SALEM PARKING GARAGE PROJECT
15% TREADWELL RESPONSES
1)Bicycle Component;
The Authority has received a letter from the City of Salem Bike Path Committee
Dated March 2, 2010. Their recommendations are being taken under consideration.
Subject to final budget, the MBTA is looking at providing a bicycle cage/corral to include security monitoring and pass access features similar to bike parking facilities recently installed by the MBTA at Alewife and Forest Hills stations. The proposed bike cage/corral will accommodate approximately 50 bicycles in a secured enclosure.
2)The Signal Tower;
The MBTA was not party to the Memorandum of Agreement. The issue of the historic status of the signal tower structure will be determined as we proceed through the required environmental permitting process.
The signal tower is currently not incorporated into the scope of work on the Salem Intermodal Garage Project.
3)Pedestrian access from North Salem;
The MBTA recognizes the importance of Salem Station as a community gateway and appreciates that a successful station will have safe, convenient pedestrian connections to Salem neighborhoods and the central business district. The MBTA will work closely with the City and the Highway Division of MassDOT to accommodate improved pedestrian access to and within the site.
4)Alternative vehicular access to the project site.
Site access options will be reviewed in 30%-60% project design phase and will be informed by updated traffic data and analysis.
5)Traffic Data;
Updated traffic analysis is to be conducted in the Phase III (30 to 60%) design scope.
6)The Heritage West Urban Renewal Area;
As a state Authority, the MBTA is exempt from local permitting requirements in development of its transportation facilities. In addition to consulting with the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, however, the MBTA is committed to working with the City of Salemin design review and coordinating MBTA site development with local planning efforts focused on the abutting City-owned parcel. Also, the MBTA will continue to lead a public process providing opportunity for Salem residents to review and provide input into the project as design progresses.
7)Freight Rail;
The MBTA intends to design and build the Intermodal Station project without substantially impacting the rights of the freight carrier PanAm Railways (formerly Guilford). Long-term plans for the freight spur line are beyond the scope of the station/parking project.
8)Traffic Congestion/Phase IV and VI of the Salem-Beverly Transportation Plan;
The MBTA will be collecting traffic data and conducting analysis to respond to traffic and circulation issues raised as part of the next design phase.
9)Architectural Design Considerations;
Many of the early design review public comments received by the MBTA relate.
to concerns regarding aesthetics. Again, the MBTA appreciates the importance of the MBTA station as a gateway to historic Salem. The project team intends to advance design sensitive to community interests within the constraints of available budget. The MBTA is making every effort to articulate the façade materials and reduce project massing so that the facility can make a positive contribution to downtown Salem
10)Chapter 91 Permitting;
The environmental documents for the Salem project have not yet been prepared. These documents are typically prepared between the 30% and 60% design levels. Once submitted the MBTA plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the 60% design as well as the environmental documents and receive comments on those documents. The MBTA posts the documents on our website and they are available at the Town Library for review once they are filed. The historic review will be conducted through these environmental documents and their associated processes.
Additional Issues;
MBTA has not received, nor is planning to conduct, financial analysis of City parking facilities.
Noise impacts from PanAm freight operations are beyond the purview of this project.
The status of the spur line to Danvers is that it is an active freight line.