Route 18 Widening and Reconstruction Project Abington Weymouth Project File No

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1 Route 18 Widening and Reconstruction Project Abington Weymouth Project File No Responses to Inquiries from 25% Design Public Hearing April 24, I currently own the property 88 Barbara Lane which happens to be the last house on the left. I was unable to make the meeting a week or so ago. So I am concerned and would like to know what impact this will have on my property etc the drainage lines in front of my house, will any of my property by affected in this replacement and will any of my property be affected where the temporary bridge is placed? My name is Steven Solletti and I am anxious to hear back from you. Thank u for your time No permanent loss of acreage on this property is required by the project. However, a temporary construction easement is needed and it will extend approximately 16 feet into the property, measuredfrom the back property line that is adjacent to the bridge site. This temporary easement will be in effect for the duration of the construction project, a period estimated to be 2 1/2 3 years. Within the temporary easement all existing trees will need to be removed. The existing fence will be removed. The existing shed will remain. A temporary overhead utility line will extend over the temporary easement area, with one temporary utility pole placed within the easement. A temporary 6 high chain link fence will be installed within the temporary easement, near the easement line, to secure the work site. The temporary bridge will not be located within the temporary easement, but it is likely that construction equipment will move in and out of the area while the temporary bridge is constructed and while the temporary bridge is removed. Following completion of construction, the temporary overhead utility line, the temporary utility pole, and the temporary fence will be removed. The area that was cleared of vegetation will be replanted with trees and shrubs. The existing drainage structures and pipes in Barbara Lane will remain. A downstream drain pipe that connects the most southerly catch basin at the end of Barbara Lane to the drainage system in Route 18 will be replaced with a larger pipe. 2. I attended the public hearing on April 24th and had a couple additional questions. My father s property is at 1445/1449 Main St. There were some items on the right of way drawings that I would like clarified. A. There is an existing sign that is called to be R&R by others. Will this need to be done by the owner? Will the owner be compensated? The sign will need to be removed by the owner prior to MassDOT s project. The owner will be compensated to do this, with the amount of compensation to be discussed between MassDOT and the owner during the ROW process, prior to construction. B. There is an existing leaching basin in the north east corner of the lot that will be in the future widened section of the roadway. This basin is the low point for the parking lot. The note on the drawing said R&D. If this structure is removed there will be no drainage for the parking lot. Will a new structure be installed? Will the owner be responsible for new structure? If so will the owner be reimbursed? 1

2 MassDOT will not install a new structure. The owner will be responsible for installation of a new structure if the owner chooses to do so. MassDOT s ROW section will be in contact with the property owner. C.. The existing driveway width needs to be wider. When the roadway was widened as part of the MBTA commuter rail parking lot project the driveway width was narrowed. In looking at the plans there are plans for a traffic signal in the future at this location. Can the driveway width be widened to accommodate traffic entering and exiting at the same time? There is a day care business on the property that has a lot of in and out traffic. Thank you for your time Kevin Cleary (C) (H) The existing width is approximately 27 wide. The MassDOT standard commercial driveway width is set at 30 wide and the driveway will be reconstructed to that width. 3. Mr. Timothy M. Mitchelson on behalf of South Shore Bank: What is the timeline for this project? The project is scheduled to be advertised for construction in September Is there any proposed taking of the property from 1530 Main Street? Yes. Please see detail below. What, if any, portion of the Bank s property at 1530 Main Street will be subject to incursion inward on both 18 and/or 58 as a result of this expansion? Impacts to the South Shore Bank parcel are as follows: State - Permanent taking along Route 18 due to widening: 3,337 sf Town - Permanent taking along Route 58 due to widening: 485 sf State - Permanent easement for a utility pole and overhead utility wires: 85 sf State Permanent drainage easement for drain pipe: 99 sf State Permanent easement for detention basin (including access): 11,372 sf (pending determination) The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection requires comprehensive investigation of all potential stormwater management sites in proximity to the project. We have conducted soil investigation at South Shore Bank to determine if a portion of the parcel, within the lawn and landscape area near the Route 58 intersection, is suitable for this purpose. The results are pending. If the site is determined to be suitable, the permanent easement listed above will be required. MassDOT will work with a representative of the bank to design screening and landscaping to mitigate this impact as much as possible. 4. Susan M Kay, Mayor, on behalf of two residents, pertaining to the intersection of Main Street (Route 18)/Shea Drive: 2

