Posted At: Sunday, August 30, 2009 4:28 PM Lincoln Avenue Traffic Calming Measures
Nine years ago, my husband and I bought our first home, located in North Amherst directly across from Mark’s Meadow Elementary School. Having both been undergraduates at UMass, we knew that such a location meant we would hear the students at the bus stop at the corner of our road, the rumble of the buses stopping and starting throughout the day and night, and the screams from students as they walked from campus to Pufton and the other apartment complexes each weekend night, looking for a party. We accepted this because we loved the house and loved the idea of being so close to the campus. We moved into our new home knowing the pros and cons of living here. Over the years, I have listened to the complaints from the residents of Lincoln Avenue who, despite the campus having been around for 146 years, somehow never thought about how their chosen location might also bring about increased traffic and the inconveniences of college students. I was shocked when I learned that the town of Amherst was actually going to give in to the unreasonable demands of the Lincoln Avenue residents. I can’t help but wonder if those homes did not have such high property values (translating into high property taxes) if the town would be so quick to address a situation that existed long before any of the current residents of Lincoln Avenue moved into their homes. Indeed, I note that traffic is being diverted onto Fearing Street, where property values/taxes are not quite as high. As an employee of UMass, I will admit to sometimes using Lincoln Avenue as a way to get to campus. But why shouldn’t I? After all, my husband and I have have paid well over $4,000 each year in property taxes so don’t I have a right to use the public roads in Amherst? But I have to wonder if the town has the right to take a public road and make it private to the benefit of the few, when tax dollars (mine and others) have paid to build and care for that road. It was with anger when I noted that Amherst Public Works crews were filling pot holes on that road earlier this summer. If the road is to be made private, shouldn’t the residents of Lincoln Avenue take on the responsibility of paying for its upkeep? If I am not allowed to drive on the road in the direction that I would like to, then I do not want to see any of my tax dollars expended towards its care. Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the proposed plan. I hope that fair and reasonable heads will prevail, that the roads will not be closed, and that the town recognizes that catering to the privileged few should not be what Amherst is about. Sincerely,
Monday, August 31, 2009 4:44 PM Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic
To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing to express my dismay at the closings of Lincoln Ave., Fearing
St., Sunset Ave., etc., even if the closings are only temporary. I have
been a professional employee of the University of Massachusetts Amherst for
nearly 10 years, and have used Lincoln Ave. on a daily basis for my commute.
I follow the speed limit on Lincoln Ave., just like I do everywhere else on
my commute.
Several things about this closing really irritate me:
1) UMass Amherst has been around since 1863-none of these homeowners have
been living on these streets longer. They CHOSE to live on these streets,
knowing full-well their proximity to the university and the fact that these
are streets commuters use on a daily basis.
2) These street closings will make my commute approximately 5 minutes
longer, along with all of the other folks who commute to UMass Amherst via
these streets on a daily basis. What a ridiculous inconvenience for all of
us who do good for our community. Considering the residents of these
streets feel they have the right to complain about traffic on streets they
have chosen to live on, can you imagine the uproar from them if their
commutes were unnecessarily lengthened?
3) Have you driven down Lincoln Ave. lately? That road is so bumpy that it
is impossible to even reach the speed limit, let alone exceed it with all of
the potholes. I could understand if the residents of Lincoln Ave. were
upset with the state of the road, but not the fact that it is well-traveled.
I do hope that the Town of Amherst does not choose to permanently close down
these roads to commuters. I can understand punishing those who are doing
wrong by giving out speeding tickets to those who do not obey the signs.
Why punish an entire community for the wrong-doings of a few?
Most sincerely,
Posted At: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:43 PM Posted To: Public Works Road closings in Amherst
Dear DPW,
I am very concerned about the traffic being diverted from certain streets in Amherst beginning in September. I work at UMass and my parking lot is on Lincoln Street. To elevate traffic from certain streets will only cause bottle necks at the two other intersections I can use to leave UMass. In this day and age of thinking 'green' this is not the way to go. The people who bought homes on those streets were well aware that the college was at the end of the road.
Posted At: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:11 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing of Lincoln & Sunset Streets Subject: Closing of Lincoln & Sunset Streets
To Whom it May Concern,
I have a hard time believing that the town of Amherst would fold to the pressure of home owners who purchased homes on these streets with the knowledge there streets would be used by commuters. The back up traffic on campus without the use of these streets is going to be horrible. Not to mention that am not only a staff member but a town resident who uses these streets for other purposes as well.
I am horrified that you as the town government would allow this to happen.
Posted At: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:03 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
To whom it may concern,
I am very concerned about this temporary measure being put in place as it will cause very heavy traffic backups on and around campus. I park in Lot 32 right on Lincoln avenue on the UMass Campus and now cannot even exit campus conveniently in either direction. People are either going to be diverted and backed up on Massachusetts Avenue or backed up going into town via Bertucci's. I understand the traffic concern from the residents on these streets, but it's not like UMass was built yesterday. When you decide to live in these neighborhoods in such close proximity to a University you must also realize that along with that location will come some of the campus traffic and life. No one forced them to live there. It will certainly be interesting to see how this "study" pans out as the highest amount of new student traffic comes back to campus for the first week. I hope you have extra police details in place for the overflow nightmare that will follow.
Public Works Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hi Jason,
I don’t usually like to stand on my “local resident soapbox,” but this Lincoln Ave traffic calming test really has some alarming implications that will adversely affect many people. Here's my personal story about the issue with this plan:
On most days during the school year, I drop my daughters off at & then park my car on Amity Street during the time that I'm at work. At around 4:15, I leave work & drive up Lincoln Ave to pick up my daughters at. it's a drive of less than one mile, which takes about 3 minutes on most days & consists of virtually no idling.
During the time that we'll be going through this traffic calming test for the highly entitled residents of Lincoln Ave, my commute will consist of either going down to N University Drive & coming through the UMass Campus past the busy crosswalks near Southwest, or it will consist of an insane commute up Lincoln, east down Fearing to the stop sign where I'll idle for a couple minutes, then up North Pleasant onto Mass Ave. The mileage nearly triples in either case & the idling goes from nonexistent to quite prevalent.
All of this will be done so that the entitled residents of Lincoln Ave (whom have all lived there since long after Lincoln Ave became a principal arterial roadway) can enjoy the benefits a few less cars on their street? Why don't we just tear up the pavement & ask them to park in Hadley while we're at it?
Respectfully,
Resident, Town of Amherst
Posted At: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 3:10 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave road closing Subject: Lincoln Ave road closing
I think your decision to close Lincoln/Sunset avenues next week is a poor one, and the timing
is of course, the worst.
Anyone who bought property along there knew it was adjacent to the university and would
receive high levels of university traffic.
All this will do, is create large traffic jams on alternate routes on the outskirts of the same neighborhood.
Considering the revenue generated off of the university for the community, I think this is very poor
politics. Not to mention, just poor planning with regard to traffic patterns/needs.
I hope you reconsider this decision.
I can only wonder what the Amherst Board of Selectmen must have been thinking when they made this decision.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 12:17 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing off Lincoln Street to UMass faculty parking - a complaint Subject: Closing off Lincoln Street to UMass faculty parking - a complaint
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with your decision to close
off Lincoln from the faculty parking lots on the UMass campus. I use
Lincoln Street to avoid downtown Amherst which is a logjam of
pedestrian, bus, trucking, and car traffic. I hope you realize what you
are unleashing on the downtown roads of Amherst between 8:30am and
9:30am when most UMass faculty and staff are trying to get to work. The
Fearing Street access to North Pleasant will also be backed up, and many
will have to go a great deal out of their way to get to lot 32 on
Lincoln Street. Not to mention that the policy that all must stop for
the UMass students who cross University Drive and Massachusetts Ave.
will further back up drivers trying to get to lots on that avenue.
Furthermore - Has there ever been a fatality on Lincoln Avenue due to
traffic? There have been several on the university circuit roads - and
now you are making the problem worse by forcing all traffic down that
route to get to the parking lots.
And I don't know what the problem is with residents on Lincoln Street. I
was under the impression that cars slowed down considerably after a
(justifiable) campaign by LS residents to slow the traffic. So why is
this being done? Why not simply intensify police monitoring during
morning and afternoon traffic flows?
It seems to me that the town of Amherst is allowing a few squeaky wheels
(who live in $800,000 mansions on Lincoln Street) to ruin the traffic
routes for everyone!
Posted At: Thursday, September 03, 2009 10:42 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing of Lincoln Subject: Closing of Lincoln
Members of the Select Board:
I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction at the closing of Lincoln
Avenue to the employees of University of Massachusetts. I take Lincoln Avenue
and drive under the speed limit to avoid clogging the streets of downtown
Amherst and spewing more emissions into the air.
As a town that is trying to be environmentally aware, you are failing by
creating a downtown crammed with cars that will produce more emissions. As a
town who is facing an extreme budget crisis you are failing because of the extra
labor costs (which will result in police attention drawn away from where it is
really needed) it is going to cost to monitor this situation.
Moreover, you are forcing more traffic into areas where there are high
concentrations of pedestrians which will undoubtedly cause more accidents and
potentially a fatality.
If the Select Board is merely doing this to humor the whims of people who own
expensive houses, then you are patently against the working people who don't
have the means to live in expensive houses.
I am disappointed and ashamed to live in a town who indulges the whims of the
few at the cost to the environment, the people who live and work here, and the
potential safety of pedestrians.
Shame on you.
Posted At: Monday, September 07, 2009 10:20 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Private thruways owe taxes to the town Subject: Private thruways owe taxes to the town
Blocking traffic through certain high-income neighborhoods amounts to
transforming formerly public thruways into private drives. This is a
predictable outcome in a capitalist society, but at least let those now
enjoying a private road pay taxes to the town for the property they
claim as theirs exclusively, and let them be responsible for the upkeep
of those driveways themselves.
Whether or not anyone uses these words, the traffic closure amounts to
making those streets "gated communities" and the residents should incur
the attendant expenses.
Residents of Sunset and Lincoln knew when they bought their high priced
homes that their streets connected Amity Street with Fearing. They knew
they were living close to a large, public university. Many of us would
love to have traffic "calmed" on our streets, but we accept the fact
that we live on public thruways which are by definition...well...public.
Posted At: Friday, September 04, 2009 4:13 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming comments Subject: Traffic calming comments
Ridiculous! Why does Sunset and Lincoln get such preferential treatment? We
ALL have to deal with UMASS traffic. It is unconscionable that town dollars
are being wasted like this. Unbelievable!
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:12 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: “Traffic Calming Comments” Subject: “Traffic Calming Comments”
To whom it may concern,
I don't like that I can get all the way to campus, and then I get sent
completely around campus just to park in my assigned lot. The main roads on
campus get very busy with pedestrians during the semesters, and I fear that by
diverting most, if not all of the traffic to the main streets in order for us to
park (especially in lot 32), we are putting the pedestrians in more danger.
There have already been several deaths on this campus due to vehicles hitting
pedestrians, even when they are in the cross walks. This will only cause there
to be more vehicles in the busiest spots. Thank you.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:34 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming comments Subject: traffic calming comments
your idea to make streets near UMass one way (ie. lincoln, sunset,
mcclure) will create a nightmare for those of us who have to get to
those neighborhoods but are not associated with the college.
please reconsider making streets one way. will it really solve
anything? it surely won't slow down traffic on those streets since
the cars will not have to slow down for oncoming traffic - it will
actually make those roads speedways for the reckless student drivers
going to and from the college.
thank you,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:26 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hello,
I looked over the plan to change the route of traffic by Fearing and
McClure St. The synagogue that I attend is the Chabad House at 30 N
Hadley Rd. at the corner of McClure. With placement of these
closures, it appears that almost all of the routes to the Chabad House
will be obstructed. This is a major obstacle for myself and the many
community members who frequent the Chabad House. By imposing these
one-way streets and road closures it will further make it difficult
for people go almost anywhere (perhaps that's the meaning of "traffic
calming"?)
I ask that you please work to find a different solution or compromise
that does not inhibit the ability of the Amherst Jewish community to
attend our synagogue and that will be overall better for the residents
of the affected streets and nearby areas.
Thank you,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:00 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave Subject: Lincoln Ave
As an Amherst tax payer and employee of Umass, I want to express my disappointment and frustration at the closing of Lincoln Ave. I think it is a terrible decision and sets a very poor precedent for the town. Since when is one portion of the town more important than another. I feel for the poor residents who live in the surrounding streets who will be inundated with traffic. It isn't fair and is going to cause a great deal of hassle and hardship not only for residents and commuters but also emergency vehicles.
I urge you to reconsider this decision and halt this "experiment" before someone gets into an accident there.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:09 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: closing of Lincoln and Fearing Streets Subject: closing of Lincoln and Fearing Streets
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing today about the traffic calming trial that has been put into place on Lincoln and Fearing Streets. As President of the University Staff Association, I represent 1000 members here on campus and I must say I have heard from many of them this morning. My voice mail has been filled more than once this morning and it is only 11:00am. This trial is adding to the work commute by 10-15 minutes and the traffic is horrendous. I personally almost got hit twice this morning and it took me an extra 15 minutes to get on campus. Once here I was stopped by members at least 4 times from my car to the building and I have handicapped parking. I understand that the traffic for folks on this street is busy but please they bought their homes right next to the University what did they think it would be like. I can’t even imagine what the traffic will be like should we have an early release again for snow, traffic was at a standstill last time and should we all have to leave early again it will be a nightmare. I respectfully request that the Selectman and Public Works take a long look at the disaster this is causing and that they return things back to the way they were.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Respectfully,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:04 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave. Closing Subject: Lincoln Ave. Closing
To Whom This May Concern,
Wow today was a real fun day to come to work. With everybody NOT being able to come down Lincoln they had to divert to other roads to get to work. ON TIME?? Nope. I was stuck in traffic!! I didn’t know I had to leave my house 15 minutes earlier because of this. Did you even take that into consideration? And with all the traffic being diverted and we know how abiding students are by using crosswalks, that it was going to be this bad!!
The people that live on Lincoln look to be very young couples with young children. So, when they purchased their homes didn’t they take into consideration that Lincoln connected to Umass? Why I live near an airport but I knew that when I bought my home…am I supposed to whine and cry until they shut down a runway to suit my needs? What if there is an emergency for either faculty, staff or student? What are we supposed to do. Call for a helicopter service to get us out or even get us to a loved one?
This was a very bad idea. Open the road and tell the Lincoln Ave. people to knock it off you have better things to do. Have the police out there ticketing like they should be.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:49 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: The Closing of Lincoln Avenue Subject: The Closing of Lincoln Avenue
To Whom it may Concern,
The closing of Lincoln Avenue is going to create a great hardship and inconvenience within the campus community. It's difficult enough to get through campus and Amherst. Many of us need to travel to various campus buildings for our work during the day. Lincoln Avenue is linked to UMass as a parallel street and should not be closed.
Perhaps we need more speed bumps and police/radar control if speeding is the problem. I have emkpaathy for the residents of the street but they chose to live there and knew of the heavy traffic.
It's bad enough that detours and construction went on all summer long inconveniencing all and making us late getting back to our offices.
Please reconsider this idea as drivers will be rushing (we are not retired yet) and are all on time constraints. Amherst and the surrounding campuses are already over populated for the town's size.
This is a very bad idea. There will be more pedestrians and bicylisits in peril I'm afraid. Please re-consider this 'not very well thought out idea'.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:07 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Subject: Lincoln Avenue
To Whom It May Concern:
I agree with closing Lincoln Avenue as an experiment . However, I hope the experiment ends soon. The time spent going around and merging with already jammed traffic makes for an ugly start to the day. This especially hurts those who park in the lots off of Lincoln Avenue (i.e. lot 34). To have to travel by Southwest with all the students crossing is dangerous, and going through the Center of Amherst is no picnic either. Going out at lunch time to spend money in the local economy is now out of the question due to time constraints.
I live near Westover ARB with the C-5 flight path over my house. I chose to live there even though I knew there would be noise. Same theory should hold for those on Lincoln Avenue.
