MassDOT provides design update for Streiber School sidewalk project

Howard Stein Hudson Civil Engineer Jason Roose talked about the current sidewalk conditions for the proposed project near Streiber School.
Reminder Publishing screen capture

CHICOPEE — Students at Hugh Scott Streiber Elementary School may have a safer walk to and from school as soon as next year.

MassDOT hosted a design public hearing on March 31 to discuss a proposed project near thechool that will improve and expand the sidewalk infrastructure.

MassDOT Project Manager Jon Freeman joined MassDOT Right of Way Agent Shirley Shiver, MassDOT member Daryl Amaral and Howard Stein Hudson Civil Engineer Jason Roose to give a presentation about the proposed project.

Freeman said there is a “need to construct or reconstruct sidewalks that are either non-existent or in poor condition along Streiber Drive, Telegraph Avenue, Irene Court and Debra Drive, to facilitate safe walking to and from school.”

The proposed project consists of installing new sidewalks, replacing existing sidewalks and improving crosswalks that will expand connectivity to Hugh Scott Streiber Memorial School along Telegraph Avenue, Streiber Drive, Irene Court, Debra Drive and connecting paths.
Roose stated that there are only two crosswalks in the project area, and neither meets the current standards. Speeding vehicles pose a threat to sensitive groups such as students, he said.

The objective of the project is to improve safety for students who walk to and from school by adding roadway crossings, improving pedestrian safety, improving accessibility for pedestrians with disabilities and slowing vehicular traffic around the school.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. The city is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. Shiver said that Chicopee accepted certain responsibilities after the Massachusetts Department of Transportation High Division indicated that it would accept this project for funding.

Those responsibilities include acquiring the necessary rights in private and public lands for the design, construction and public use of this project.

The purpose of this hearing was to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed project and allow residents the opportunity to submit comments to help the design and construction team.

At this stage of the design, the Right-of-Way process has not been finalized. The public meeting was an opportunity for the public to comment on any impacts on their properties. Property owners affected by this project will be contacted by the city of Chicopee.

The preliminary Right-of-Way plan will be made available on the city’s website or the Department of Public Works office.

The design is expected to be completed in fall 2027. Construction is expected to start during Summer 2028 and finish within one to two years.

The estimated project costs are $2.6 million, which will come from federal aid funding. According to the project runners, the Federal Highway Administration is funding 80% of the total construction cost. MassDOT will fund the remaining 20%.

Because the project is currently in the design phase, residents’ feedback is still welcome and encouraged. Roose said Howard Stein Hudson will prepare the 75%/100% design, which is scheduled to be submitted this fall.

Readers can email comments to MassDOTProjectManagement@dot.state.ma.us by including project file number 612079 in the subject line. For project information and updates, readers can visit the MassDOT Highway Division website at mass.gov/orgs/highway-division/events.