3 Pedestrian Accommodations At this signalized intersection, there are two crosswalks but the traffic lights are not equipped with pedestrian signals or push buttons. The town requests that the improved Route 18/Shea Drive signal include an exclusive pedestrian phase. The proposed intersection improvements include new pedestrian signals and push buttons servicing three crosswalks. Analysis was conducted using HCM 2000 software to evaluate the effect on Level of Service (LOS) at the intersection with the addition of an exclusive pedestrian phase for all legs of the intersection under 2030 Build Conditions. Overall intersection LOS deteriorates from B to C during the worse peak hour (PM peak hour) travel period with the inclusion of an exclusive pedestrian phase. Driveway Signalization A 4-unit residential complex at Main Street is located right across from Shea Drive. This development is served by a 10-car lot. In the past, residents have had difficulty in exiting the parking lot, and this task will become more difficult after the intersection is reconstructed. The town requests that the driveway be signalized. The driveway signal phase will be called infrequently and should not degrade the operation of the intersection in the future. MassDOT concurs with the suggestion to signalize the westerly approach. Vehicular detection will be required to activate the signal on the westerly approach, but the particular method of detection (loops, video, microwave) remains under evaluation. 5. Briefly explain how your process works on the state level for notification of this meeting. MassDOT is required by law to post two notices, fourteen and seven days prior to the hearing in local newspapers. A notice was printed in the Patriot Ledger and in the Weymouth News on April 10 th and April 17 th and in the Abington Mariner on April 12 th and April 19 th of When the temporary bridge goes up, what measures will be taken to alleviate some of the traffic that may want to cut through Pond Street [to avoid Route 18]? The temporary bridge alignment will introduce temporary curvature to Route 18 and this will likely slow traffic, but should not introduce delay to the extent that Pond Street becomes a more attractive route. However, some travelers will prefer to avoid traveling through a construction zone and will seek alternatives in any case. Truck prohibition signing on the approaches to Pond Street will be reviewed and supplemented in coordination with the Weymouth traffic engineer. 7. In the vicinity of the bowling alley and by the car wash there is currently inadequate drainage. The design may not be enough to alleviate the amount of water coming from both directions. The project provides surface roadway drainage in conformance with state and federal standards for stormwater interception of rainfall intensity that has a 10% probability of occurring in any given year. The project will review this proposed design with Chip Fontaine, the town of Weymouth engineer, and adjust the design if needed to address local concerns. 8. Concern exists about the water that comes off of Route 18 and heads down Derby

4 Street. There is no granite curb there. There is not even Cape Cod berm. A new catch basin is located in the proposed Route 18 gutter line on the upstream side of the Derby Street intersection to intercept stormwater on Route 18 before it flows down Derby Street. The intersection includes new granite curb. The project does not include street improvements on Derby Street. 9.What would the speed limit be on the finished roadway? After the project is completed MassDOT will conduct a speed study that will involve data collection, safety evaluation and assessment of traffic operation to establish the posted speed limits along the various sections of the project. 10.There is nothing in the drawings about the temporary bridge. The bridge drawings are preliminary and temporary bridge details will be developed in the final design. The temporary bridge will be a prefabricated steel structure. 11.I did not understand which scenario you were moving towards, if you have chosen one. The grade-separated railroad crossing was determined to provide better public safety than the at-grade crossing, based on the evaluation that MassDOT conducted. The west temporary bridge alignment was determined to have less permanent environmental and right of way impact than the east temporary bridge alignment. Based on these evaluations Route 18 traffic will be maintained on a temporary bridge located on the west side of Route What measures will be taken to prevent children from getting in the work area? A 6 high temporary chain link fence will be erected along the temporary construction easement line. A temporary locked gate will be installed at the end of Thomas Street for emergency access. 13.Where are the wetland mitigation sites and how big are they? Both sites are on the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. The site in Weymouth is south and adjacent to Calnan Road. The site in Abington is to the west of the existing runway in a wooded area adjacent, but uphill, to a stream. The Weymouth site is approximately 24,700 square feet in area and the Abington site is approximately 22,000 square feet in area. 14.Will this project have a website? MassDOT has set up a webpage specific to the project within the MassDOT- Highway website. 15.Do you anticipate additional work being done at the Pleasant Street intersection that was recently completed? Yes, although no curb or pavement work is proposed at this intersection. Tunnel visors will be installed on the overhead northbound signals and some signals will be slightly adjusted in location and orientation for better visibility. On the northbound approach to the intersection, some curb work and pavement markings are proposed to avoid blocking the driveway to the mall. 16.Did the project engineers receive the latest Town of Weymouth zoning guidelines? Tetra Tech received the guidelines from Jim Clark by November 9, 2012.

