Public Hearing Notice  HOLYOKE - proposed Improvements at Kelly Community School (Safe Routes to School) project

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with an opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Improvements at Kelly Community School (Safe Routes to School) project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

This project includes the construction of pedestrian improvements at the intersection of Main Street and Appleton Street, including a full upgrade of all traffic signal equipment, the construction of bump-outs at all four corners of the intersection with ADA-complaint curb ramps, a dedicated bicycle lane with painted buffer on the westbound approach of Appleton Street to the signalized intersection at Main Street, and crosswalk re-striping. The project also includes lighting upgrades under the Appleton Street railroad bridge, new sidewalks, curbing, ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps, pavement markings, signs, and drainage system improvements.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The City of Holyoke is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this hearing.

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 608790. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us

This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.