Medford working with MBTA to move Boston Ave. bus stop
The MBTA will be moving a bus stop along Boston Avenue from the Tufts Garage to College Avenue later this month, with work possibly extending into September.
By Neil Zolot | Correspondent
The MBTA will be moving a bus stop along Boston Avenue from the Tufts Garage to College Avenue later this month, with work possibly extending into September.
“This location is a high priority for the MBTA; they asked us to expedite this,” engineering consultant Katie Moulton told the City Council on Aug. 5. “The goal is to slow vehicles down and make people feel safer at the bus stop and on sidewalks.”
Moulton said the MBTA hopes to improve handicap access and proximity to the subway line.
“This is important to improve accessibility and service nearer the subway station,” MBTA engineer Bin Zou said.
The measure was approved 5-1, with Councilor George Scarpelli dissenting and Councilor Anna Callahan absent.
The new bus stop will have curb ramps and street crossings compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with the northbound side already fully compliant and the southbound side being brought into compliance. The old stop has non-accessible curbs and was further away from the subway station.
The new bus stop will also have new granite curbing and concrete sidewalks to meet MBTA guidelines for a landing area and clear zone at bus doors and maintain a right turn lane for six vehicles. No legal parking spaces will be eliminated because the bus stop will be relocated into an existing Tow Zone – No Stopping Any Time area.
Fliers will be distributed in the area to inform residents about the change.
At the Tufts Garage location, signs for the bus stop will be removed and be replaced with bike lane markings on the north and southbound sides of the street and parking will be added on both sides.
“I really appreciate this being done,” Councilor Emily Lazzaro said. “It’s important to have ADA compliance prioritized.”
Council Vice President Kit Collins agreed.
“I’m eager to see these updates as soon as possible,” Collins added.
Scarpelli, however, said residents in the area needed to be informed about the changes.
”It’s important we slow things down so residents of that neighborhood are informed properly and not left in limbo without recourse,” Scarpelli said. “This is a meeting in the first week of August and not many people are paying attention.”
His motion to table the matter did not receive a second by any other member of the City Council.
Other matters
The council also discussed a plan to establish a Tree Committee to “promote a diverse, healthy and suitable urban forest" that will provide for the health and general welfare of the citizens and for the beauty and quality of the city’s environment.
The committee would consist of citizens in three-year terms appointed by the mayor and council and would include two members between ages 15 and 25, if possible, and at least one member with expertise in urban forestry and/or landscape design. Medford residency would not be required for that position.
Duties would include working with the tree warden, reviewing the Community Forest Management Plan, and tree planting, removal and maintenance.
The proposal also includes provisions to remove members due to absences from meetings.
The Tree Committee plan was tabled around 1:30 a.m. just before the meeting ended to comply with a request from City Solicitor Kevin Foley to review the section on removing members.