5 17.The Town of Weymouth requests that the project contact the Town of Weymouth Health Department to determine if the base noise level is in line with the Town and how much over or under it is. MassDOT will coordinate with the Town of Weymouth. 18.Town of Weymouth requests that the project manages dust during construction. MassDOT requires dust suppression in its construction contracts. The contractor is responsible for having dust suppression equipment on site at all times and to apply water spray to control the level of dust. MassDOT s resident engineer and his staff will be available on site to direct the contractor to apply water at specific locations as needed or in response to local requests. 19.Town of Weymouth requests that MassDOT establish a complaint log for the project. A resident construction engineer will be available to field complaints during construction. 20.Why did MassDOT dig up Route 18, then stop work, then begin this process again? MassDOT previously reconstructed five intersections on Route 18 that are within the limits of the currently proposed widening project. These intersections were in immediate need of reconstruction because they were high accident locations. The proposed project will match into these previously completed intersections. The number of lanes will remain consistent at two lanes in each direction, with turn lanes added at some intersections. 21.Where are you getting these traffic volume figures? My experience does not fit your statistics. The traffic volumes used for the design of the Route 18 improvements are based on traffic counts performed along Route 18 in 2006 and These volumes were then projected to a future design year, which for Route 18 is The 2030 volume forecasts for the Route 18 corridor were developed by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS), which is part of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and provides traffic forecasts for MassDOT for many projects such as Route 18. The 2030 forecasts for Route 18 include traffic from the redevelopment of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station as well as other expected growth within the region. 22.How are the ambulances going to get through? A minimum of one travel lane per direction will be provided during all phases of construction for traffic traveling along Route 18, including emergency vehicles such as ambulances. 23.There should be a tremendous amount of traffic lights. An intersection must meet a rigorous set of engineering criteria (warrants) in order to justify the installation of a traffic control signal. All intersections on Route 18 that meet these criteria are signalized. 24.You should take that bicycle accommodation off the project. MassDOT is required to provide bicycle accommodation in accordance with state law and to the standards that are applicable to the classification of the street/highway. Bicycle accommodation cannot be removed from the project.

6 25.If the bridge is so dangerous how can you wait two years to take it down? The bridge is primarily being removed so that a new bridge, capable of carrying two lanes in each direction, can be built. No components of the existing bridge can be reused. 26.What is the reason for doing this road? Sections of Route 18 experience severe congestion during peak travel periods under current conditions. Traffic volumes are projected to increase over time due to expected growth along Route 18 and nearby areas from which traffic feeds into Route 18, including the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station development. The future volumes (2030) indicate that a 4-lane roadway will be required in order to provide acceptable peak hour levels of operation with the expected traffic demands. 27.Can we do a sound check? You are doing a sound check now with a two-lane road and with the trees still in place. What about when the trees are down, four lanes are open for travel, plus the trains? See answer to Question 29 below. 28.What about the noise when a train is going by? When the train goes by, that bridge just really shakes. The noise analysis did not evaluate train noise because there was assumed to be no changes in their operations. 29.You need to reassess noise after the trees are removed. FHWA does not consider vegetation to be a noise reduction measure. Vegetative strips have no significant effect on sound levels. The impacted area will be densely replanted with trees and shrubs after the temporary bridge is removed. 30.How are the construction vehicles going to get in there? Construction vehicles are prohibited already from using Pond Street, so access by way of Clarendon Street, Barbara Lane and Thomas Street is also prohibited. Access to the construction site will be made from Route 18. Access using the existing MBTA maintenance road that is located adjacent to the tracks is also being investigated. 31.On Barbara Lane and other roads coming down in that area, the drainage is terrible. The Route 18 construction project is a federally funded transportation project and it can only address drainage infrastructure that it directly impacts. The deteriorated drainage system in the Clarendon Street neighborhood and on adjacent streets is not impacted by the project and must therefore be repaired or replaced under a separately funded project through local government. The water level at the existing wetland is being monitored twice a month and will continue to be monitored through construction so that water levels can be maintained at their current levels through construction by pumping, with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection authorization. 32.Consider an at-grade Route 18 temporary road for maintenance of traffic originating at Trotter Road and continuing adjacent to and north of the MBTA tracks heading west and then turn north and reconnect to Route 18. This temporary Route 18 roadway would need to be located outside of the MBTA