Sincerely,
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:12 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: lincoln ave closing Subject: lincoln ave closing
To Whom It May Concern:
I have been a UMASS employee for 20 years and just ran into a complete and under mess trying to navigate my way back to campus from my lunch.
I know you have had MANY other emails about this, and please understand that this will only cause more congestion at the other entrances
on to UMASS campus and your down town Amherst area.
This will defiantly affect my decision about going out and spending my money in your down town in the future.
The residents on Lincoln Ave should have realized where they were purchasing before they made that decision. I completely believe that police should fine any speeders
or erratic drivers, but to hold us all responsible it ludicrous.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:38 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Subject:
The closing of Lincoln Ave and Sunset sounds like the same old politics in Amherst. This is something I know about because I grow up on south east.
I have a belief that money on those street are probably behind the closings. The people that buy homes that are close to the heart of town taxes need to take the good with the bad. If the do not like the heat, get out of the kitchen. Move to North or South Amherst like all the other people in the past have done.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 1:46 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Closing Subject: Lincoln Avenue Closing
To Whom It May Concern:
The closing of Lincoln Avenue to University traffic is a terrible idea. I have worked at the University for 3.5 years and this will be a real hardship and pain in the butt to UMass employees especially. I park in Lot 32 which is adjacent to Lincoln Avenue, but I will be forced to drive out of my way and to encounter what I'm sure will be loads of traffic, in order to get to my job each day that Lincoln Avenue is closed.
I don't understand why those residents of Lincoln Avenue didn't consider their proximity to the University and the resulting traffic when purchasing their homes. If speeding is an issue, which I admit it is (I am always cognizant to not exceed the posted speed limit of 30 mph), please start ticketing drivers. It is obvious that if the police have a presence and enough tickets are written, it will have an effect on speeders. But closing the entire road because of the whining of the Lincoln Ave residents is shortsighted and an insult to the 2500+ hardworking employees of the University.
I would like to add that as employees of the University, we spend money in Amherst. We contribute to the local economy. If we have to drive in circles to arrive at and leave campus, you can bet that we will have less time, energy and patience to stop in and spend money at local businesses during lunchtime or even after work. Many of us have only a ½ hour for lunch so if we are sitting in traffic (which is inevitable since you will have the same number of cars but fewer possible routes to the campus), there is no way we will be able to come to town and support the local economy.
This is LOUSY idea.
Sincerely,
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:15 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
To Whom It May Concern,
As an Amherst resident of 11 years, I wish to express my opposition to the proposed "traffic calming" measures being introduced to Fearing St, Lincoln, McClure etc. These measures will be extremely distruptive to necessary through traffic, including my personal route to get my preschool/elementary school age children to school on time. I think it is unfair to block and/or restrict access to these roads, and to block access to the Chabad House in particular, which serves as a Jewish community center.
Thank you for your reconsideration of these measures which do not fairly represent all residents of the Amherst community.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:34 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: careful driver against closing Lincoln Ave Subject: careful driver against closing Lincoln Ave
I'm always careful to keep within the speed limit and am very upset that
you have decided to cut off my main exit from campus, where I have
worked for 18 years. Now my trip to the Jones Library will be a much
longer one in lines at stop lights, either way I go. Maybe you WANT to
make the traffic in downtown Amherst worse than it is. That's what will
happen if you close Lincoln avenue.
From:
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:41 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Closing Subject: Lincoln Avenue Closing
To Whom it May Concern,
Closing Lincoln Avenue is really a bad idea. The traffic on that street that gets diverted has to go somewhere. Some of those diverted go to the other side streets, so what happens when those residents start complaining of excessive traffic and speeders.. Or some people will go towards downtown, which is already a busy area during the school year. Just closing Lincoln Avenue off really does create alternative problems.
Could the city please look into an alternative solutions; such as speed bumps (large ones) on Lincoln Avenue where the car would need to really slow down. This may slow down cars considerably, and naturally weed out those people who are going to be disrespectful of the residential area. As I believe there is only a handful of speeders on any given day. In addition those people that purchased their homes in the area, must have realized they were purchasing near two large universities, where there is bound to be an abundance of activity from students, faculty and staff. There has to be a better solution, especially when we all contribute to the livelihood of Amherst.
Again, please consider alternative solutions, or do a study of the problem and how the city can satisfy both sides.
Thank you for your attention,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:51 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave closed Subject: Lincoln Ave closed
I am fortunate, I don't have to use the Lincoln Ave route. Because I
don't it may seem like it won't affect me, however, now that you're
forcing all these people to drive THROUGH campus to get in and out of
their lot, I AM directly impacted. Have you DRIVEN THROUGH THE CAMPUS
LATELY! IT'S INSANE! And did you even think about what you're doing to
Univ. drive, which I use everyday! Isn't it bad enough!?
Isn't this street supported by taxes? Is it maintained by city plows in
the winter, payed by taxes? Pot holes fixed? Doesn't that mean it's a
PUBLIC road, not a private road supported by residents that live on it?
if ONLY residents on it can use it, how about THEY pay for the upkeep?
Mention this to the residents and see how they react.
Well, once again, people with money (obvious by the houses) get what
they want, everyone else around them can now suffer the extra traffic on
their streets (which will have more wear and need more maintenance).
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:58 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing of Lincoln Ave and Sunset Ave. Subject: Closing of Lincoln Ave and Sunset Ave.
To Whom It May Concern:
Upon arriving to campus this morning, driving down Fearing Street, I found I
could not make a right-hand turn at Lincoln Ave in order to drive to and access
my parking lot (#32). This was slightly annoying (since I was not notified of
the closing/construction) but nothing terribly urgent - I thought it was just
some type of construction that would end shortly.
I just found out that the closure of Lincoln Ave, along with Sunset Ave., may
become a permanent and this upsets me greatly!
For over ten (10) years, I have worked at UMass Amherst and parked in Lot 32
adjacent to Lincoln and Sunset. Though I may not be a citizen of your town, I
do contribute in many ways. My commute is over 3/4 of an hour one way each day
and I tend to support the stores & businesses in Amherst rather than making my
purchases near/in my home town (food, lunch, gas, etc....). However, if I have
to drive in circles in order to enter and/or leave the campus due to these road
closures, I will certainly not have the time (or desire) to contribute to your
town's economy any longer and will be forced to make my purchases elsewhere.
I believe the closing of Lincoln and Sunset is an extremely poor decision on
the
part of the Town of Amherst and I strongly urge the Town and its Public Works
Dept. to take into consideration the impact upon ALL when deciding whether or
not to close Lincoln Avenue and Sunset Avenue on a permanent basis.
Respectfully,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 2:58 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Subject: Lincoln Avenue
Add my voice to the others who think closing Lincoln Avenue is a bad idea. It feels to me like segregation. If you want to slow drivers down, why not put in speed bumps? What if there is an emeergency on Lincoln Ave? How will you help people there in an emergency? But ultimately, I've been in Amherst for 39 years, and in none of those years has the town had to block off a town street to traffic because of a perceived inconvenience by a few numbers of citizens.
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 5:42 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
To whom it may concern, Regarding the proposed street direction changes by the DPW for Lincoln, Sunset, Mclure, Fearing area of Amherst. Please, PLEASE do not make this a permanent change more than the trial itself. It would greatly affect a large number of people, families with school children- in particular causing great difficulty in getting our children to and from school in the morning and afternoon. This is only one problem among others as in causing more buildup of traffic in surrounding areas and making it difficult for people who live residentially in the area to get home from most places in Amherst. This is NOT a good idea. PLEASE reconsider. Thank you. A very concerned and local resident.
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:00 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming comments Subject: Traffic calming comments
Dear Deputy Chief Patrick Archbald--and the Department of Public Works: I'd like to comment on the "traffic calming" cement blocks--or, more specifically, complain about them. OK, I don't approve of people speeding down Lincoln Avenue. But the barricades do nothing about that--except by possibily reducing the amount of traffic. People will still speed down to the cement blocks, and then (angrily) speed down Fearing Street, and (with mounting frustration and road rage) down Sunset, or down North Pleasant. (Those speed bumps undoubtedly worked better to reduce speeding.) Additionally, of course, people in our neighborhood (we live on Paige Street) no longer have a direct and easy route to UMass (where my wife and I work). One of the blessings of living where we live is the easy access to our place of work; now we don't have that. If for some reason we need to take the car to school (which my wife has found necessary, lately, due to fatigue from chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments), we have to go blocks out of our way. I'm not sure of this, but it seems to me that this all ends up just serving to placate that pushy and persistent Phil Jackson guy, the squeaky wheel, and at the cost of a lot of inconvenience to hundreds of other people. He should have known when he bought a house on Lincoln that he'd be living on a major thoroughfare, a logical, sensible way to get from Route 9 or Amity or downtown Amherst to UMass, and to get to those places from the university. Nobody I've talked to in our neighborhood is happy with these ugly barricades. Why are we having this foisted upon us? Please take those things down as soon as you can! Thanks very much for considering my point of view. Sincerely,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 8:29 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming comments Subject: traffic calming comments
I'm delighted the town has taken this experimental approach to the traffic issues in Precinct 10! I can already see a difference on Lincoln, but, of course, it's the collective data from other streets that will suggest whether this alteration of traffic flow is actually a good idea. I'm grateful to the Select Board, Town Manager, and town departments for taking an active step to improve the safety of the streets in this neighborhood!
Good Evening,
Having spent 15 additional minutes commuting home tonight due to my inability to travel south on the PUBLIC WAYS of Lincoln Ave and Sunset Ave I would like to register my objection to your decision.
Additionally, I have a great concern related to the ability of emergency vehicles being able to reach the campus in a timely way, as a former member of the Amherst Fire Station review committee I understand that every minute counts in emergency responses.
Thank You a tax payer of 23 years.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Shaffer"
Dear Mr. More,
Thank you for your note. I will ask that the Superintendent of Public Works answer your questions relative to University Drive.
I will try answer the questions that I can.
Yes
• I do not know
• The Town has completed a traffic study of the volume and speeds of traffic along Lincoln.
• Many options have been considered to include more stop signs
• Guilford, would you answer this question
• Guilford, would you answer this question.
Thank you for your questions and I am sure that you will hear from Mr. Mooring soon.
Larry Shaffer
From: Select Board Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:31 PM To: Weiss, Gerald; Brewer, Alisa; stephanie@okeeffe.com; dstein@mtholyoke.edu; Shaffer, Larry; Hayden, Aaron Subject: FW: Lincoln Avenue
------------------------------------------- From:
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:31:31 PM To: Shaffer, Larry Cc: stephanie@okeeffe.com; Select Board Subject: Lincoln Avenue Auto forwarded by a Rule
Dear Mr. Shaffer,
I am writing to you, with a copy to the select board with questions and comments related to the plans by the town to restrict the use of Lincoln and Sunset Ave.
Disclosure:
My wife and I have lived in Amherst. for twenty three years.
We have payed property taxes for the past twenty three years.
We both are employees of the University of Massachusetts.
1. Is Lincoln Ave a public way supported by taxes dollars?
2. Lincoln Ave has been a street since approximately 1868. Was it laid out as a North South road leading to Massachusetts Agricultural College which founded in 1863?
3. Has the town completed a traffic study to predict where the the traffic that will be diverted from Lincoln Ave to other streets will go? Can these streets handle the traffic load at peak times ? Will there be bumper to bumper traffic in town at peak times? Will this impact emergency vehicles exiting the Central Fire Station? Will increased traffic at the intersection of Fearing and North Pleasant require a traffic light? Will the increased traffic dissuade people from going downtown to shop?
4. At any point was the installation of three way stop signs at all intersections studied? I travelled in the mid-west this summer, Evanston, Il for example has many neighbor hoods similar to Lincoln Ave, every intersection has stop signs. On Lincoln Ave, the installation of three stop signs between, Fearing and Amity would slow down traffic.
5. Will the town improve the University Drive in the area of the Big Y plaza and the intersection of Route 9? Will this work be completed by September 2009? This improvement will encourage people travelling south or north to use University Drive.
6. Will the town study the programming of the traffic signal at the intersection of University Drive and Amity? It seems to be an old style traffic signal with timed cycles opposed to one that operates based upon traffic flow? The improvement of the operation of this light to handle peak flows will encourage the use of University Drive>
My belief is that the partial closing of public ways Lincoln and Sunset, will only divert the problem to another area ? What is needed is a complete plan to encourage the use of other routes,
As I live in South Amherst, I will need to travel on North and South Pleasant Street if they remain open or use University Drive and Snell Street until concerned residents on any of those public ways ask to close those streets. Will the town have a criteria to handle these issues, or will we continue with the squeaky wheel gets the oil process?
Thank you very much for the time and I look forward to your response.
Hi Larry-
I got one (yes, one:-) complaint today re: Lincoln/Fearing/Sunset Traffic Calming about three things:
1. that the DPW was still installing the barriers during the morning commute, rather than last night/early this morning/lunch time today
2. that their was no traffic direction from police, just informal from DPW as they were installing
3. that there was nothing warning people who were turning from North Pleasant onto Fearing that once they got to Fearing they were not going to be able to drive into campus on Lincoln
How's your day been?!?
Take care,
Alisa
Begin forwarded message:
Posted At: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 6:13 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
As a long time resident of the town of Amherst and an employee of the University since 1984, I am outraged at the "traffic calming" measures you have taken. They are not "calming;" instead on the first day of operation they caused nothing but traffic outrage. How can you expect the campus, whose employees contribute to the town's economy, pay taxes, and try to go about their business of getting to and from work, to treat this measure as anything other than a hostile act? The few hundred residents of the affected area (which includes people who rent apartments and houses to students) are causing untold headaches to thousands of workers and commuting students.
We live in a campus town. Residents of the town need to keep that fact in mind and learn to live with traffic on their steets.
In opposition to the "green" campus that the university is trying to implement, your traffic measures will add to wasted gasoline as people wait in line at traffic lights.
And finally, what will you do when there is an emergency evacuation required of the campus as happened during snow storms last year? How are we going to get home safely?
Thank you for listening to our comments, and I hope that this measure will soon be reversed.
I own the house at XXX Lincoln Avenue in Amherst, adjacent to the
UMass entry. I am beyond pleased with the traffic calming measures
taken. In just one day, the barricades have dramatically improved
safety and reduced speeding on my road, not to mention the tremendous
noise reduction and improved quality of life.
Working from home and conducting conference calls throughout the day,
I used to hear loud music, horns honking and noisy trucks plummeting
down the road constantly. I needed to keep my windows shut all day.
Now, I can open the windows and talk on the phone without
interruption. Previously, when pulling out of my driveway, cars had
to slam on their brakes. Now, the few cars that do take this road
drive much slower.
I have just one minor issue with the current arrangement. Because I
live where I do, I can leave my house easily and take Fearing where I
need to go. But I'm unable to access my home upon return without
trekking through the very busy and pedestrian-ridden UMass campus.
Nobody in my household works or has any affiliation with UMass, and
it seems odd to have to go through that campus. It also takes a long
time and creates stress, as we dodge so many pedestrians and bikers.
I would love to see a slight modification to the calming situation on
my section of Lincoln that would allow residents, emergency vehicles
and UMass staff sole entry through this road. Quite possibly a badge-
activated gate entry to the campus. Were this final segment of
Lincoln Avenue modified into a cul-de-sac, the situation would be
resolved.
Thank you so much for your efforts to calm traffic and improve the
safety on this residential road. The results are unbelievably positive.
