Letter: Downtown Initiative Creates Dangerous Intersection
Hopkinton resident and business owner Jackie Potenzone worries that changes to the Wood Street intersection may create problems for local traffic.
According to Webster’s Dictionary the definition of DEMOCRACY is: a government in which supreme power is held by the people. Once again this will be so true in the town of Hopkinton when the residents will be asked to vote on the changes to our downtown area. This is a generational plan to change the downtown. This plan was created by the Beta Group and presented by the Downtown Initiative Steering Committee. The plan makes major changes to the road way from Wood Street to Ash Street and also includes undergrounding of the utilities from Wood Street to Ash Street.
The conceptual redesign of the Wood Street and West Main Street has major changes to the intersection near my family's home. This conceptual redesign of the intersection will create major safety issues for my home, family, and business. If these changes come to fruition, it will create an additional lane heading eastbound on Wood Street. This will ultimately create a situation of us having to cross three lanes of traffic to get to West Main Street. My business is not the only business being affected by these changes, in fact, several businesses along the redesign plan will be affected and many businesses have voiced many concerns.
As for my business, I have operated a salon for 11 years in my home. I have many wonderful customers (I want to publicly thank all of you for your support through this difficult time) and the proposed changes to the Wood Street intersection will create a dangerous situation for them as well.
As for the revitalization of our downtown area, how is it revitalization when many businesses along the way are being asked to make sacrifices for the supposed "good of the town?" I personally feel downtown residents and business owners should not have make these sacrifices and then have to pay for the undergrounding of the wires. Furthermore; all downtown residents will be required to personally pay to get their homes up to current electrical codes before they will be allowed to hook back up to the undergrounding of the utilities. With so many beautiful historic homes in our town, I am sure this will be a major expense for many homeowners. This plan calls for such major changes to the town it has my family walking the streets of Hopkinton alerting residents of the meeting dates. I urge every generation of Hopkinton residents to attend the upcoming DISC meeting. See the plan. See the generational changes to the downtown of Hopkinton. Please take the time to attend this meeting. Make an informed vote. The meeting was originally scheduled for tonight, but it has been changed to Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
Sincerely,
Jackie Potenzone
Bernadette Markey
10:55 am on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I welcome these changes. Improving traffic flow, sidewalks, and crosswalks are beneficial to pedestrians, and businesses alike. Making the downtown more user friendly, and safer, too, will draw more consumers, and new businesses to downtown improving our local economy. We are the home of the Boston Marathon, drawing thousands to our town in April. We also have a school in the downtown area, so these improvements are necessary for public safety. These 2 reason alone are enough for me to vote Yes. Newsflash: the grounding of wires is a completely separate initiative, and a separate article at Town Meeting.
Involved citizen
1:20 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Actually, the third lane (heading east) would be a turn only lane and the second (also eastbound) would be a straight/turn lane. So, you would still only need to cross one westbound lane to turn onto West Main street from your driveway. I don't believe any change is proposed for the number of westbound lanes.
blah
2:24 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
the intersection of Main & Wood as it stands today is dangerous
- There are no crosswalks allowing pedestrians to cross
- There are no sidewalks on either Wood St or W Main on the interior of the intersection
- the intersection is so slightly angled that drivers often speed onto Wood St. with no regard for slowing down
- cars exiting Next Generation Children's Center are unable to turn across Wood St and head towards downtown
- cars turning from W Main onto Wood often hold up traffic as there is no left turn lane or delayed green light
making crazy claims does not in fact make them true. People need to get past Jackie's fear mongering campaign and look at the actual facts.
and another thing .. in her letter, Jackie says "all downtown residents will be required to personally pay to get their homes up to current electrical codes before they will be allowed to hook back up to the undergrounding of the utilities" my response to this would be - well, yes, your home should be up to code. There's a reason why codes and safety standards are put in place.
Sean O'Donnell
2:32 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Just to remind everyone, Patch policy asks that you use your real name when commenting on articles.
You all bring up great points though, I think this is a discussion that needs to be fleshed out further.