Alternative means are a part of report
Published on February 21st, 2007
READING, MA - The expected traffic volume in the area of the I-93/I-95 Interchange could reach 500,000 vehicles per-day by 2025 whether changes are made in the design of the intersection or not.
Thus the I-93/I-95 Interchange Transportation Study Task Force will include a report on ways to get people to use alternative means of transportation as well as physical changes in its final report.
At a recent meeting of the group a draft Transit and TDM (Traffic Demand Management report was reviewed.
The report will be further reviewed by a sub-committee sometime this week and will be presented again to the full Task Force at a meeting scheduled for February 27, and will be included in the recommendations presented to the public at an informational meeting scheduled for March 21.
In the opening paragraph the report states, "Through out the I-93/I-95 Interchange Study, the Task Force, consultants, and EOT (Executive Office of Transportation) have been in agreement that non-highway components must be part of the solution.
These include transit (commuter rail, rapid transit, buses on 1-93 and Route 128, and local shuttles) as well as Transportation Demand Management or "TDM" (measures such as ridesharing services and information to encourage less use of single occupant vehicles for commuting and other trips).
The following are given as reasons for including these items in the final recommendations:
• Transit and TDM help meet the objective of mobility by providing more choices other than driving alone;
• These modes help to reduce the number of vehicles using the interchange and its bypass routes and thus to close the gap between highway capacity and future demand; and,
• These modes will become increasingly important in the future as world fuel prices increase over the coming decades, and as action is taken to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that recent sound science has shown to cause global climate change.
During the meeting James Purdy said that the cost of more commuter rail train sets would be $43 million. It is estimated that another $1.3 million would be needed for the TDM portion and most of this money would be used for signs along the highways.
"At least three new train sets would be needed by the 'T' for the higher frequency commuter rail service demands," Purdy said. Purdy also discussed the possibility of the construction of a bridge connecting New Boston Avenue in Woburn with roads leading to the Anderson Regional Transportation Center.
Woburn City Engineer John "Jay" Corey said that would complete the circuit of roads in that area and allow for a freer flow of traffic.
Stoneham Selectmen Anthony Kennedy asked if any new parking garages would be a part of the TDM.
He voiced his concern that the Anderson Center would become too popular and there would not be enough parking spaces.
Woburn City Planner Ed Tarallo said that would not be a problem.
He noted that at present there are about 1,000 parking spaces that go unused at the commuter rail and bus terminal on a daily basis.
All of the final recommendations will be revealed at the public informational meeting planned for March 21 at Woburn Memorial High School.
After the Task Force report is issued, the plans will then be submitted for feasibility studies and environmental reviews and it is during this phase that public hearings will be held.
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