From:
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:51 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
I am writing in regard to the Diversion of traffic on Lincoln and Sunset Avenues. I am quite dismayed that a public road could be closed off to through traffic. Are the residents of these roads paying to have them privately maintained, or are the taxpayers paying for their maintenance? If I were still a resident of Amherst, and I was for many years, I would be appalled that my tax money was paying for a road that I would no longer be able to use for the purpose of getting to my place of employment. The people that live on these roads bought their houses knowing the University was within close proximity and there were people that used these avenues to reach their work destination. The residents of these roads should not dictate nor should anyone else dictate the amount of traffic that uses public roads because they simply don’t like it. Heck, I don’t like the amount of traffic that goes by my house but it is a public road therefore I have to deal with it. People the key word here is PUBLIC! The elitists that live on these two streets should get a reality check.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:57 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffice calming comments Subject: traffice calming comments
As a non UMass student who happens to work on Fearing Street, I rely on being able to drive down Lincoln and Sunset Aves to get to town or home after work. I use these streets specifically to avoid the UMass traffic on University and North Pleasant St. The new traffic calming patterns have seriously inconvenienced me in my commute out of work. However, it seems that if you want this new pattern to work, you should consider putting traffic lights at University Dr and Fearing and another one on Fearing St and North Pleasant St. Then at least you won't have traffic waiting and waiting and getting backed up for those wanting to turn left onto either street. Please consider this for those of us who aren't reckless UMass student drivers and who simply want a stress free commute to and from work.
Thank you in advance,
From:
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:36 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Subject:
This is absolute nonsense. I am sorry that the people on Lincoln Ave want to live a block from Amherst and a block from UMASS and Amherst College and have ridiculously high property values because of it but cannot allow us to use our roads because they do not want the bother. TOO bad…if they do not like the traffic, they should move. There is no reason why taxpayers who happen to work at the University should not be allowed access to this road. Remove these barricades, I am sure this is illegal.
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:36 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Good morning,
It was interesting watching an Amherst town vehicle try to negotiate the barriers. [Traveling down Lincoln towards UMASS, left at barrier.] It was too funny to watch the driver try and negotiate only to have to do a few backups before continuing.
I understand the need to review traffic patterns and the need to accommodate all parties involved. I too live on a street that has become a major cut through over the years. -15 years ago ~20,000 cars/service vehicles/large trucks went down my street weekly. I am sure that it has increased. They do not always obey the speed limit. While I am not thrilled about it, I bought a house in a location that is what it is.
Now the complaint
With the change in traffic patterns, my ride home time has increased by 40%. A friend who works closer to that side of campus spent 50% more time getting home. This translates into using more gas as the alternatives require longer routes and/or stop and go traffic. I cannot help but think that the same group of neighbors would be the same group complaining about gas prices increasing, pollution, etc.
What will happen when there is a mass exodus from the campus due to bad weather? In addition, do the benefits to so few neighbors outweigh the rewards of having UMASS in the town? How many are employed? How often do the UMASS police provide protection to those same neighbors? Would it be wise for a UMASS officer to say - sorry, can't help you, barriers stop me from crossing over into your territory. I would say to those same neighbors - think before you buy a house next to a major university. The benefits you receive from the facilities do come at a cost.
thx for listening
From:
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:30 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Street Diversion Subject: Lincoln Street Diversion
I am an employee of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Lincoln St leads right to the parking lot that I have to park in, I find this diversion to be extremely irritating. This is going to cause more traffic and aggravation then there was to begin with. I think you should be diverting your attention to the North Pleasant St and Triangle St light and make the 2 green lights coming to and from campus green at different times, that would cut down the traffic on Lincoln because people wouldn't have to sit at that light and wait through 3-4 green lights just to go straight because people are trying to take a left and there is always a line of traffic coming on to campus. If the houses on Lincoln are so upset over traffic, then why did they buy a house on a street that leads directly to campus? It's just completely absurd! Thank You, Have a great day!
To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Diversion on Lincoln Subject: Traffic Diversion on Lincoln
To whom it may concern,
I am both an Amherst resident and a UMass employee, I live in Colonial
Village, and thus far I have found the newly implemented diversion to be
somewhat problematic. As a result of this diversion, in order to get
home from the University, I have had to resort to taking North Pleasant
street leading into Triangle Street. While this is certainly a more
efficient way home in terms of mileage, it is undoubtedly less efficient
during high traffic times. It would seem that I am not the only one who
is doing this; I have found that the traffic diversion is successful
insofar as it has directed traffic away from Lincoln, but towards an
already highly congested route. As such, the problems that arrise at
the light have become compounded. Perhaps, instead of directing traffic
away from Lincoln, you could find some sort of a solution for the
congestion at the light for North Pleasant & Triangle St. I would
suspect that if this became reliably less congested, people would
discontinue their use of Lincoln, and opt for the more mileage efficient
route home. As a result, you would find an indirect solution to the
congestion problem at Lincoln.
Best wishes,
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including all attachments, may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, privileged or otherwise protected by law. It is to be viewed only by the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), please notify the sender of this information and delete your copy at once. Your cooperation is appreciated.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:18 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue should be open to traffic Subject: Lincoln Avenue should be open to traffic
I am not a resident of Amherst but I do use Lincoln Avenue when I leave from my job here at UMass. I work in the Whitmore Building and park in lot 32 adjacent to Lincoln. It has been great to travel down Lincoln to Amity as a route home. Now I have to turn onto Fearing and wait in traffic without a stop light. Hope someone will let me in on Pleasant, and then hit more traffic at the traffic light by Bertuccis. I have never sped down Lincoln and I dont understand why the individuals that abuse the privilege of traveling down the road are not dealt with by local law enforcement officials. I hope the town will consider controlling the speed on the roadway and not try to make Lincoln into a gated community.
Thank you.
From:
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:10 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Good Morning,
Thank you for your continued work in trying to find the best solutions for the various traffic issues surrounding UMass. I'd like to comment on the new traffic calming measures for Lincoln and Sunset Ave. I am not an Amherst resident, but rather, live just over the border in Belchertown. I do, however, commute into UMass daily. I'm sure I don't need to convince you of the value of having Lincoln and Sunset as an inlet and outlet to Umass. Traffic in the area is already heavy, and closing down two routes will certainly create some challenges as it potentially aleaves others.
My comment, which I submit to you, is that the preferences of the Lincoln residents should not override the clear need for using these roads for Umass access. The residents of that road chose to live there, and it was their responsibility to weigh the traffic levels on that road in their decision to purchase a house so close to UMass, as opposed to a quieter upscale neighborhood such as Amherst Woods. It seems to me that if the problem is speeding, then police officers should simply spend a significant amount of time pulling people over on that road until it becomes a road notorious for getting pulled over. This will work! I grew up in Granby, and Amherst Rd in Granby is known even by outsiders a road that only a fool speeds on. That notoriety simply takes people seeing cars pulled over once every few days on that road. In the 5 years I have worked at UMass I have never once seen someone pulled over on that road. Why aren't we trying this solution first?!
You are probably getting emails from several people who are unhappy, so I hope this doesn't put a sour not in your day. Again, thank you for considering the entire impact of these baricades. I submit to you that this is not as good a long term solution as the cops making these roads notorious for pull-overs by speeders. That WILL work. Thanks for your time.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:08 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: experimental traffic diversions at Sunset and Lincoln Avenues Subject: experimental traffic diversions at Sunset and Lincoln Avenues
To whom it may concern,
I was advised that I could comment regarding the experimental traffic diversions at Sunset and Lincoln Avenues. I don't like it at all. I work at UMass and it is very frustrating to have to wait in all the crosswalks just to get off campus. This is a nice way for me to cut across and avoid all the congestion. The crosswalk monitors don't help in the aid of traffic period.
-----Original Message----- From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 9:45 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Subject: Traffic Calming
To Whom It May Concern,
I am a resident on McClure St. Since the traffic barriers went up
yesterday on Lincoln and Sunset we have begun to notice the expected
increase in traffic on McClure St. Hover, we have noted that there are
no visible traffic counters on McClure St. to document this increase.
Are traffic counters going to be installed?
Many thanks,
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:06 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming comments Subject: Traffic calming comments
Dear People:
I am a resident of Pelham and I work in Whitmore building at UMass. I am writing to protest the newly installed traffic barriers on Lincoln Avenue.
I had always thought that Lincoln Avenue and its adjoining streets were public ways. By what right is the town of Amherst restricting access to a public thoroughfare?
What is the reason for these barriers? I have been commuting to and from work, often along Lincoln Avenue, for years, and my wife and I often use Lincoln Avenue when we drive to and from evening events at the University. I have seldom if ever seen either excessive traffic, speeding, or risky driving behavior. If such actions do not occur during morning or evening commuting times, or after on-campus events, when do they happen? If they don’t happen, why are the barriers in place?
I doubt that the school buses that go along Lincoln will be able to negotiate the new barriers. Are the school bus routes going to be changed as well? What about (publicly-funded) snowplows?
When visitors come to our town, I am sure they will remember Amherst’s many inviting features and attractions, but they will also remember these concrete barriers and the arrogance they express.
Will the town of Amherst stop after blocking off Lincoln, Sunset and McClure streets? What about High Street, Gray Street and the others which I have used to access the Middle and High Schools? Will they be blocked off as well, forcing traffic all the traffic onto Triangle Street?
Is this honestly the best use of town funds? Last night I was at a meeting with Mark Jackson at Amherst High School; the school’s budget shortfall has forced them to cut all extracurricular activities for the high school, and the Parents’ Center is trying to raise the $20,000 to reinstate these activities. Wouldn’t the town of Amherst be better advised to fund its school system, rather than put up barriers on public roads?
Sincerely yours,
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:05 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hi,
I am a resident of Belchertown but travel Lincoln to get to the Amherst Campus 3 days a week as I work on another campus the other two days. I don’t like not being able to take this route to work it’s the easiest and I actually enjoy looking at those big homes especially in spring when all the flowering trees and plants are just coming up, it’s very picturesque. It’s a nice way to start and end the day. I am one of the people that drive down that road at 25MPH and sometimes less. Not once in the past 3 years have I seen a police officer there trying to catch speeders that go down that road. Maybe if people have to pay for their speed they will think again. If every street in the state of Massachusetts were allowed to do this what kind of problems would this cause? Put the speed bumps back but don’t take the rights of people to be able to go down that road. If that is going to be taken away from the public the people there should pay for the snow plowing that is going to be needed this year nor should that road be repaired until people that live there pay the cost of it. The people that live there chose to live next to a University so what did they expect? Next thing you know they will be asking to have pedestrians take another route to get to the university because that will be the next thing to bother them. God forbid some disaster ever happened and staff and students needed as many routes as possible to vacate the campus. You let these streets do that more will follow.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:43 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
I am not resident in Amherst but I work in UMASS.
Here are some of the concern I have if Sunset and Lincoln Ave close permanently.
-How will the closing streets effect if there is emergency and everyone need to evacuate from UMASS .
-If N Pleasant St or University Drive is close due to accident then people have only one road to exit which will cause more traffic.
solution I can think of.
-Put permanent Speed pump which extend side to side.
-Install camera that able to take picture of license plate of speeding motorist.
You inconvenient more people then you pleasing for closing these streets.
Residents in the streets bought houses because close approximate to University but now they want to make exclusive community.
Thank you very much.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:36 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Street Subject: Lincoln Street
Good Morning ! In regards to your experiment with traffic on Lincoln Street, I do appreciate the homeowners would like a quieter street, however, it will cause more congestion on the other streets. I usually only use this street when I need to go the bank at lunch time. It will be a great inconvenient to go around and it will take more time. It will certainly not make the UMass roads any safer.
Perhaps you could do something similar to what is near Amherst College with the raised walks (in a different color) that definitely cause people to slow down so they do not hit the bottom of their car.
Thank you.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:35 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming info Subject: Fwd: Traffic calming info
Enclosed is a forward of my very vocal complaint re: the corner of Lincoln and Fearing
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:23:05 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: Traffic calming info
Hi all! ... ok, I have never before taken part in mass email neighborhood discussions but I feel I must speak out now. I live on Lincoln, between Fearing and Massachusetts and was in a near head-on collision yesterday due to the blockade placed at the corner of Fearing and Lincoln - going down towards Massachusetts. Here's my story - I hope you will all take the time to read this:
I needed to make a Big Y run yesterday so I pulled out of my driveway at 321 Lincoln (between Fearing and Massachusetts) and made a right-hand turn on to Fearing, going down towards University. I hit MAJOR traffic, going down Fearing, and what followed was complete road-rage chaos. College students, frustrated by the traffic jam, started making C-turns to head back in the opposite direction - one such student almost nicked my car as he started to turn around. I honked. He yelled a bunch of obscenities to me and then continued to turn, just missing my car. I sat, with my 76 year-old mother, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, inching our way down towards University. I finally hit University and proceeded to spend FIFTEEN MINUTES in backed up traffic, headed in the direction of Amity and The Big Y. What used to be a simple two minute jaunt from my house to The Big Y had turned in to a twenty minute chaotic hassle ... just to do some grocery shopping! ... And it's not just about the time. It's about car fumes. It's about wasted gas. So. We finally make it to The Big Y and then, en route home, this is what I encountered: as a way to try to AVOID the major traffic jam along University, between Amity and Fearing, I decided to take "the other" part of Lincoln down, towards my house - so I came up on Amity and hung that left on to Lincoln ... I hit the corner of Lincoln and Fearing, about to make that left on to Fearing in order to begin the process of looping around University and Massachusetts - just to get to my house which sits two houses in from said corner - when some college kid, driving a big ol' black SUV decided to ignore the blockade, and proceeded to turn - very hastily - in to the lane I was in!, he almost hit me head-on .... he then smiled as he drove past me, saying, "sorry, babe - but I'm not sittin' in that traffic." I then proceeded to make the Fearing/University/Massachusetts loop back to my house on Lincoln - another 10 minutes, due to traffic - and marched right upstairs, still shaking from my near-collision, and called both the police and the town manager to voice my complaint. Oh, and don't even get me started about watching the Amherst Fire Department try to make the turn from Fearing on to "our part" of Lincoln, as part of a trial-run. The fire truck could NOT make the turn - it took, maybe, seven minutes for them to navigate the turn at that corner. Imagine if there had been an actual fire??! Response time??
Is this really the answer, people??? Those of you on Lincoln, between Amity and Fearing, wont have to deal with this daily nightmare. But those of us on Lincoln, between Fearing and Massachusetts WILL have to deal with it - everyday, multiple times per day. I now have to drive through hoops just to take my son to school every morning. And the return trip home is just as maze-like. I can't even begin to imagine what that'll be like once winter hits and we have to navigate a maze of icy roads just to make what used to be a matter-of-fact drive down our lovely street. And now, thanks to the barricades, a quick trip to The Big Y is now a rather long, stressful journey, chock full of traffic, wasted gas and road rage. Not to mention the fact, I have seen many cars completely ignore the barricade - they just don't want to have to deal with the traffic on University and quite frankly, I don't much blame them. Not after what happened to me yesterday. We all purchased homes on Lincoln Avenue knowing that it was an in-town avenue with (what I consider to be) very light traffic (I moved here from NYC ... you want to see traffic?, head on up Third Avenue at around 6:30 in the evening). If I, for instance, wanted a totally quiet - no traffic at all type of street - I would not have bought a house along Lincoln Avenue. I would have purchased a home, let's say, in Amherst Woods - on some cul-du-sac street.
I'm all for a one-way street extending down Lincoln, from Amity to Massachusetts, but making one section of Lincoln "this way" and the other section of Lincoln "that way" just isn't going to work. Especially not for those of us living on the section of Lincoln between Fearing and Massachusetts.
Thank you for letting me share my story.