7 right of way, to the north of their right of way fence. This temporary roadway will impact Natural Heritage Endangered Species Habitat (NHESP), as well as wetlands adjacent to Route 18. Other alternative temporary roadways for Route 18 traffic have been studied and evaluated for impacts. An alternative roadway location that avoids NHESP habitat has been identified - the westerly alignment with the temporary bridge. As a result, the reviewing regulatory agency will not permit any other roadway locations that impact NHESP habitat to be constructed, even for temporary use. 33.What are the endangered species? MA NHESP has confirmed that the PH/EH (Priority and/or Estimated Habitat) mapped on the project includes habitat of the Eastern Box Turtle and the Mocha Emerald dragonfly, both species of special concern. In addition, MA NHESP also indicated that the grassland areas to the east of the Abington wetland mitigation site are within habitat for the Upland Sandpiper, a state listed endangered species, and the Grasshopper Sparrow, a state listed threatened species. 34.I own the preschool at 1449 Main Street. I need to know when [MassDOT] will enter my property for safety reasons and emergency reasons. During the design phase, MassDOT will contact you when they will need access to your property to conduct soil borings or survey and coordinate around your critical drop off and pickup hours. During construction, the resident engineer will be available for daily coordination. 35.Why are the round white circles with X s in them marked on my property? These are the locations for future traffic signal mast arms that will be installed when the East-West Parkway intersection is constructed. Soil borings will be drilled at these locations in the near future, if not already completed. 36.How much square footage are you going to take on my frontage at 1449 Main Street? How many parking spaces will be lost? The area of permanent taking by the Commonwealth is 2,536 square feet. In addition, permanent easements are required for traffic signal equipment (216 square feet) and for overhead utility wires (987 square feet). Based on aerial photography of the existing parking lot, the number of spaces permanently lost due to the project is Will there be a barrier on Route 18 dividing the northbound and southbound traffic along my property frontage at 1449 Main Street? There will be no raised island along the #1449 Main Street property frontage because the property frontage will be within the limits of the future intersection. Because this property is within the limits of the future intersection, it is likely that the driveway will be signalized in the future. Under interim conditions, after Route 18 is widened but before the East - West Parkway is built, Route 18 will have a center lane that services left turning vehicles in both the southbound and northbound directions, with no raised island, between Trotter Road and the bridge over the MBTA.. 38.Will the Trotter Road intersection be moved to Southfield? Under the interim condition described in answer to the comment above the Trotter Road intersection will remain operative in much the same way that it operates now

