CHICOPEE — On Feb. 27, the Planning Department hosted an open house for the public to give them an opportunity to learn about current city projects and provide input to help complete these critical plans.
The ongoing planning processes for the Chicopee Downtown Streetscapes Project, Digital Equity Plan and Hazard Mitigation Plan were looking for stakeholder input from members of the community, to better analyze current conditions and priorities, and implement initiatives to foster a more efficient and economically resilient Chicopee.
Planning and Development Director Lee Pouliot said he was “hopeful” for a higher turnout but “the people day did [have] some really good questions and some great feedback for the three projects we were highlighting.”
Chicopee Downtown Streetscapes Project
With funding from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund, Chicopee is advancing a project to revision Chicopee Center’s streetscapes to enhance multimodal transportation for people of all ages and abilities.
Pouliot explained that this project has been ongoing in its recent iteration since 2012.
In 2012, the city completed the West End Brownfields Area Wide plan and as part of that engagement process, concerns about the one way traffic loop in downtown often arose.
There is an aim to convert an outdated, one-way circulation of major thoroughfares to two-way circulation, while providing equitable access for all users of the public right-of-way.
After the plan was completed, the city gathered further resources through Massachusetts Development if it was feasible to eliminate that one way traffic pattern.
The second plan confirmed it was feasible and Pouliot said, “If you fast forward to the current effort, we layered on through the funding source for the current project, addressing any negative impacts of the opening of the MGM Casino complex in Springfield.”
The plan confirms and goes farther in looking at what potential roadway layouts look like to eliminate the one-way loop and increase pedestrian and bicycle safety and facilties within the downtown business district.
Pouliot stated, “This is really critical if we want to have more people on the streets and visiting storefronts and participating in sort of that downtown feel.”
Pouliot and his team presented a multi-phase construction project to eliminate the one-way network and bring about the surface safety improvements.
The plan included a proposed roundabout at the Hampden and Center Street intersection which is currently a signalized intersection as you enter the city. It also includes a number of intersections as you move into the downtown core.
All input will be used to design and implement effective road projects to meet the safety and development goals of the city, as identified and supported in its Comprehensive Plan, Envision Our Chicopee: 2040.
MBI Digital Equity Plan
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute is the State Broadband Office for Massachusetts.
MBI’s mission is to make affordable high-speed internet available to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities, government offices and other public places across the state.
Together, through funding from MBI and in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Chicopee Planning Department is creating a digital equity plan that will guide municipal decision-making and investments related to increasing access and usage of the internet for several socially vulnerable groups within Chicopee; including seniors, low-income populations, and households where English is not the primary language.
Pouliot explained, “This plan is focused on analyzing the entire city for where we have gaps in broadband and internet service and connectivity. We’re really focused on ensuring that there is equitable and even access across the city for those services.”
At the completion of the plan, the city will identify potential projects for implementation using the funds from MBI.
This project is set to take place over “the next year or so,” according to Pouliot, with the plan completion projected to be done in the next six months.
Hazard Mitigation Plan (update)
A focus on environmental resilience with aims to bolster infrastructure, emergency service networks, and natural resource protection by modernizing Chicopee’s plan for managing natural hazards like extreme heat, severe storms and flooding.
In this process, Chicopee will assess the city’s natural hazard risks and vulnerabilities to determine how to best minimize and manage those risks.
This plan is required to be updated for the city to remain eligible for hazard mitigation funding from MEMA and FEMA. Once the plan is adopted, the city remains eligible for MEMA and FEMA grants to help fund work to mitigate those hazards.
Pouliot talked more about the project and said, “This is a plan that gets updated every so many years. Essentially what this plan does is it identifies particular hazards both natural and man-made that may impact Chicopee in any capacity. It’s a critical document for us because there are often rather significant funds available through MEMA and FEMA to help implement mitigation strategies.”
The plan will allow Pouliot and the city to consider how much of an impact and where in the city those impacts could occur if those events happen. This will help the city develop potential mitigation strategies to try and eliminate or minimize that risk.