From: Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 9:36:19 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Traffic calming info Hello friends and neighbors, As you are no doubt aware, the latest experiment in reducing the volume of traffic in our neighborhood is underway. I've attached the town's press release that explains the specifics, but, basically, this is a 3-week effort to determine the impact of re-directing traffic away from our neighborhood and onto more major arteries feeding UMass (i.e. University Ave. or Rt. 116). The town is looking for feedback from neighbors in this area and I'd like to encourage you all to let your opinions be heard--regardless of whether you favor or oppose the current scheme. The specific email address for feedback is: publicworks@amherstma.gov You can also email the Select Board (or copy them on your message to the Public Works Department): selectboard@amherstma.gov Speaking personally, and as a father of young children who are endangered by high traffic volumes and speeds, I favor this experiment and hope that it leads to some permanent ways to re-direct the inappropriate volumes of traffic through our streets. I'm actually in favor of even more aggressive measures--installing full-width "speed-humps" for example, and also diverting traffic away from Fearing St. But I'm aware that change takes time and proceeds in small steps. I'm also whole-heartedly favor performing experiments such as this and then abiding by the data and other results (such as the opinions of affected residents). But that's just my opinion--what I hope is that everyone else with an opinion will let their voices be heard so that any decisions for more permanent measures will be arrived at as democratically as possible. Best,
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:15 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming comments Subject: Traffic calming comments
Dear friends,
I am writing in regards to the current traffic calming attempts for Lincoln Avenue. While I am not an Amherst resident, I have worked at the University of Massachusetts for the past 30 years and utilize the employee parking lots off of Lincoln Avenue.
Normally when I commute to UMass in the morning, I drive north on University Drive, turn right onto Fearing Street, then left onto Lincoln Avenue to reach my parking lot. When I leave for the day, I drive down Lincoln Avenue to Amity Street - this is a more logical and shorter way for me, and I prefer the quieter traffic on those streets. (I have yet to encounter any high-speed or heavy volume traffic on Lincoln Avenue, but then I work early hours.)
I have read the town's October 2008 report on the Lincoln Avenue/Sunset Avenue situation and respect the findings. However I am not sure I agree that a half-closure, as presented experimentally at this moment, will provide a solution. Just as (idiot) drivers found a way to get around the experimental speed bumps, these same drivers are going to find a way to get around the half-closures and take advantage of it. And like your report states, much of the traffic will simply divert to a different avenue.
Admittedly I find the current experimental half-closure to be a big inconvenience, forcing me to divert into a more highly-trafficked area that is out of my way upon arriving at and leaving from campus. I'm also concerned about the confusion such half-closures will create with non-residents. Personally I would find it easier if the half-closure was only on the southern part of the Lincoln/Fearing intersection, and leaving the section which runs by the Lincoln Ave. apartments the usual two-way. A second half-closure at the southern part of the Lincoln/Sunset intersection would force outgoing traffic to head all the way to University drive.
Bottom line - as I said, I understand residental concerns, and I respect the town's findings. But Lincoln Avenue is hardly an unique traffic situation, and even if a solution is found I can't see it stopping there. As much as speed bumps "hurt", I'd find this to be a preferable solution. I do hope that things can be worked out which will accommodate residents and UMass employees alike.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 11:10 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: "Traffic calming" comments Subject: "Traffic calming" comments
Hello,
I'm an employee at UMass and an Amherst resident/taxpayer. I'd like to request that the traffic changes that were recently implemented on Lincoln Ave./Fearing St./Sunset Ave. NOT be enacted permanently. The change has added approximately 10 minutes to my morning
commute, and all the extra vehicular traffic diverting to Mass Ave. is a mess,
both for the cars and for the pedestrians. So please, please, don't make
this "traffic calming" measure permanent. Thanks for your time - take care.
Thanks,
From: Alisa Brewer [mailto:avbrewer@comcast.net] Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:24 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln/Fearing/Sunset Traffic Calming Day 2 Subject: Fwd: Lincoln/Fearing/Sunset Traffic Calming Day 2
FYI
Begin forwarded message:
------------------------------------------- From: Alisa Brewer[SMTP:AVBREWER@COMCAST.NET] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:21:12 PM To: Select Board Subject: Lincoln/Fearing/Sunset Traffic Calming Day 2 Auto forwarded by a Rule
Dear Stephanie,
I do not know how full the September 14, 2009 Select Board Agenda already is -- I know you are meeting this afternoon with Diana and Larry -- but I am finally compelled to ask that we have a timed item -- preferably early -- about the Lincoln/Fearing/Sunset Traffic Calming experiment. I really didn't want to do this; after all, we knew it would be hard for people to adjust. And of course even without an agenda item we can assume some people were already going to come during Public Comment on Monday September 14, and I'd thought that would be sufficient. After all, I keep telling folks, this is just a three week experiment -- you can stand it for three weeks, right? And I'm getting a huge amount of pushback and demands that we end the experiment *now* for safety reasons. Inconvenience is not compelling, but the safety issues that have been emailed to us do concern me.
I will be happy to help publicize the time of this agenda item if you feel we can possibly work it in this Monday September 14.
Please let me know.
Take care, Alisa --------- Alisa V. Brewer (413) 549-5539 avbrewer@comcast.net
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:30 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: what were you thinking? Subject: what were you thinking?
These are public roads and should be treated as such. Who is paying for this, not me! Tell the new move-ins to move out and get a life. Now we are forced to congest all areas that have been congested already. Good, more pollution, more traffic tie-ups, more waste of gas…oh and by the way, how are the fire and police dept supposed to respond to the BARRIERS, duh. Hopefully the ones on this street will be the first to find out. Since when do we cater to so called demands of a few neighbors? Are we making changes to every road in town to meet the needs of these neighbors? No one wants traffic and yet we choose….CHOOSE….where we move to, now don’t we. Oh, and another by-the-way, how many more deaths will incur on University Drive because of this wonderful design of idiocy? This is not a plan it is a disaster in the making and for the future. Yipes!
Have a great day!
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:55 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Subject: Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln Avenue is a public way. I would certainly hope that there will be
some type of public hearing that will allow representation on behalf of
UMass employees, students and vendors to protest the lunacy of diverting
traffic around campus. Perhaps the residents of Lincoln Avenue can set up a
fund to compensate traffic control officers or crossing guards to ensure
public safety as vehicles make illegal u-turns over to the opposite side of
the road? Gee, Amherst gets voted #1 college town and the first action they
take is to restrict free access to one of the colleges. Can't wait to get
that out to the New York Times or Boston Globe. No place to park in town
and a bunch of uppity neighbors who knew what they were getting when moving
to Lincoln Avenue convince the town to make working in and navigating
through Amherst even more difficult.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:00 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hello,
I drove throught this morning and thought a lot of the ideas put into action make sense. I do think that people should be able to turn left onto Lincoln from Fearing. My parking lot is about 100 yards from that intersection and the way it is now makes me go to the end of Fearing, left on Mass Ave and then into the parking lot.
What about speed humps?
Thanks,
From Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:15 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
I have worked at the University for nearly 25 years and daily travel down Lincoln Ave. I am respectful and never go above 30 MPH. When these people bought in this area, they knew the University was a block away. This is why their home values are so high. Why these two or three streets? I live just off Route 9 (GreenLeaves Condo) and have to contend with high volumes of traffic headed for the University and Mullins Center; It is a fact of life. It is what living in a college community is all about. I find the added traffic to the center of town is very
Dangerous, not as much in the morning but mid afternoon it’s a bad set up. I will contend with the detour and do what I have to do, but why the preferential treatment?
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:17 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing of Lincoln Avenue and other streets Subject: Closing of Lincoln Avenue and other streets
To whom it may concern: I write to protest the closing of public thoroughfares in the vicinity of the University of Massachusetts—and the lack of public notice of this move. It is noteworthy that when residents of a street in Hadley requested such a closure, the select board informed them that it was illegal. For some years, I have been using the Lincoln Avenue route when leaving work as it has been the shortest, safest exit—with a helpful four-way intersection and a right turn onto Amity Street that minimizes idling. I have always observed the speed limit and my experience has been that other drivers have done likewise. I have also seen courtesy in navigating parked cars and passing cyclists and pedestrians. My suspicion is that residents are really objecting to the volume of traffic—which should be no surprise, given the proximity of the university. Alternative exit routes involve areas full of pedestrians and the prospect of making left turns into almost unrelenting traffic. Yesterday, there were considerable back-ups in several areas as displaced vehicles tried to turn without the aid of lights. Also, do you really wish to redirect traffic into the downtown area? If there are speeders on Lincoln Avenue and nearby streets, I urge the Amherst police to make a habit of stopping them. Otherwise, please restore the public thoroughfare so that drivers can leave the area at peak departure times taking a direct route that minimizes accidents and significant delays. Yours truly,
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:45 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Barriers blocking roads into/out of UMass Subject: Barriers blocking roads into/out of UMass
To Whom it May Concern: I work at UMass and am absolutely puzzled and angry by the recent closing of Lincoln Ave and surrounding area into campus. This has made for massive backups and requires incredible creativity to actually leave campus by a logical route. Actually all the logical routes are now unavailable. I have to go out of my way in order to leave and then am confronted by long lines of cars attempting the same. I don't understand how the city can block off city owned streets because of some complaining homeowners. Isn’t this illegal? The university has been here long enough that these people had no excuse for not taking the students/traffic into consideration when buying their house. If they are so adamant about controlling the streets, make their roads private and have the homeowners pay to take care of them because no one from Amherst or elsewhere are able to use their precious streets which are paid for by the taxes of the “other” people of Amherst. Isn’t this illegal??? What are you going to do when other homeowners see what one group of people was able to do. Are other homeowners (near to UMass) going to be complaining about their streets because they see that bullying the town of Amherst gets results? Are you going to accommodate the next complaint? I don’t think the people who rubber stamped this dreadful and unfair idea thought through all the ramifications of these closings. Ultimately, anyone who wishes to to enter campus from side streets are massively inconvenienced by the barriers. Long lines to get out of campus. Did you see the disaster that was yesterday????? It took one employee I know a 1/2 hour to make her way to Big Y. Big Y! 30 minutes. From campus! That's bordering on the ridiculous. Before yesterday, it usually took me approx. 25 minutes to get home and now it's taking me an hour. I’m not happy with that. I have better things to do with my time than sitting in my car waiting in traffic because of a bunch of vociferous homeowners. It’s true that in Amherst the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Someone needs to rethink this idea as there are many angry UMass staff/faculty/students. Surely you can see what a bad idea this is. It may be good for those select homeowners and I’m sure they are feeling mighty good right about now but at what price to the rest of us? Really. Think about it. It’s a disaster.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 2:03 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic diversions on Lincoln and Sunset Subject: traffic diversions on Lincoln and Sunset
To Whom It May Concern,
I understand that you are seeking feedback from residents of the neighborhood on the barricades placed on Lincoln Ave and Sunset Ave.
I am quite happy with the town's efforts and am expecting to see a rapidly declining amount of traffic as the commuters become aware of the barriers. I was also happy to see the police out yesterday afternoon giving people tickets for driving around the barriers. I hope this continues, as driving around the barriers is dangerous and likely to cause an accident. I was also impressed that the fire department immediately brought out the big trucks to make sure they could navigate the new barriers.
I know some neighbors are quite upset about this new set-up. I hope they will become used to it and that the barriers remain in place.
Thank you,
From:
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 2:07 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave. Subject: Lincoln Ave.
To whom it may concern,
As a thirty six year UMass employee, it continually baffles me as to why
you cater to the whims of so few. The Lincoln Avenue barrier is moronic, short
sighted, not to mention a huge unnecessary inconvenience. Isn’t it bad
enough that the DPW does one of the worst plowing jobs in the state come
winter time, endangering lives to save who knows what. The speed bump was
a small nuisance compared to this. Please have the common sense to
remove the barrier as soon as possible.
Posted At: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 2:53 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Street closing Subject: Lincoln Street closing
I work at UMass and park in parking lot 32 at the UMass end of Lincoln
Street. I wish to file a complaint about the closing off of Lincoln Street.
There are three UMass parking lots that use Lincoln as an access street.
Whether leaving campus or coming back to campus, it is now a much more
involved and time consuming process, because the number of street routes
available has decreased,increasing traffic on the other roadways in a
round-about,inconvenient way, and routing more traffic through the student
dorm sections in the southwest part of campus where there are more students
crossing the roadways on foot and slowing down traffic, and causing more
travel congestion because University Drive and Massachusetts Avenue are main
access routes to campus, and the traffic flow issues associated with the
parking lots down in the southwest dorm area of campus, on University Drive.
Thank you for hearing my complaint.
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:40 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
To Whom It May Concern,
As a resident at Lincoln Ave., I would like to say that the traffic calming experiment has by and large been a success. There is far less traffic going by my house.
There are a few problems, however. First of all, there is now no way for me to get to my house except to go onto the UMass campus. As I do not work at or have any real affiliation with UMass, that seems peculiar to me. Furthermore, it adds to the University's traffic problems. Secondly, many people simply go around the "barricade", because one side of the road is still open. That defeats the purpose entirely.
What I suggest is that a permanent barricade be installed immediately after the intersection of North Hadley Rd. with Lincoln Ave, such that McClure St., North Hadley Rd. and Lincoln Ave. form a sort of horseshoe. This would simply block entry to the UMass campus via Lincoln Ave., but still enable Amherst residents to access the public roads.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this issue,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:28 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
As a follow-up, I wanted to inform you that the quantity of drivers
disobeying the no-turn policy on my section of Lincoln Avenue has
increased each day. It seems, based on my guestimate, that traffic
going into the University doubles each day, yet the number of
residents on the road has not. When that traffic consists of
automobiles, it may or may not be residents on the road going into
the University. But today, when driving my daughter to school in the
morning, I nearly collided with a car head-on as they drove around
the barricade. I have also noticed at least one semi truck traveling
from Fearing toward the University on Lincoln, which could not have
been a resident.
With increasing traffic driving around that barricade, it's growing
more and more dangerous to approach Fearing from my house. This issue
increases in the evening, when nearly all of the traffic on the road
is traveling into the University.
Is there any way we could get police presence to stop this before a
head-on collision occurs?
Thanks so much!
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:13 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Subject: Lincoln Avenue
Good Afternoon:
I just want to give you some feedback on the change of the traffic on Lincoln
Avenue.
I feel for the resident's concern over the speeding traffic, but it's an artery
that is essential to UMass employees and students, and has been since I've been
here (27 years!). Speeders are speeders, regardless of the road, they will
speed until stopped.
The current set-up is just not working. I ended up traveling through the SW
residential area and two traffic lights I consistently avoid to get to route
9. Talk about a waste of time and fuel.
Rest assured the set-up won't work long term, and I vote for the removal of the
barriers as soon as possible!
Thank you for your time.
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 11:21 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hello,
It’s absolutely ridiculous that the Town of Amherst would even consider permanently closing Lincoln and Sunset avenues to thru traffic. It’s bad enough that you temporarily closed the roads. We are all taxpayers and the Town should not be catering to a few selfish residents.
The residents of Lincoln/Sunset claim that it’s not fair to have UMass traffic use a convenient Amherst roadway? Perhaps UMass should stop paying taxes and contributing to the community. They don’t want UMass people driving on residential streets. How do you expect anyone to get to or leave campus without using residential streets? Do you suggest that employees, students and even non-UMass people drive miles out of their way to avoid inconveniencing a few ignoramuses on Lincoln Avenue? Are you proposing that everyone enter and leave campus via Route 116? Like it or not, Lincoln Avenue is convenient. If the residents don’t want traffic driving by their house, then they should move to the country.
The traffic is reducing the Lincoln/Sunset residents’ quality of life? In case they didn’t notice, UMass was around long before they bought their house. Were they unaware that there was a huge campus (or two) only a short distance away? Perhaps the Town can close those sidewalks too as it might bother the residents if someone walks by their house.
I don’t like almost getting hit by cars when I cross the street in the center of Amherst. Can you close Main Street so it’s safe for me? I don’t like waiting at traffic lights. Can you turn them off so I don’t have stop? And while you’re at it, I don’t like the speed limits in town. Can you eliminate them too? Also, there are too many houses in Amherst. Can you tear down a few? You think that I’m being ridiculous? Apparently not considering you gave into the whim of a few people.
I find it amazing that the Town is going to inconvenience hundreds of people to please a few prima donnas. You’re opening Pandora’s Box…once you close off one or two streets; you’ll have more residents who don’t want traffic on their streets too. I can see the lawsuits now!