8 under existing conditions. Under final conditions after the East-West Parkway is built the Trotter Road intersection will become a right-turn-in, right-turn-out only driveway without signals and with a raised island on Route 18 through the former intersection. 39. I have a gigantic sign that says Early Childhood Preschool on it. I need to know if that is going to have to be replaced and moved. You will need to move your sign. MassDOT Right of Way Bureau will contact you regarding that relocation. 40.When are the new Route 3 ramp connections to be constructed? As noted by Diane Madden of MassDOT at the April 24, 2013 Public Hearing, a new interchange on Route 3 (between Exits 14 and 15) with a direct roadway connection to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station (SWNAS) was a component of an earlier redevelopment proposal. Because of the significant environmental impacts associated with the new interchange/connector road, the current redevelopment proposal does not include these elements. Instead, the current plan specifies that the eastern terminus of the cross-base Parkway will be at Weymouth Street. Improvements are proposed along Hingham Street and Reservoir Park Drive that will provide an enhanced connection between the Parkway and Route 3. The western terminus of the Parkway will be at Route 18, north of Trotter Road. 41.Have you worked with Southfield as far as that new bridge so that we are not spending taxpayer s money, after you widen the road, to build this new bridge over the base? MassDOT has coordinated with MBTA and Southfield for the design of the East- West Parkway, the East-West Parkway bridge over the railroad, and the future intersection at Route 18. The MBTA commuter rail station and parking lot are planned to be relocated to the northerly side of the tracks as part of that project. 42.Concerned about water shedding off the road, flooding upstream as well as downstream, existing developer detention basins operating poorly, and poor condition of drain pipes. To the extent that will be allowed by the scope of this transportation project existing drainage infrastructure directly and indirectly affected by the project will be cleaned, repaired or replaced. Existing cross culverts under Route 18 will be cleaned. New public detention basins will be constructed in several locations. The existing culverts crossing under the railroad track to the west of the Route 18 bridge over the railroad will be cleaned as will the existing drainage ditch that continues from the end of that culvert to Route 18. These are located downstream of the Clarendon Street neighborhood. Repair or replacement of the Clarendon Street neighborhood drainage system itself and its outlet cannot be funded or conducted under this project. Existing detention basins on private property are the responsibility of the owners and will not be cleaned under this project. 43.Is there anything the Clarendon Street neighborhood can do to have a noise wall constructed? Because funding for the project is 80% federal, federal (FHWA) design criteria and noise thresholds must be met to justify the expense to construct the wall and those thresholds are not met at this location. FHWA does not have a waiver policy or process through which local petitions for noise walls can be recognized. The

9 impacted area will be replanted with trees and shrubs after the work site is vacated by the contractor. 44.What are the impacts to gas pumps, diesel, at 1465 Main Street? The proposed roadway widening affects access to the pumps closest to the road and those will need to be removed by the owner prior to construction. Prior to construction MassDOT Right of Way Bureau will meet with the owner to discuss these impacts and to coordinate relocation of these pumps elsewhere on the property. 45.What will be done to alleviate construction noise? Hours of contractor operation of heavy equipment, such as pile drivers, will be subject to MassDOT approval during construction. The resident engineer will have an office on the project and residents and businesses should alert the engineer if construction noise becomes a problem. Construction equipment is required to have noise suppression, but certain work activities will be noisy. 46.How will construction traffic access the bridge site? Construction vehicles are prohibited already from using Pond Street, so access by way of Clarendon Street, Barbara Lane and Thomas Street is also prohibited. Access to the construction site will be made from Route 18. Access using the existing MBTA maintenance road that is located adjacent to the tracks is also being investigated. 47. Are the people who will be impacted with temporary easements adjacent to the bridge site going to be compensated? The MassDOT Right of Way Bureau will contact abutters prior to construction. 48.Was there any thought to using the existing paved road within Southfield for use as the Route 18 detour at the bridge site to avoid all the impacts? There is a paved road named Calnan Road in Southfield that is located to the west of the runways. Between connection points that would need to be made back to Route 18 to the north and south, the route length measures approximately 1 ¼ miles, or approximately ½ mile longer than the Route 18 temporary bridge detour route between the same two connection points. The width of Calnan Road measures only feet on average, resulting in travel lane widths of only 9 9 ½ feet. These widths are inadequate for two-way highway travel and widening would be needed. Widening Calnan Road would require an environmental evaluation of impacts. Traffic would be required to pass through 90 degree turns at both ends of the road to connect to Trotter Road and Route 18. Existing traffic signals at the Route 18 connection points would require the detoured Route 18 traffic that uses Calnan Road to turn left, significantly increasing the amount of time required for traffic to pass through both the signals, resulting in long queues. Illegal access to private lands adjacent to Calnan Road would be impossible to control. For this length of road, police patrols would likely be needed. Fairly long temporary dead end sections of Route 18 approaching the bridge work site would be created, leading to fire safety and emergency response problems, as well as potential negative affects to the businesses along those sections of Route 18. For these reasons, the proposed temporary bridge route adjacent to Route 18 is preferred. 49. Could the East-West Parkway be opened early to alleviate traffic on Route 18

