Town of Arlington Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Symmes Transportation Subcommittee (STS) Thursday, January 13, 2005 Town Hall Annex First floor Conference Room, 6:00 PM STS members present: Ed Starr (Chair), Elisabeth Carr-Jones, Jeff Maxtutis & Kevin O’Brien Others present: Patrick McMahon (Symmes Redevelopment Associates), Sandi Bourgeois, Terry Dash & Mark Russoniello (Symmes Neighbors) Administration The minutes of January 6, 2005 were approved. The next STS meeting was set for Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 5:45 PM. Feasibility of Westbound Right-Turn Pocket Patrick McMahon reported that a 200’ long westbound right-turn pocket from Summer Street to Hospital Road would be feasible from an engineering standpoint. It was reported that installing the turn pocket would require the removal of one or two large trees and the repositioning of the proposed sidewalk and crosswalk along Summer Street. Elisabeth Carr- Jones volunteered to contact Brian Rehrig, Paul Morrison and Ann LeRoyer concerning the effect of the turn pocket on the Summer Street woods. Discussion of Task 2 Recommendation Ed Starr distributed an analysis of tradeoff considerations for four design options on Summer Street. The analysis examined the four options which were projected to have the least impact on Summer Street. All of the options assumed full-build traffic for the Symmes site, a coordinated traffic signal at Grove Street & Oak Hill Drive, and a 10% increase in Summer Street through traffic. The first option assumed open access at Woodside Lane and a right-turn pocket on Summer Street; the second option assumed closed access at Woodside and a right-turn pocket on Summer Street; the third option assumed open access at Woodside and a coordinated signal at Mill Street; the fourth option assumed closed access at Woodside and a coordinated signal at Mill Street. The four design options were analyzed with respect to: 1) the single worst intersection delay (both eastbound and westbound, AM and PM peaks), 2) the overall delay for each (sum of collective delays in both directions from Brattle to Mill Streets), and 3) the probability of traffic queues blocking other intersections (with detailed analysis of Grove Street). Ed Starr distributed proposed decision criteria for the Summer Street corridor (Task 2 of the Plan for Symmes Transportation Tasks). Based on the analysis and the decision criteria, it was agreed that two options (the first and the second) be carried forward to the Task 3 analysis of trip distribution and the Woodside Lane access. Possible off-corridor mitigation measures were also discussed. Patrick McMahon reported that measurements taken on Grove Street at the intersection with Summer Street confirmed that it is too narrow to allow left and right turning lanes to be installed. Patrick was asked to consult with Jim Danila (of Howard/Stein-Hudson) about independent traffic signal phasing of Grove and Oak Hill. Discussion of Task 3 Items Ed Starr distributed a list of Tasks 3 through 6 of the Plan for Symmes Transportation Tasks. Items 3.1 and 3.2, involving the analysis and revision of trip distribution data, will be accomplished with the aid of the alternative route analysis developed by Scott Smith. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM. Handouts: Agenda - from Ed Starr Tradeoff Considerations between the various design options - from Ed Starr Proposed Decision Criteria for the Summer Street Corridor (Task 2) - from Ed Starr Tasks 3 through 6 of the Plan for Symmes Transportation Tasks - from Ed Starr Minutes of January 6, 2005 STS meeting - from Elisabeth Carr-Jones