Thanks for listening. Regards,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 11:17 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
To whom it may concern,
Thanks for this opportunity to put my two cents in. I live in the Echo Hill section of Amherst, work at UMass and park in a lot off of Commonwealth Ave. I’m fortunate in having a number of route options for my commute but my preferred route is to go up through town on Route 9, take a right onto Lincoln Ave and then a left on Massachusetts Ave, down to Commonwealth. It simply seems the most direct and has fewer traffic lights and crosswalk encounters than other options.
I’m having trouble understanding all of the attention and resources being given to this issue. I not only drive on Lincoln but I walk on the sidewalks of both Lincoln and Sunset most weekdays at lunchtime. It’s a lovely area (yes, even with traffic) and I appreciate having this quiet residential neighborhood so close to my workplace. I used to live in an apartment in a house on Sunset Avenue (towards Amity) so I’m quite familiar with the area as both a pedestrian and a driver. In my view, most of the homes on these streets are set far back from the road, the road is straight so oncoming cars can be seen from a distance and there are sidewalks the length of both Lincoln and Sunset. In contrast, my neighborhood has no sidewalks and the streets are very curvy. Many people walk in my neighborhood, children ride bikes, etc and it seems very dangerous. I understand that the amount of traffic and speeding are what concern the Lincoln Ave residents and I’d hope that speed limits can be enforced. But as for the amount of traffic? It’s a street! Streets have cars on them. How can they expect otherwise?
My concern is that the cars have to go somewhere. (Yes, less traffic in general would be great. I carpool and am fortunate to have access to a bus route which I use once or twice a week but not everyone can do that.) This morning I tried what I think is the next best route to using Lincoln Ave and I approached the center of town via Main Street rather than Route 9. It seemed more congested and I sat through two red lights at the bottom of Main Street rather than the usual one on route 9. I went up Triangle Street to find the intersection of Triangle and Pleasant to be quite congested. Then there was another light when I got to campus and I counted five more crosswalks (active at commuter hour) than I encounter when I take Lincoln Ave. I suppose I could also take Route 9 from home all the way to University Drive but not only is that more out of the way but again, more lights, congestion and crosswalks.
So…in order to please those who don’t want too many cars on their street, I’m driving on other roads. I know a family who live on Triangle St. and I’d imagine that they’d also prefer less traffic rather than more. I find Triangle to be treacherous in the winter and the sight lines are terrible for seeing bicyclists and pedestrians crossing at certain points. A convenience store near a traffic light adds to the confusion. So my two most likely alternate routes to Lincoln require me to stop/idle more often for lights and pedestrians which I assume causes more pollution from my vehicle. And speaking more selfishly, I don’t like taking longer to get to work along with more aggravation. Lincoln Avenue is a public street and my taxes help pay for its care as the taxes of those who live there pay for the care of my street which they are free to use. Lincoln Ave residents would prefer that I don’t use their street so the town spends time and money finding ways to get me to drive on the streets of other residents instead? I’m honestly still having a hard time understanding how this makes sense.
Thanks for your attention,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:59 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln/Sunset traffic diversion Subject: Lincoln/Sunset traffic diversion
Hello and thank you for the opportunity to comment on the traffic flow efforts for the Lincoln Ave. and Sunset Ave neighborhoods.
I am on a neighborhood emial list that has been full of just horrendous complaints. I would like to caution against throwing out an idea before it has been fully tested. The traffic has been horrible and unpredictable for the first two days. Of course it has. I cannot possibly be any different because every single car trying to take their old routes to UMass must re-route. Once it becomes clear to all the students that they must find alternate routes, most will do so and the insanity surrounding the change will calm down. Only then will we be able to assess the impact of this change. My concern is that "experiment" is stopped before the true impact can be discovered. I have shared this with the neighborhood email list
Sincerely,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:57 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic calming info Subject: Re: Traffic calming info
To Our Neighbors
As all of you are aware, we have been attempting to sell our home since
November. Although we have greatly enjoyed living in the neighborhood,
we bought in naively. We were aware of the proximity to the University,
which is exactly why we purchased our home on the corner of Lincoln and
Fearing. What we were not aware of was the student situation. Over the
past three years we have realized a reduction in the noise and
disruption of the students. We believe the past school year of 2008-2009
was a very good year, with very little disruption at all. It would be
fair to give credit to the improving situation.
As far as the traffic situation is concerned, it will take time to sort
through diverting the flow of traffic over to University and Mass Aves.
One immediate benefit we have noted as a result of the barriers is that
cars are now stopping at the stop signs on the intersection of Lincoln
and Fearing, creating a much more safe situation at the intersection. I
would encourage people to keep their comments positive in order to
continue the cooperation we are receiving from the city to improve the
situation, as well as to protect the value of our properties in the area.
We are distressed over the continued public complaints regarding the
students as well as the traffic. In an effort to ‘protect’ and ‘improve’
our neighborhood, we have actually created a public opinion of our
homes/neighborhood that is very negative. Negative conversations,
internet reports from public meetings, and articles in the newspapers
have created an incredibly negative view of the area we live in. We have
had several people interested in buying our home, only to be discouraged
by their realtors who tell them that they probably don’t want to live in
our neighborhood. A Jones realtor told her client right in front of me
that “you don’t want to live on Lincoln Avenue. It’s a terrible street”
and a realtor from ERA recently discourage very interested buyers
because of the students.
This might not affect you in the present moment, but anybody’s life can
change at any time creating a need to put your home on the market. The
housing market is difficult enough in these times, with home prices
dropping lower and lower. The negative publicity regarding our
neighborhood, fueled by our very vocal complaints, has created a
situation that is destroying the value of our homes.
We ask that you please consider the implications of the picture you are
painting of our neighborhood. It is a wonderful place to live and raise
children. The proximity to the University is a blessing in many ways.
Although a perfect Utopia doesn’t exist, our neighborhood is pretty darn
nice.
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:25 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: lincoln Subject: lincoln
Amherst DPW - To Whom It May Concern,
I realize you may be concerned about traffic and/or speeding on Lincoln Avenue,
which has led you to test traffic flow when Lincoln is closed as a thruway to
campus. Several of my colleagues and I am wholeheartedly against this plan for
the following reasons:
1. TRAFFIC EXISTS ON LINCOLN BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENT FLOW.
2. LESS PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC EQUALS MORE SAFETY.
3. TRAFFIC IS NOT ONEROUS ON LINCOLN.
1. TRAFFIC IS ON LINCOLN BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENT FLOW. If roads
around Lincoln (i.e. Pleasant, Massachusetts and University Ave.) were able to
fully handle the traffic flow, which I assume you are testing now, people
commuting to campus would not be using Lincoln Avenue in the first place; hence
there would not need to be a test of such a pattern. The fact that some traffic
does need to divert to Lincoln to efficiently reach lots 32 and 34 is proof of
its utility as a campus access road.
2. LESS PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC EQUALS MORE SAFETY. Lincoln provides much needed
access to that side of campus that generally does NOT interfere with the
pedestrian traffic walking to and from class. Diverting some traffic TO Lincoln
Avenue makes the heavily crossed roads around campus safer. I'm sure no one
needs to be reminded of the terrible pedestrian accident on Mass. Ave. last
fall.
3. TRAFFIC IS NOT ONEROUS ON LINCOLN AT THIS POINT. I drive on Lincoln Ave.
several times a week and can remember only a handful of times when I have had to
stop at one of the stop signs with more than one car directly in front of me.
For me, traffic seems relatively light on Lincoln Avenue and I find it hard to
believe that many speeders race down that road given the road conditions (though
I would also like to think that drivers respect the residential nature of the
street as well, but I realize that may not always be the case).
Thank you for considering my comments and opinion as you make this decision.
From:
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:24 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming Subject: traffic calming
Although I am sure you will receive many complaints about the latest attempt to calm traffic on Lincoln Avenue, I am writing to say how delighted I am with your willingness to take seriously the overwhelming number of cars that drive too fast down our street. The traffic on our street has developed into an increasingly dangerous situation, and the danger has only grown through the years since my own children were small. The latest measure, while annoying to some, seems to have already reduced both the traffic and the speed of cars on our street. I firmly believe that the university should take responsibility for this problem by preventing cars from using Lincoln Avenue, but they have only taken measures that exacerbate the issue. I commend you for your efforts and appreciate your repeated attempts to solve this problem. I regret that this problem has been allowed to fester for more than 25 years (when I believe it was first raised) and hope it will finally be addressed with a permanent solution this year.
Many thanks for your help,
-----Original Message----- From: Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:01 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Diversions feedback Subject: Diversions feedback
Good Morning,
The Lincoln St. diversions seem to have one really bad side
effect. It forces even more traffic into the already jammed four
corners area of downtown Amherst, if you're trying to get "crosstown"
from route 116 area to any business downtown. I think it will make
me think twice about trying to drop in on downtown businesses, which
is not great.
Thank you.
From: Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 2:07 PM posted To: Public Works Conversation: A practical compromise for traffic calming on Lincoln and Sunset Ave. Subject: A practical compromise for traffic calming on Lincoln and Sunset Ave.
Good afternoon,
I'd like to present a brief solution to the traffic calming issue at Umass for Sunset and Lincoln. Based on the 2006 traffic study conducted by the Amherst Public Works department, it is clear that Sunset Ave. does not get nearly the volume of traffic that Lincoln does. So my suggestion is to make use of the barrier method in such a way that Umass employees and student can still have access to Umass VIA these roads while diverting some of the heavy traffic from Lincoln to Sunset so they share the burden. The way to do this is to put a barrier at the end of Lincoln where it meets Amity Street to block northbound (into campus) traffic and direct them to use Sunset Ave for northbound, into campus travel. And then to put a barrier at the end of Sunset where it meets Fearing Street to block southbound (out of campus) traffic and direct them to use Lincoln Ave for southbound, out of campus travel. I've attached an image below demonstrating this.
Now Umass employees and students can north on one street and south on the other and Lincoln cuts its Umass traffic almost in half, but there is still the benefit of two way roads for people entering these roads from the side. It also has the advantage of not having to block Sunset and Lincoln on the sides opposite Fearing Street which causes many difficulties for students and employees trying to access campus from Fearing.
Finally, residents of Sunset and Lincoln can use Elm Street to cut over to their own street to dramatically improve their own access to their own road from both Fearing and Amity.
Please look at this diagram and give it serious consideration. This will make improvements for EVERYBODY. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 2:28 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming comments and new suggestions Subject: traffic calming comments and new suggestions
Whether or not the closure of Lincoln and Sunset Avenues is temporary or permanent, I think that there are several areas of traffic congestion that need to be addressed, and in fact, have needed it for years. The closure of these two roads will make these problem areas unbearable and, in my experience, when drivers around UMass get irritated, they do monumentally stupid things to get around congestion.
The first is the intersection of N. Pleasant/Triangle Sts. and E. Pleasant St. Traffic traveling on N. Pleasant onto E. Pleasant or across E. Pleasant to Triangle needs a left turn signal or a dedicated left turn lane. The line waiting behind cars making a left turn at that light in the afternoon often extends to, and sometimes beyond, Fearing St. Many people will go into the right lane (which is for right turn only) to get around waiting cars, which is extremely dangerous if the front car turns and traffic begins to move straight through the intersection. It's not unusual to wait through several changes of that light to get through the intersection.
The second area that needs help is the intersection of University Dr. and Amity St. In the afternoon, the line of traffic moving south through that light can back up to the further stadium entrance, again, because there is no left turn signal. Again, cars wait through multiple light changes before moving through that intersection
Both of these areas have always been bad, but they are worse than ever. This may be because of the closure of Lincoln and Sunset, or maybe there are just more cars because of the burgeoning student population. Regardless of the reason, I think they should be evaluated and left turn signals installed.
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 3:00 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: University Drive / Amity Street Lights Subject: University Drive / Amity Street Lights
I have no idea if this problem is connected to the change that has been made to Lincoln St. but the green light that lets traffic travel from in front of the UMass stadium to the intersection of Amity and University needs to be green for a bit longer.
There is no reason it should take 10 to 12 minutes to reach that intersection just because the students are back. Every night this week I’ve had to turn around because the traffic is well before the stadium entrance. It’s unreal.
I am not someone who has ever used Lincoln or Sunset to get from point A to point B. And as someone who has grown up in Amherst, this situation seems above the normal student/people traffic.
Thank you for your time,
Posted At: Thursday, September 10, 2009 3:38 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave Subject: Lincoln Ave
September 8, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
Bad idea - The closing of Lincoln Avenue to University traffic. University employees and students should have access to campus via this road. Obviously if you live near campus you are going to get campus traffic. When people purchase their homes they should realize this.
Yes, it is an access road to UMass and why shouldn’t it be. It is a public road and the public should have a right to drive on it otherwise remove it from the town roads and make it a private drive. Why should the town plow, maintain, etc a private drive? Let the homeowners take over maintenance of the road.
If speeding is the problem then ticket and/or install speed bumps.
This is LOUSY idea.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:18 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Road one week later Subject: Lincoln Road one week later
ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Have you SEEN Univ drive at 5 AND still at 6? I've
worked here for years, I've never seen anything like it, unbelievable.
It's bumper to bumper past the double entry way to the stadium. I know
enough to turn down those roads, and get out, enabling me to take a
right at he corner where Rafter's is. So, last night, guess what OTHERS
are figuring it out, so now you're going to have THOSE roads traveled,
used, backed up, needing much more maintenance, and in case you haven't
noticed, they are a mess with pot holes. Not to mention those fields are
full of people playing sports, they are parked everywhere! MANY of them
children, families, and they are running around that area.
My boss just called in, she is already 50 min late, and still
counting..... Why? Stuck on Univ road. NICE JOB, GREAT IDEA CLOSING THIS
STREET, and all because of a street full of selfish, spoiled people.
Thanks for that. Hey, you gonna pay for that extra gas we're all burning
sitting around in traffic? Want to call my evening appointments and
explain why I'm late?
From: Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:52 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Street closure Subject: Lincoln Street closure
This closure has been extremely inconvenient for me as I travel from South Amherst to my job at UMASS. Normally my trip takes about 10-15 minutes. On Tuesday I came in early (7:30 am) and used Lincoln and my trip took the normal time. However, coming home that afternoon I had to use Massachusetts avenue. It was complete gridlock and the trip took over 40 minutes. On Thursday I had the same experience coming through town on N Pleasant. It took almost 10 minutes just to get to the corner of Rt 9 in the center of town.
there are around 32,000 residents of the town of Amherst. There are maybe 200 people that live on Lincoln. It is unconscionable that this small special interest group can inconvenience all the people that use their street to get to work. This policy sets a dangerous precedent as there are other streets that would meet the same criterion to be closed. Is the town prepared to close every street that gets over 500 cars per day?
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:18 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Ave Closing Subject: Lincoln Ave Closing
To Whom it may Concern:
In a nutshell...BAD IDEA!
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:27 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
This closure has been extremely inconvenient for me as I travel from South Amherst to my job at UMASS. Normally my trip takes about 10-15 minutes. On Tuesday I came in early (7:30 am) and used Lincoln and my trip took the normal time. However, coming home that afternoon I had to use Massachusetts avenue. It was complete gridlock and the trip took over 40 minutes. On Thursday I had the same experience coming through town on N Pleasant. It took almost 10 minutes just to get to the corner of Rt 9 in the center of town.
there are around 32,000 residents of the town of Amherst. There are maybe 200 people that live on Lincoln. It is unconscionable that this small special interest group can inconvenience all the people that use their street to get to work. This policy sets a dangerous precedent as there are other streets that would meet the same criterion to be closed. Is the town prepared to close every street that gets over 500 cars per day?
