19 December, 2017
The Chamber of Commerce submitted an endoresement of the Downtown Corridor project. Read the letter sent to the Town Manager and Board Members below.
"Dear Town Manager and Board Members,
The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring, reviewing and discussing the progress of the design of the proposed Main Street reconstruction project for over 4 years. It appears that the latest design incorporates a lot of the feedback that the town and the Chamber has offered to the town and to the engineering consultants to make the project represent the best possible solution.
This project has been in the works for a long time and appears to be close to becoming reality. Long anticipated goals for Safety, Traffic-Calming, Beautification, and Downtown Revitalization could soon be realized. The project in its current iteration was presented to a well-attended public meeting in October, and is available for close-up viewing in the entrance lobby of the temporary town offices on South Street as well as on the Town’s Website.
On January 9, 2018 the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will hold its first public hearing on the project – an event critical to the process for the project to receive the approved DOT state funding that will help fund a portion of the project.
The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce applauds the vision of multiple boards of selectmen over the years – along with the work of the former Downtown Revitalization Committee, the District Improvement Study Committee, the Town Manager and Town Engineer, our DPW Director, the town’s planning consultants – Beta Group and VHB – all of whom have provided engineering expertise and public policy professionalism to bring us to this place.
Rebuilding Main Street from Ash Street to Wood Street will accomplish multiple ends:
Traffic flow will be more calm, even, and predictable with less starts and stops. Pedestrian safety will be improved with more clearly delineated crosswalks and shorter pavement crossings. Pedestrian safety will be improved by more clearly separating sidewalks from roadways with crisp granite curbing.
The 135/85 intersection will be straightened and flow through made more efficient. Turning lanes will be implemented to provide safer driving patterns and shorter queuing lines. The Hayden Rowe intersection will no longer be a no-man’s land sea of asphalt. Utilities will be placed underground from Ash Street to about the Police Station greatly enhancing the appearance of this stretch and enabling the planting of street trees. Separate bike lanes will be provided as required under the state’s DOT Complete Streets program. Parking will be more clearly delineated. More attractive street lights, traffic lights, streetscape furniture and plantings will greatly enhance the visual appearance of downtown. Pedestrian usage of the corridor will increase following these safety, access and beautification improvements.
Looking around at other towns where projects of this nature have been implemented – Wellesley, Hudson, Holliston, Milford or Medway, for example -- it is easy to imagine the positive impact that an improved, safer, and more beautiful Main Street corridor will have on existing businesses and new businesses desiring to locate in downtown Hopkinton – not to mention the increased safety for our residents.
The Chamber believes it is time for all of us to get behind this project and see it through to fruition. We look forward to continuing working with the BOS and the Town Manager to make this project happen.
And our members look forward to attending the January 9th meeting with MassDOT at the Senior Center and supporting this next step in this much needed downtown revitalization project.
Sincerely,
Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce
Scott Richardson President "