10 during construction? The East-West Parkway construction cannot be completed early because funding is not available to complete it in this time frame. 50.Is the East-West Parkway shown on the plans? Yes, the outline of the future East-West Parkway approach to Route 18 is shown on the plans. 51.Is Trotter Road going to carry through traffic? In the future, when the East-West Parkway is completed, the Trotter Road intersection will be right-turn-in, right-turn-out only, without a traffic signal. 52. Do you know what is across the street from the East-West Parkway? The property on the westerly side of the East-West Parkway intersection is #1449 Main Street. It is likely that the driveway to that property will be signalized because it will be within the intersection. 53.Have you decided where you are going to stage for construction? The contractor will establish his material and equipment areas. MassDOT requirements are only that the contractor must adhere to local, state and environmental regulations. 54. What are the work hours on the project? The MassDOT contract will establish work hours for the contractor that are typically 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, but these may be adjusted in consideration of traffic congestion or in response to specific contractor requests. Night work is typically not allowed except for specific requests, such as temporary water service shut off to make water main and service connections. On this project some work must be conducted over live railroad tracks. For those specific tasks only, weekend or night work will be conducted. 55. Will MBTA need to bus people if the commuter rail is shut down for this project? MassDOT is coordinating the project with the MBTA. If a commuter rail shutdown is scheduled during periods of normal commuter rail service, then temporary bus service will be operated during those periods. The MBTA does not currently provide weekend service or continuous overnight service. The MassDOT construction contract will contain provisions for the contractor to conduct work at the railroad during periods that do not impact commuter rail service, such as overnight and on weekends. 56. Is it a federal requirement to put the center island between the northbound and southbound lanes? No. The center median island is proposed to enhance safety, separating opposing traffic, providing improved visibility to better define turn lanes, and providing a target and a refuge to place signing for turning traffic to go around. 57.Are these islands standard curbed islands or do these have 3 high barrier? The islands are all curbed with granite. There are no high barriers. 58. When it snows, the turn lanes do not get plowed at the intersections. MassDOT District 6 is responsible for maintenance and operations. They will review

11 the plans so that they are aware of the changes and account for this in plowing. 59.When will construction start? Construction is projected to start in 2015 and continue for approximately 2 ½ to 3 years. 60. Provisions to limit contractor noise and dust need to be in the contract. MassDOT includes provisions for controlling dust in all their contracts, specifically with the application of water. In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) includes requirements for the limitation of dust as conditions in their permits, and the contractor must be in compliance with those requirements. MassDOT imposes work hour limitations on the contractor to minimize disturbance caused by construction noise. At times, however, work will be allowed at night. In addition, MassDOT construction contracts include an antiidling provision to reduce noise. 61. In the area of the temporary bridge, has an investigation been conducted to determine if hazardous materials are present? The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection hazardous materials database has been reviewed for spill incidents throughout the project. There is no record of hazardous material releases in the area of the bridge. To verify that hazardous materials have not been released in the area, sampling needs to be conducted. Two monitoring wells have been previously installed along the temporary bridge alignment. The project will collect ground water samples from each of these two wells and submit them to a laboratory for analyses. The results of the lab testing will be posted for public viewing on MassDOT s website. 62. What are the blue flags, and other colored flags at the back of our houses? The blue flags mark the edges of wetlands and have nothing to do with the limits of work on the project. The other flagging marked objects for the convenience of the surveyor and also have nothing to do with the limits of the work on the project. 63. Concern that traffic will divert to Pond Street during the Route 18 construction period and side street traffic on Pond Street will be unable to enter Pond Street due to the increased traffic volume. MassDOT cannot prohibit traffic from accessing Pond Street. However, work on Route 18 will be conducted and managed to minimize travel delays so that use of Pond Street to bypass the construction zone will not appear as an attractive option for drivers. 64.Request to stake off the limits of the project work in the backyards of the people impacted by the temporary bridge. A temporary fence will be erected to delineate the work area.