From: Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:28 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic Subject: traffic
As a UMass employee for 24 years I understand the traffic issues that accompany such a large amount of faculty, staff and students who commute to campus on a daily basis. Efforts have been made over the years by Umass to reduce the traffic (bus services, reduced parking rates for carpooling, etc) not everyone can take advantage of these due to their children's schedules, other jobs or simply their home locations. The town of Amherst may have some issues with resident complaints on streets that border campus parking lots but their latest attempt to block access to roads leading to the University will only push the issue to other streets. I hope all residents on other streets that now will have an increase in traffic, file complaints to the DPW - at some point there will not be access to the University if enough people complain about traffic on their PUBLIC road. I spent 20 minutes attempting to get from lot 32 to Target at 4:30pm on Thursday, the blocked traffic on University Dr. was outrageous. It would be interesting to follow the routes of the residents of Lincoln and other now blocked streets as they commute to their jobs. If they happen to travel to Northampton, they should only be allowed access to the bridge via route 9 - not North Maple, Rocky Hill, North Lane, Cemetary Road or any other road that might detour them off the main congested Route 9 traffic. It should be the right of every resident in every town to complain about traffic on their road and have the solution be the PUBLIC road closed to the public but yet still have the town be responsible for maintaing such roads. It took me an additional 15 minutes to get to work on Monday morning due to the block some 10 houses away from lot 32 off Lincoln Ave instead I needed to go to the center of town to travel back onto campus. I do not have extra time to travel in the morning or afternoon because I have children to bring and pick up from school some 18 miles away in Easthampon, of course the safety of the employees children are not considered as we sit in bottle necked traffic and miss their school buses dropping them off without a parent at the bus stop. I understand it must be convenient to travel to work in the same town as one resides but for the majority of employees on campus that is not the case, therefore our travel time is sacred. I wonder if the traffic blocks and evidentual one-ways (apparently) were taken into consideration for emergency vehicles attempting to get to houses on these streets and even the minimal 30 second delay that might save a life. Are exceptions going to be made in the event of closings for weather when traffic is at a premium and the safety of employees and students are at risk when delays could be hours long and that was when there were many different outlets from the parking lots/ campus not currently down to only a few outlets. In addition, I hope that the thousands of frustrated employees and students who spend more time sitting in blocked traffic attempting to get to and from work or going out to lunch for 30 minutes do not take the time or their money to go into Amherst and support the city that so apparently has issues with us. I may be babbling on but for 5 days I have been utterly frustrated at this attempt to disregard the lives of thousands of employees and students to cater to the residents on public roads. If the issue is the speed of vehicles on these roads then police should ticket - if the issue is primarily increased traffic then don't buy a house that borders a University.
From:
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 11:46 AM To: Mooring, Guilford Subject: purpose of making sunset and lincoln st. one way in same direction.
Guilford Mooring, Director of Public works
Good morning:
My office is in the Creamery building on Sunset and Fearing and since the barriers have been installed it is more difficult and takes far longer to leave the area due to having to go, either through town or travel University Dr to get to route 9 and then up to South Pleasant St. to go home. I am wondering what the purpose is, why are both one way in the same direction, is this permanent, and is it legal to do this without going through the state legislature? It is creating much more traffic in town and on University Dr, at least during the times when I am on the road. Also, There are a number of drivers, all ages who are driving around the barriers instead of taking the detours. They are holding up traffic in their direction waiting so that they can enter the street going the new wrong way. I for see an accident brewing.
Hoping to learn what is going on. Thank you for your time.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 12:30 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Street closings Subject: Street closings
While I can understand the residents concerns, the impact for staff,
faculty and students at UMass is disconcerting. Where is the concern
for helping us to get to work and class on time.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 12:36 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
The TRAFFIC may be calm, but the DRIVERS are not! Is it even legal to
randomly close a PUBLIC WAY?!?!
Have any of you tried to get on campus via the re-routing....I doubt it.
A very frustrating way to start/end the work day, to say the least.
Put my vote in as a resounding FAILURE to the closures.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 12:59 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming - please.......... Subject: Traffic Calming - please..........
Good afternoon,
I am a long time UM employee, resident of Belchertown and property owner
in Amherst. I grew up in Amherst and attended Amherst schools (ARHS '78. I can
not express how frustrated I am with the "traffic calming" in Lincoln Ave. If
the residents of Lincoln do not like the traffic why did they move to a college
town in the first place? Most of the families on Lincoln, Elm and Sunset did
not move in prior to Southwest being built. Forcing all the traffic onto
N.Pleasant, University and Mass. Ave. only makes the commute and congestion
worse. Amherst would look like Ware if it was not for UM, AC and HC. This is a
ridiculous situation. As a taxpayer in Amherst I seriously question this lack
of common sense. Thank you for your time
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 1:07 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing of Lincoln Avenue Subject: Closing of Lincoln Avenue
What a nightmare this has caused. All because the residents on Lincoln Avenue don’t like it. Is that the criteria you need to get a “PUBLIC” road closed? This University is a busy place all over and to take away a “PUBLIC” road because the people who live on it don’t like the traffic is unbelievable. Remember it is a public road, being maintained by the Town of Amherst, paid by taxes. There are lots of roads that have a lot of traffic but they don’t get closed. Especially when it is a “PUBLIC” road.
Please open it back up. Thank you.
Jason Skeels,
It's unfortunate that the residents of Lincoln Ave did not do their homework prior to purchasing their homes. Common sense would dictate that when purchasing a home on a public access road to the largest employer of western Mass, you should expect a bit of traffic during the morning and late afternoon hours.
It's also unfortunate that the town of Amherst spends enormous amounts of money year after year to appease an angry resident that made the wrong choice when purchasing a home.
Many people that travel down Lincoln Ave are taxpayers and travel respectfully at the posted speed limit on this public road. To add an additional 5 - 10 minute commute time to provide a squeaky wheel a private road is unreasonable.
People will continue to travel down Lincoln Ave to Fearing - perhaps at a higher speed to make up the time lost for traveling round the block - making this less safe for the residents.
If these barriers were to become permanent, you can be sure there will be many that weave around the barriers, again making this less safe for the residents of Lincoln Ave.
This is by far the most outrageous traffic experiment I've ever experienced. The suddenly missing street signs seems almost childish.
I only hope that Amherst can find the courage to stand up to the Lincoln Ave residents and use their budget in more appropriate ways -especially at a time when town funding is reduced.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 4:41 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue barriers Subject: Lincoln Avenue barriers
The "experiment" with the barriers on Lincoln Avenue has obviously
produced disastrous results. There have been major traffic delays since
9-8-2009 causing people to have to wait an exorbitant amount of time.
Tuesday night it took me 20 minutes just to get off this campus! THAT IS
TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! I had an appointment to get to after work
Tuesday night......so I didn't appreciate being held up for so long. Lincoln
Avenue & other roadways in the area are public roadways & the residents of
those streets should not have the right to dictate that there be no
"unwanted traffic" on their streets.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 5:24 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Nice Job! Subject: Nice Job!
Hi Folks,
Very nice job blocking off Lincoln Ave, and kudos to the person that came up with the idea for taken down the street sign, everyone will just think the street is gone!
It's nice to see Amherst spending their time and money on such an important issue. It's a good thing the town has so much extra money to spend.
Could you please cut down all the trees on my street because I’m am so tired of raking leaves, it sure would be helpful.
I'll still drive down Lincoln Ave, probably beep my horn to let the residents know I'm there, unless Amherst takes my horn away.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 7:13 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln and Sunset Detours Subject: Lincoln and Sunset Detours
Hello. My name is and I am a 24 y/o delivery driver in Amherst, and I've also lived here my whole life. I am very unhappy with the new detours put in place on Lincoln and Sunset. They affect my job completely. Because of these new one ways, I'm forced to go round-a-bout ways to get to certain dorms and areas I deliver to, therefore causing me to have to go through a lot more traffic. I feel that these detours are only causing problems, and not really solving any. I understand that this trial is happening because people living on these streets aren't happy about the traffic. I feel that they were aware they were moving to a college town and very close to campus, so they should have known there would be a good amount of traffic. The university has been around for years and years, much longer than most of the residents on these streets, I'm sure. I don't really understand why, after all these years, that these roads be changed this way. Like I said, I do understand why the trial period is taking place, but I feel that it is unnecessary and very inconvenient. Thank you very much for taking the time to hear my opinion.
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:06 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a Resident in Lincoln Apartment. The recent change of the road direction in the Lincoln Ave has caused a lot of inconveniency for me. I typically drive through this road every day to go to many places in town like the bank, the library and the Leading Edge fitness center. The adjustment of the road to be single way has increased my driving time more than 20 minutes every day.
I have some other friends who also live in Lincoln Apartment and feel the same way. Please consider our concerns.
Thank you very much!
Best Regards,
Posted At: Friday, September 11, 2009 11:55 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Dear Sir or Madam:
I strongly object to the temporary or permanent closure of Lincoln Street to
through-traffic for the following reasons.
1. I am a professional employee at the University who will be moving to
Amherst in the next year. Until the barriers were installed this week, I
occasionally used Lincoln Street to get onto campus since I park in Blue Lot 32
at the end of Lincoln Street. I drive over 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the
University and, frankly, really enjoyed that last mile or so of my commute
travelling down Lincoln Street because of the beautiful homes and yards and
because it made me feel like I'd stepped back in time and pleased to come to
work. No more. Prohibiting through-traffic on Lincoln Street has effectively
created a "gated community" in a one of the loveliest parts of the Town that
has, for at least decades, been open to the public. This sends (at least to
me, a future taxpayer in the Town) an embarrassing message from the Town - that
it is more concerned with keeping happy a few elitist residents who want to
keep the "riff-raff" off their street than with fostering harmonious relations
with a University that has been, for over 100 years, an integral part of the
Amherst community.
2. While I certainly understand that the Lincoln Street residents seek to
decrease traffic volume on their street, if this is such a concern to them, why
didn't they buy a house on a street that has historically had little traffic?
The fact of the matter is -- and what these residents seem to have conveniently
forgotten - they chose to buy a house on a street which has, from what I
understand, been a highly traveled route into the University for many years
(and, in fact, has University housing located on it). By blocking off Lincoln
Street to through-traffic, the Town is wasting desparately-needed taxpayer
dollars to create and maintain a private street for a few disgruntled
residents. If this measure is installed permanently, the residents of Lincoln
Street should be required to pay full maintenance costs of the street
themselves , including plowing and paving costs. Only then could this be
logically, legally, and ethically justified. It's simply not fair to the other
residents of the Town who pay taxes and have to "suffer" through traffic on
their streets to pay for Lincoln Street residents to have a publicly-funded
private street.
2. This sets a terrible precedent for other streets in Town. What will happen
when residents on Route 9/Amity Street, Triangle Street, Strong St., or East
Pleasant decide they are tired of "University traffic" on their streets? Will
the Town close those streets down too? Of course not, that's absurd, but since
the Town is contemplating it for Lincoln Street, it begs the question of why
other regularly traveled streets in Town that abut or are major thoroughfares
to the University campus shouldn't be likewise closed off to "non-members"?
3. I am also concerned about the flow of traffic in the event of an emergency
on campus, such as a shooting or a major snowstorm? There are two major
University parking lots on Mass. Ave. By shutting down Lincoln Street, this
leaves only two ways off the SW corner of campus - using Mass. Ave. - and
Fearing St., sort of, except that that dumps back onto East Pleasant at one
end. What will happen when there is a mass exodus from the Lincoln Street
parking lots? There will be major backups on Massachusetts Avenue, leaving
students/faculty/staff vulnerable to danger.
4. From what I understand, there always has been, and will likely always
continue to be, tension between the University campus and the Town. This is
inevitable and common in college towns throughout the U.S. However, measures
like the temporary or permanent closure of a road which the University
community uses to get to work, etc. is little more than a slap in the face of
the University - which has, by the way, contributed to making Amherst a higly
desireable place to live as evidenced by its recent rankings as one of the best
college towns in America. Why not work with the University to solve
the "traffic problem," to the extent there is one, rather than impose a measure
that smacks of resentment and isolationism?
Shame on the Town and its Town Manager for even considering these temporary or
permanent closures.
Posted At: Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:04 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: closing of Amherst streets Subject: closing of Amherst streets
Dear Public Works,
I am writing to express my dismay and, yes, downright anger, at not being able
to use public streets to reach a public institution. There is a dangerous precedent
being set that the people lucky enough to be able to afford to live in the
Lincoln Ave. area seem to think they have the right to determine who is allowed
to drive on a public street. What if the people on Park Ave. in NYC decided that
we ordinary folks didn't belong there. Would Bloomberg close Park Ave? I doubt
it. So why has Amherst suddenly become so classist that those with money take
away the rights of the rest of us? I hope you will reconsider this decision.
Posted At: Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:12 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closure of Lincoln and Sunset access Subject: Closure of Lincoln and Sunset access
Dear Public Works Dept.,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the closure of UMass access
from Sunset and Lincoln Avenues.
I live at Amity Place in Amherst. I am a Five College employee with my primary
office at UMass. My UMass parking lot is lot 32 which is off of Lincoln
Avenue. The only direct root from my residence to my UMass parking lot is via
Lincoln or Sunset Avenues. I am a residence of Amherst and I pay taxes in
Amherst, presumably to be able to use ALL Amherst roads.
Thanks to an elite group of homeowners who seem to think they should have
special privileges, if I drive to work, I now have my distance more than
doubled and the time it takes tripled because of traffic jams all over town
caused by the closure of these two roads. This increases my gas expenses and
wastes my valuable time so that the residents of Lincoln and Sunset can feel
they live on a cul de sac.
I know that the traffic on these roads has been heavy from UMass traffic, but
this is only at particular times of day and the other times the roads are still
quiet residential streets. I frequently walk to work and also walk through
these neighbors at other times of day, including weekends. Other than the
morning and evening commutes on weekdays, and perhaps a bit of time in the noon
hour, these streets are quiet. Speeding is a problem, but that should be
controlled in other ways. The frat house on Sunset is the number one
contributor to a speeding problem on Sunset. Closing the UMass access from
Sunset will do nothing to solve that problem.
I walk to work whenever possible. The number one reason I do not walk is
because the residents of Sunset and Lincoln do not keep their sidewalks clear
of snow and ice during the winter. In addition, the poor state of repair of
the sidewalks on both roads makes walking after dark, especially when it is
icy, very dangerous. So I am left with the choice of driving or risking
uncleared, untreated, and uncared for sidewalks on foot. Now, thanks to this
closure, driving will take even longer than walking. Do I risk injury or waste
my gas and time?
I am sure there are other residents in town who would like their roads closed
to through traffic. I frequently walk on Blue Hills Road. It is constantly
being used as a short cut between Route 9 and Amity St. Cars go whizzing by
and there are no sidewalks. Young children live on the street, but it is not a
safe street. Last week a car whizzed by my husband, missing him by about a
foot, when we were walking in broad day light. It would be great for the
residences of Blue Hills and for those of us who walk there, if the road could
be closed at the Route 9 end. It would be a very nice cul de sac. Why should
only the residents of Lincoln and Sunset have such privileges? Why not everyone
else in town who has unwanted traffic? We would all like quiet streets, but
that is not always possible.
There needs to be some equity here. The residents of Lincoln and Sunset should
have no special privileges. If they want a quiet street, there are plenty of
houses of similar high value in Amherst Woods. They should consider
relocating. If they choose to live near the center of town and close to UMass,
traffic is just going to be part of the package.
Sincerely,
From: Posted At: Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:14 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Closing Subject: Lincoln Avenue Closing
Dear Public Works Department,
A number of my colleagues at the University of Massachusetts have expressed their dismay at the partial closing of Lincoln and Sunset avenues. More than one of them has said that as an act of protest they are going to organize a boycott of Amherst stores. The people most affected are those living south of the University.
In my own case, I'm retired and do not commute regularly to the University. If I did, living on Dana Street, I would be substantialy inconvenienced myself.
I think that you will find, as a result of the partial closings, that the problems so thoroughly voiced by the residents of Lincoln Avenue have simply been displaced, moved onto others shoulders. Traffic jams in mid-town, the inevitable result of shifting traffic to North Pleasant Street, do not facilitate or encourage commerce.
