get MassHighway to be responsive to their concerns, that has the greatest likelihood for success. She said MassHighway says it wants to work with them, and she will give them the benefit of the doubt.
"If we find out MassHighway is just giving us lip service - and it won't take us long to find out - this is going to get ugly," Bruen said.
While she doubts residents could shut it down entirely, she noted residents in Danvers opposed to a project there dragged out the environmental impact review process from the usual two years to 10, so residents can make it more difficult for the state and THAG has been in touch with some consultants whose specialty is fighting such projects.
Bruen noted MassHighway has shown residents options that were discarded, "but haven't told us why. "
She said she believes there are options that would not be as devastating to residents, but which don't meet all six of MassHighway's objectives.
"If citizens are willing to compromise, but let's do it in a way that doesn't take our homes, doesn't take our businesses, then they [MassHighway] have to be willing to comprise," she said.
A report of Reading Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner in April noted that after the June public hearing, MassHighway planned to narrow the options over the next six months, get the selected option to the 25-percent design phase and then begin the process of environmental permitting.
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