From: Posted At: Sunday, September 13, 2009 3:29 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
The effective (temporary) closure of Lincoln Avenue is unfortunate. I've heard people say that this calming exercise is based on safety concerns, but the temporary speed bumps used last year would have been effective in that regard. I've also heard people saying this calming exercise is because Lincoln Avenue simply has too much traffic on it, and people who live there are complaining about the noise. To close Lincoln because of traffic volume smacks of special treatment for some of the wealthier residents in Amherst, most of whom bought those houses knowing full well what the traffic levels were on that road. Shall we also close Route 9, or Main Street? And what about the surrounding streets, where surely traffic volume has increased? Those roads are smaller, and therefore less able to handle the traffic safely. Is a traffic study being done concurrently with the closure, and does that study include all surrounding streets (as well as University Drive)?
I used to drive on Lincoln every day, at safe speeds. I am now inconvenienced on a daily basis -- as are many other people -- for no good reason that I can see except to satisfy some whiny and selfish residents. Lincoln Avenue is a public road, not a private drive, and it should stay open.
I would fully support permanent speed bumps on Lincoln. But I am frustrated by this closure, and urge you to keep it a temporary situation.
From Posted At: Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:01 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming Subject: traffic calming
To the Select Board:
I am a homeowner at Lincoln Avenue.
From the point of view of traffic in front of my house, the barriers have had a very positive effect.
I am concerned about making any decisions based on a very few days experience and scattered negative anecdotes. Hard to compare the near-accidents that do seem to have happened around Fearing because of the change with near accidents that did NOT happen on Lincoln/Sunset because of the change.
Whatever the decision is really has to be based on some objective traffic data, and should be after some more time has gone by to let the driving public adjust to the new situation - not the confusion immediately following the change. Make the right decision, not a hurried one.
In the bigger pciture, I think a plan will succeed if it makes Sunset and Lincoln marginally less convenient for through traffic than University. Making Sunset and Lincoln less convenient can be handled by the barriers, speed bumps, etc. But the other side of the equation is making traffic on University flow better, and I think this could relieve neighborhood traffic to some degree by itself. The chief bottleneck is the light at University and Amity. One left turning vehicle can jam up an entire light cycle. So drivers will want to "cheat" on Sunset and Lincoln, or abide the law and use University and curse the town when they can't get through the light promptly. A good place for turning lanes.
Obviously this is much more expensive than the barriers, but I really do think it is part of the solution.
Thanks for all your work on this issue!
From: Posted At: Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:14 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Avenue Closing Subject: Lincoln Avenue Closing
Dear Public Works Department,
A number of my colleagues at the University of Massachusetts have expressed their dismay at the partial closing of Lincoln and Sunset avenues. More than one of them has said that as an act of protest they are going to organize a boycott of Amherst stores. The people most affected are those living south of the University.
In my own case, I'm retired and do not commute regularly to the University. If I did, living on Dana Street, I would be substantialy inconvenienced myself.
I think that you will find, as a result of the partial closings, that the problems so thoroughly voiced by the residents of Lincoln Avenue have simply been displaced, moved onto others shoulders. Traffic jams in mid-town, the inevitable result of shifting traffic to North Pleasant Street, do not facilitate or encourage commerce.
From: Posted At: Sunday, September 13, 2009 3:29 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
The effective (temporary) closure of Lincoln Avenue is unfortunate. I've heard people say that this calming exercise is based on safety concerns, but the temporary speed bumps used last year would have been effective in that regard. I've also heard people saying this calming exercise is because Lincoln Avenue simply has too much traffic on it, and people who live there are complaining about the noise. To close Lincoln because of traffic volume smacks of special treatment for some of the wealthier residents in Amherst, most of whom bought those houses knowing full well what the traffic levels were on that road. Shall we also close Route 9, or Main Street? And what about the surrounding streets, where surely traffic volume has increased? Those roads are smaller, and therefore less able to handle the traffic safely. Is a traffic study being done concurrently with the closure, and does that study include all surrounding streets (as well as University Drive)?
I used to drive on Lincoln every day, at safe speeds. I am now inconvenienced on a daily basis -- as are many other people -- for no good reason that I can see except to satisfy some whiny and selfish residents. Lincoln Avenue is a public road, not a private drive, and it should stay open.
I would fully support permanent speed bumps on Lincoln. But I am frustrated by this closure, and urge you to keep it a temporary situation.
From: Posted At: Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:01 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic calming Subject: traffic calming
To the Select Board:
I am a homeowner at Lincoln Avenue.
From the point of view of traffic in front of my house, the barriers have had a very positive effect.
I am concerned about making any decisions based on a very few days experience and scattered negative anecdotes. Hard to compare the near-accidents that do seem to have happened around Fearing because of the change with near accidents that did NOT happen on Lincoln/Sunset because of the change.
Whatever the decision is really has to be based on some objective traffic data, and should be after some more time has gone by to let the driving public adjust to the new situation - not the confusion immediately following the change. Make the right decision, not a hurried one.
In the bigger pciture, I think a plan will succeed if it makes Sunset and Lincoln marginally less convenient for through traffic than University. Making Sunset and Lincoln less convenient can be handled by the barriers, speed bumps, etc. But the other side of the equation is making traffic on University flow better, and I think this could relieve neighborhood traffic to some degree by itself. The chief bottleneck is the light at University and Amity. One left turning vehicle can jam up an entire light cycle. So drivers will want to "cheat" on Sunset and Lincoln, or abide the law and use University and curse the town when they can't get through the light promptly. A good place for turning lanes.
Obviously this is much more expensive than the barriers, but I really do think it is part of the solution.
Thanks for all your work on this issue!
Hello,
I’m writing to voice my objection to the closing of Lincoln and Sunset avenues as access streets to UMass. I would also like to commend for sending you a creative solution to the problem and hope that you will consider his option and/or look for additional options that would be agreeable and beneficial to all involved.
Not only am I concerned about my personal difficulty, but I am also concerned that closing the streets will increase vehicle mileage, gas consumption and emissions for every vehicle that now has to take a longer route (a five to ten minute increase daily for my car alone).
I urge you to reconsider the closure of these streets as it is now being done.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Traffic comments
I am writing my objection to the traffic change on Lincoln Ave. Not to many people live on a quite street anymore except those who live on a cal de sac street. This is going to cause more traffic jams and backups funneling us all in the same way. It will also cause more traffic on campus and more danger to students walking.
What about all the people that travel across the UMASS campus to get place that have no business on the campus.
Not a good idea
Works Conversation: the experiment: we love it Subject: the experiment: we love it
Our family at sunset Ave is very pleased with the traffic calming experiment. We have many fewer cars, no speeders and no frat brothers who honk their horn as they speed past the fraternity next door. Often in the wee hours.
We wish it were forever.
Posted At: Monday, September 14, 2009 10:35 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln Sunset Ave Barriers Subject: Lincoln Sunset Ave Barriers
I am extremely angry over the barriers placed on Lincoln and Sunset Avenue.
I do not want my tax dollars used to create a private way, that makes a quieter, more upscale neighboorhood for a few, while it increase traffic and decreases safety on other nearby roads. Are other people's quality of life less imporntant than those on Lincoln and Sunset?
I would like the town to supply a statistics on the number of serious accidents that have occurred on Lincoln and Sunset and how many of those have involved serious injury or have been fatal. Then those statistics need to be compared to other roads in town.
I am strongly opposed to blocking any public ways that are maintained with public money.
I want to thank the Select Board, Mr. Schaeffer and everyone involved
in the traffic calming on Lincoln Ave. It has stopped a lot of the
trucks and all of the 18 wheel tractor trailers. It has slowed the
speed of the traffic also. In the few days it has been in place there
has been a huge increase in bicyclist joggers and walkers. I hope this
will Cut the cost of maintaining the pothole in front of my house and
maybe bring more walkers to down town instead of
From: Alisa Brewer [mailto:avbrewer@comcast.net] Posted At: Monday, September 14, 2009 12:26 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Closing off of Amherst Streets. (Traffic Calming Comments & the Next Select Board Meeting) (lighting of Sunset sidewalk) Subject: Re: Closing off of Amherst Streets. (Traffic Calming Comments & the Next Select Board Meeting) (lighting of Sunset sidewalk)
Hi -
Below is the "generic response" I am sending to all who have written selectboard@amherstma.gov
. While the majority of comments are being collected at publicworks@amherstma.gov
, please know you do not need to resend these to publicworks@amherstma.gov
, as they will all be compiled in the end.
In addition, I am copying Public Works in this case now specifically
because of your concern about lighting of the Sunset sidewalks. I
will ask the Town Manager to include information about sidewalk
lighting in this area in an upcoming report to the Select Board, if it
is not already addressed at this evening's meeting. As a Town Meeting
member since 1999, I know there are some Amherst streetlights that are
not in use due to neighbors desire for less "light pollution," but I
have no idea where the Sunset sidewalks in particular fit within our
street lighting plan -- so we'll find out.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Take care,
Alisa
Re: Lincoln Ave/Fearing St/Sunset Ave & McClure St/Sunset Ct Traffic
Calming Half Closures September 8, 2009 through September 23, 2009
Dear correspondents on Traffic Calming:
During the Monday September 14, 2009 Select Board meeting in the Town
Room of Town Hall (live on ACTV Channel 17), a specific agenda item --
Lincoln Ave Update -- will be a 15-minute timed item scheduled for
7:30 pm. *Therefore, there will be no Public Comment taken *on this
topic* during the traditional 6:30 Public Comment portion of the
Select Board meeting.*
Our Select Board Chair, Stephanie O'Keeffe, will introduced this 7:30
agenda item by asking our Town Manager to provide an update to the
Select Board. Then our Select Board Chair will recognize Select Board
members to ask the Town Manager questions. Finally, our Select Board
Chair will open the remainder of the fifteen minutes total to members
of the audience that raise their hands to be recognized. Please note
that this agenda item is not a public hearing, so we will not be able
to hear from many people at the meeting. If you do wish to be
recognized to speak to this agenda item, please contact the Select
Board Chair, Stephanie O'Keeffee, at stephanie@okeeffe.com before
Monday evening.
Please be assured that all of your email comments and feedback are
being carefully considered by all members of the Select Board, the
Town Manager, and the Town Engineer. We very much appreciate your
taking the time to send in your comments, and your patience as we both
conduct this specific time-limited experiment and develop a process
for dealing with neighborhood traffic concerns on a town-wide basis.
Thank you for your support.
Take care,
Alisa
Alisa V. Brewer
member, Amherst Select Board
p.s. my sincere apologies if you get multiple copies of this message
or if you get yours after someone else gets theirs; Comcast gets upset
when I include too many email addresses on one message. avb
On Sep 12, 2009, at 2:37 PM, Select Board wrote:
We moved to Fearing Street in 1984 when the drinking age was 18. I
> can not tell you the terrible stories about what we saw at that
> time. We were hoping to make a difference by buying a student
> rental to live in and trying to help the neighborhood from suffering
> more student parties and other acts that the students did at that
> time. My husband and I feel that the town has given up on our
> efforts to keep this area a stable and hopefully a quieter
> neighborhood with single or ower occupid homes. The constant
> traffic noise and the time we waist trying to get to work by closing
> off the other streets, as well as, the extra gas it will take to go
> around these barriers on the surrounding streets is not helpful. We
> figured out we would have to use 30 gallons more a year for this,
> but I am sure other people will be facing the same problem. Until
> now, I have been able to avoid using some very dangerous
> intersections by not using the Fearing/ North Pleasant or the
> Fearing/University Drive intersections when I go to work. I am
> suprised that we have not had more people kill or injured at either
> end of Fearing Street.
> We also fear that this area will become the new Hobart Lane since we
> have seen parties held across from South West become very large in
> very short time. I have talked with several people who live on some
> of the other street bothered by this change too, and they are not
> happy.
> I am also worried about what will happen to the value of our
> property on Fearing Street.
> We expressed our fears and the worry that houses below Fearing
> Street would not be served well by the fire and police department
> with these new changes, but felt that our thoughts were not
> important nor were we important to the town any more. We have had
> may safety concerns about the number of student that walk down
> middle of Fearing Street at night which we saw happening the other
> night. Also, the town lighting is so poor on Lincoln and Sunset
> that we have to use a flashlight just to see the sidewalk, and the
> other night, I had to use my high beams to see someone walking down
> the street on Sunset since more people find that the street safer
> than the sidewalks on Sunset if they do not have a flashlight.
> We have paid our taxes and tried not to comment on many of the costs
> the town made for other improvements or for education that we felt
> may not have been needed at that time.
> I hope that you will consider our comments as constructive and to
> give you a sense of what it is like to live in this area of Amherst.
> Thank you for you time.
>
Traffic Experiment Subject: Traffic Experiment
Ladies and Gentlemen, I live on McClure Street and am greatly affected by this current traffic experiment. I am disabled and much of the time cannot walk long distances. Therefore, I must use my car to shop for any needed items. It was simple to go to the center of Amherst before the barriers where placed. Now, I find myself going down Fearing Street and deciding that it is just as easy for me to go elsewhere. The traffic on Sunset and Lincoln may be calming, but it has little or no negative effect on students who wish to make mischief and noise at night. I would like to put forward an idea for a different approach to the problem. In most towns and cities permitting people to park on the street creates a natural barrier to speeding traffic. I propose giving residents on the busier streets permits to park in front of their homes which will give pause to all driving through the neighborhood. The cost could be covered by a simple yearly fee for the permits and traffic would be calmer. Respectfully,
-----Original Message----- From: Posted At: Monday, September 14, 2009 1:59 PM
Please remove these barriers from Lincoln Ave. As a town resident of
the past 20 years who travels from South Amherst to North Amherst on a
daily basis, this is an unfair and unwise way to solve traffic
problems. Find another way that does not penalize all of the town's
taxpayers for the sake of a select few.
Thank you,
From: Posted At: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:11 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: traffic diversion Subject: traffic diversion
Since you asked for comments:
the diversion bottlenecks and dumps the traffic into other neighborhoods.
The diversions didn't take into account the traffic back ups and the difficulty of turning left onto University Drive from Fearing Street, there's no light at that intersection.
It's difficult to turn left onto University Drive from Massachusetts Avenue, since there's no working light cycling traffic through there either. People get impatient, which is more cause for accidents, and less likely to let people out into the flow of traffic from Fearing onto University Drive.
There are backups created on University Drive headed into Amherst at the light [down by the stadium], which doesn't seem to be cycling differently to account for the increased flow, or for the difficulties in having a direct route to route 9. People will make their own shortcuts, which may cause further, different backups in other parts of town.
The diversion also distracts drivers from paying attention to people crossing in the crosswalks, since it isn't a 4 way stop, and it's unclear which way to go and who is going to go when.
The crosswalks themselves are covered by the jersey barriers, and the peds don't seem to know how or where to cross either. This diversion has created an extra safety issue for the peds, and for the cyclists too -- I imagine.
It seems a more viable solution would be to reduce the speed limit through the neighborhood -- 30 seems high; more enforcement -- the digital speed signs can be effective; and incorporating traffic calming measures in the roadway design which are not speed bumps. Speed bumps didn't seem to work.
Potholes seem to work well; seems there would be a way to have an engineered yet aesthetically pleasing pothole design to slow traffic through the neighborhood. Reverse potholes could work -- it's difficult to speed over cobblestones, for instance.
The Europeans seem to have figured this sort of thing out. In a town full of academic institutions, seems we should be able to have a better solution than to hack up a major thoroughfare to campus-town.
At this rate, am less inclined to go into downtown Amherst. Would be more inclined to go to Hadley establishments to conduct personal business -- lunch -- where there's plenty of parking and no aggravation in getting there once the aggravation of getting off campus is accomplished.
Thanks for listening. Good luck.
Re: Lincoln Ave
Can you seriously do that ? Close traffic on a road because its "inconvenient" for the habitants ?
Could you please close Bay Road while you're at it.
There is too much travel going past my house every morning that I can barely get out of my driveway to join them!
traffic calming comment Subject: traffic calming comment
I would like to express my strong objections to the closing of Lincoln Avenue (and surrounding streets). The disruption caused by the closure is considerable, causing many town residents to take a circuitous route through the town to get to UMass, pushing traffic onto other, surrounding streets, and causing considerable congestion on a variety of roads. Quite apart from the increased pollution and gas consumption the closure is producing, it increases commuting times for hundreds of people, including myself, and has caused traffic jams on other roads. It ultimately will have an economic impact: the increased time it takes to leave campus by UMass employees, and increased congestion in downtown Amherst, makes it less likely to choose to go to lunch or shop in town.
Although I understand why Lincoln Avenue residents would like to reduce the amount of traffic on their street, I think this is true of many roads throughout the town. I, for one, would like to see less traffic on Middle Street, where I live; many people use it as an alternate to Route 116 and take it as a route to areas south of the town. Indeed, the safety issues may be greater on Middle Street, since we have no sidewalks, unlike Lincoln Avenue residents.
My point is not to demand a closure of Middle Street, but to point out that residents on many streets within the town have legitimate concerns about traffic. It is unclear why the residents of one street are being privileged by such extreme measures, measures that are so disruptive to so many other town residents.
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:30 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
Dear Mr. Mooring, I am writing to urge you to not be intimidated by whose commuting routines have been altered by the traffic calming experiment. Change is always hard, even it's not really an onerous change. Also, please do not be detered by charges of elitism, all people can advocate for changes on their streets as well. Just because Lincoln/Sunset are leading the charge doesn't mean that traffic calming and improving commuting routes to UMass are wrong things to do. Please continue to strive for solutions for the town as a whole, and please keep the barriers up on Lincoln and Sunset. It has an amazingly wonderful to have the the streets back and feel that our children are safe and can be allowed to play in our front yard instead of having to prohibit it because of the never ending barage of cars going 40-50 mph just 5 feet from our lawn. Thank you for all your efforts.
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:33 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
I am writing to express my dismay about the road barriers placed on Lincoln Avenue. I have been reading about this issue in the Hampshire Gazette for several years and I think that the title of the newspaper articles should be: “Lincoln Avenue: Amherst’s First Gated Community.” I cannot understand why the town is putting so much time and effort to appease a relatively small group of citizens when the problem does not seem to be one of public safety. I have not read of any statistics about a high number of accidents on that street or excessive speeding tickets issued. But I did find the implied threat by September 4, 2008 Gazette article very disturbing. The article stated the following:
“He noted that many homes could be on the market in the next five to ten years and town officials should hope they are sold to families rather than becoming student rental units. This future scenario could happen if nothing is done to combat the traffic issues..”
If the town is willing to use taxpayer dollars to control who owns homes on that street then I think that the property deeds of those homes should include covenants specifying that current owners must sell their homes only to those who agree to be owner-occupied, even if a higher offer is made by someone not agreeing to those terms.
I cannot understand why other streets in town have not been given the same consideration to protect the neighborhood from traffic. I am sure that all of the homeowners on Amity Street and Route 9 would prefer not to have so much traffic on their streets so why doesn’t the town install speed bumps on those thoroughfares as well.
All of this attention to the complaints of one street in town seem so out of proportion to the amount of time these “solutions” can be implemented. The traffic should not be excessive during the summer months and the DPW does not want any barriers to snowplowing in the winter months.
Does the DPW really have the time and money to devote to this one street? If so, I would like to know why I received a rather curt response to my request that a small amount of curbing be added to the intersection of East Pleasant Street and Eastman Lane to prevent cars from driving over the grass to make a right turn onto East Pleasant Street from Eastman Lane. Mr. Mooring’s response to my email of April 30, 2007 was that “curbing would be the only thing that we would put there and right now there is no money to pay for any.” While he stated that the intersection “has been identified by the Town and UMass as needing a traffic light when the UMass Police office moves there” he obviously feels that any interim assistance cannot be paid for by the town. How much is this Lincoln Avenue traffic-calming debacle costing? And how will the town pay for the legal costs when some resident of Lincoln Avenue sues the town because of a perceived slow response by the fire or police departments caused by the barriers?
The town should remove any road barriers and have increased police monitoring to issue speeding tickets if that is a problem. Every street in town should be treated equally, regardless of how many 75-page documents residents submit.
Works Conversation: Traffic Calming Comments Subject: Traffic Calming Comments
Hello,
I was wondering if there will be a town meeting regarding the traffic calming experiment on Lincoln Ave., McClure St. and Sunset Ave. If so could you please let me know when and where? I can't seem to find it on the Town website.
Thank you,
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:25 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
To all concerned:
Thank you for providing the opportunity and forum to express my disappointment with regard to the Lincoln Avenue detour experiment.
The rerouting of traffic away from Lincoln Avenue has added an average of five to eight minutes to my commute to campus. That extra time is spent stalled at traffic lights either on the Snell-University Drive-Mass Ave route or if I come through the center of Amherst. Please know that during this time my relatively efficient car is still emitting extra hydrocarbons and CO emissions in to Amherst's air.
I, too, live on a busy cut-through street in my own town of South Hadley, and like the residents on Lincoln Avenue, I knew that when I purchased my home. I had to make the same decision they did - was I willing to endure traffic for the home of my dreams? I do not understand how these residents can expect such catered services when they made the choice to live on Lincoln.
The expectations and demands of a few dozen homes have now impacted hundreds of commuters who bring business to your town everyday. Please know that for as long as this detour is in place, I will be doing my business elsewhere.
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:26 AM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
Mr. Mooring,
I understand that you are the person collecting comments on the traffic calming measure on Lincoln Ave. I appreciate your interest.
I live in Echo Hill and work at UMass (north side). I do not commute on Lincoln Ave, and rarely drive on it at all. I do walk or bike on Lincoln Ave 2-3 times per week all year, in all but the very worst weather. I have not seen any need for any "traffic calming". There are occasional speeders, but that should be addressed with better enforcement. Lincoln Ave is a vital link between the University and the Town, and it is a mistake to effectively shut it down.
I am very disturbed to read in the Gazette that the Chairman of the Public Works Committee is a Lincoln Avenue resident. This reinforces my view that these measures are being taken at the behest of a few very well-to-do residents, who knew full well what they were getting into when they bought houses there. They seem to want the benefits of proximity to the University and the Town with none of the hassles. They want any inconvenience to be borne by their neighbors on Fearing St. and the other smaller streets in the neighborhood, as well as the businesses downtown who will lose customers. I am not happy with my tax dollars being used to overly protect this one street.
If the volume of traffic on Lincoln Ave has been proven to be inappropriate (not inconvenient), then a better solution would be to improve access to and from the University at University Dr. and via North Pleasant St. The University Dr. lights are particularly ineffective during busy times. If this access is functioning effectively, no one will bother to go around on Lincoln Ave. The rest of the traffic is regular folks going back and forth between the U and town - and what's wrong with that?
Thank you again for soliciting input. Best Regards,
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 12:03 PM Posted To:
I have worked at UMass for over 8 years and have eaten many lunches in
the center of town, even running errands there. Since the barriers have
gone up, I have not been into the center of town once, predominantly due
to convenience. Driving up Lincoln and then cutting over on McClellan
has been a direct, easy route to take to get into the center of town. I
have always driven the speed limit, or less, and never had any issues
with pedestrians or homeowners.
The fact that a public way would be closed due to the outspoken
homeowners on the street is a travesty. There are other areas of Amherst
that are also congested at certain times, but the homeowners on those
streets must not have as much political power or funding to wage a
battle. The "squeaky wheels" living on Lincoln Avenue knew when they
bought their homes that the University was just at the end of the
street.
I suppose the barriers being up will not be such a hardship for me -
the restaurants and shops in Hadley have been serving me well.
Sincerely,
Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 12:37 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
I am an occasional user of Lincoln Avenue and though I haven't been inconvenienced by the traffic diversion, I am opposed to limiting access to public roads built and maintained with public funds, including state monies. Lincoln and Sunset avenues and the other affected roads should be open to all vehicles and there are problems with speeding, the police should enforce the limit.
The residents of these roadways should be granted special status because they are unhappy with the location of homes they purchased freely and with full knowledge of their proximity to a major university and downtown Amherst. If they failed to take these factors into acount, too bad for them. All over the country, people with young children move onto streets with lots of traffic and they cope. Shutting roads down because someone whines is just wrong, unfair to other residents and contrary to the concept of the providing for the commonwealth of all.
Forcing traffic onto other roads creates additional problems for other residents and commuters and they should not have to be inconvenienced because a very small group of people has complained loudly. Lincoln Avenue has been a main access point to the UMass campus for many, many years. Why is it that traffic is a problem now? It's because someone on the road decided they didn't like it.
This is a bad idea, sets a bad precedent and should be seen for what it is: kowtowing to a special interest that fails to see it is part of a larger community.
Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:07 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
During the last week I was unwilling participant in your Traffic Calming Experiment. My trips were on average 12 minutes longer than the usual 15 minutes it takes me to go back and forth between South Amherst, where I live, and UMass, where I work. I tried several options using University Drive, North Pleasant Street, and 116 and the longest one adds 2 miles to my 4 miles commute in one direction.
I hope that when you publish results of the experiment you will also address congestion issues created in other parts of the town. I don’t think that the Select Board should be allowed to pander to a small group of residents at the expense of hundreds of other residents. This change is it is expensive and polluting.
Regards,
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 8:59 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: help! Subject: help!
help! i can't get to work, get my kid's to their school bus, get my carpool children back to their parents or get home again without driving around and around and around! it adds so much time and stress to an already overloaded full time teacher , mother of many and long time resident of this area! ( ME!) and the said that one older lady got so lost looking for a way to get to the synagogue on north hadley rd , that she gave up and went home!! ( she was coming for some help from the rabbi)!!! please reconsider what you are planning!!! thank you!!!
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 9:35 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation: Lincoln/Fearing Traffic Calming Subject: Lincoln/Fearing Traffic Calming
For public comment on the Lincoln/Fearing Traffic Calming:
Thank you for allowing a forum for feedback on the Lincoln Avenue "experiment" for traffic calming. I am writing to express my concerns related to this project. I hope that my feedback will be not just notched as another negative voice, but taken as a legitimate concern, with valid points of reason for the decision-makers to please consider.
I am a tax-paying resident of Amherst with 3 children enrolled in 2 of the elementary schools in town. I have traveled Lincoln Avenue since 2001 both coming and going to the University daily. Due to the traffic detour, it requires too much time away from the office for me to pick up my own children from school, with additional travel time of 10-15 minutes either through downtown Amherst via North Pleasant or via University Drive. In order to pick up my children from preschool and then bring them to day care I now need to use my personal or vacation time (30 min per day/2.5 hrs per week/>120 hrs per year) due to the extended commute and the cancellation of bus service for children enrolled in the preschool at Crocker Farm for 2009-10. This is a hardship on any working parent who is sharing the responsibility of supporting a career and raising children.
The University has experienced both injuries and death in 2009 due to bicycle and pedestrian safety in Sunderland and Amherst. I believe the increased traffic on Fearing/McClellan/Cosby Streets will decrease safety during the evening hours when students frequently walk towards North Pleasant Street and downtown. This new traffic pattern is a recipe for disaster due to the combination of combining peak evening pedestrian usage and peak student drivers between the hours of 8pm and 12:00am along the Fearing street corridor to the University. In addition, I hope the “data” reflects what I see with my eyes everyday in that the traffic calming pattern does not reduce traffic, it merely transfers vehicles from Lincoln to Fearing Street.
One of my primary concerns about this experiment, like many of the town endeavors, is where is the data to support the decision? Most of the assumptions are coming from 2007 data results from Lincoln Avenue. At the September 14, 2009 Select Board meeting, Select Board members, the DPW Superintendent, and the Town Manager referred to the "data" being collected during this experiment. How, when, and where is it available to view? I have been driving via Lincoln Avenue since 2001, and have never seen a Police Officer, town worker, or DPW worker making observations of the road and travel patterns. Since the detour was put in place, not until Monday, 9/14, did I observe traffic counting strips placed across the road on Lincoln and Fearing Streets. How was the data being collected prior to that for the calming trial period? Are the strips counting the number of cars and the speed of travel? What other "good data" as Aaron Hayden noted, is being collected?
I am offended that feedback given in opposition to this experiment is simply referenced as someone else being inconvenienced. I am a working mom who is trying to support a household, husband, 3 kids and my mother who is 73 and also lives in Amherst. I need you to understand this “inconvenience” is affecting the two most important things in my life, my family and my career. The additional commuting time and lack of transportation for preschool will force me to make a choice between career and family everyday that this continues. Using 120 hours per year of vacation and personal time is not sustainable and will ultimately force me to choose between working at UMass or having my kids attend the town preschool at Crocker Farm (for which we pay the Town of Amherst over $7,400/year in tuition).
We spend almost 15% of our pre-tax income on property taxes and education to the Town of Amherst. Although we have loved Amherst, and chose to purchase our family home here, these kinds of decisions make us question our choices. At what point will we no longer be able to sustain our life here given the lack of support from our town to middle-class residents like us?
Thank you,
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:53 AM To: Mooring, Guilford Subject: RE: traffic
The current construction on Rt 9 for the Lowe's project often has 1 lane traffic which will back up Rt 9 to Middle St in the morning and sometimes to the malls in the afternoon going to N'ton. There was no backup this morning as they were using both lanes on 9 therefore I did stay on 9 and hopped on 116 but the traffic coming from North Maple St. in Hadley made the merge onto Mass Ave a very slow backed up merge for just another delay. Thanks for your inquiry and letting us know you are looking at the complaints of the many Umass employees.
Subject: traffic Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:48:06 -0400 From: MooringG@amherstma.gov To:
One quick question. Why do you not use the four lane section of Rt 116 to travel from the University to Route 9?
Guilford B. Mooring P.E.
From: Posted At: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:14 PM Posted To: Public Works Conversation:
I am at Lincoln Avenue and was at the meeting last night. Lots of passion in the hall afterwards. Arguments included that we all must understand that the barrriers make Lincoln and Sunset almost a pedestrian mall. Drunk people will then feel safe walking in the street. Therefore students will snap up all the houses as rentals to have huge block parties and the whole neighborhood will turn into another Hobart Lane. (I am not making this up).
From a calmer point of view, thank you all for this experiment. Very much.
We don't know what the final decision outcome will be, but the willingness to gather meaningful data in (as Aaron pinted out) a remakably efficient way is just great.
My only criticism is that the experiment may be too short and therefore not give you a reflection of the true result if the change were made permanent. I'm not sure enough people will redirect their travel habits soon enough.
Traffic on Lincoln is notably down. It is really quite a pleasant and relaxing change. The average speed may not be much different, but I get a definite sense that the real speedsters are largely gone, and I think that is where the biggest danger lies. I do think that those cars are a real hindrance to bringing in families with really young children into the neighborhood, and the calming could have a great rejuvenating effect here.
All the unpleasant anecdotes about traffic last week could be matched by equally unpleasant anecdotes about traffic on Sunset and Lincoln before the barriers went up. And I think that would be the least possible productive thing to do. Do ignore the pitchforks and torches, whatever address and whatever spin they come from. Please do not cut the experiment short, and then let us all see what can be learned from the data.
I was absouletly delighted to here that work is planned on University, as that is part of the solution for all of us.
I have no doubt we are not near a solution yet, but thank you all again for working on it, and taking the time and gathering the bruises that go with such work.
From: Posted At: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:01 AM Posted To: Public
Please add my voice to the many who protest the addition of barriers on Lincoln Avenue. It has created not only a great inconvenience for those of us who travel that street, but has also created a safety issue for the hundreds of students who cross Massachusetts Avenue by the Southwest dormitories by forcing drivers to take an alternate route to reach Route 9.
It would make more sense to add a left turn lane and signal on University Drive, in the South bound lane at the four way intersection by Rafters, to facilitate the flow of traffic. That’s the reason why many choose to travel down Lincoln Avenue in the first place, so as not to get stuck at that intersection for multiple light changes. There is a left turn signal in the West bound lane at that intersection and one is desperately needed in the South bound lane.
I declare your trial run a disaster and do hope that the adults who are responsible for this decision come to their senses soon and remove the traffic obstructions.
Thank you.
