HOLYOKE — The city is proposing safety improvements for Main Street and hosted an information meeting on March 12 to discuss the proposal between South Canal and Mosher streets.
The meeting was hosted at Nueva Esperanza Mercado with the purpose of giving the public an opportunity to provide feedback related to proposed improvements designed to increase safety along the Main Street corridor and improve pavement conditions.
Conceptual plans include rehabilitation of existing pavement, reconstruction of sidewalks, addition of bicycle accommodations, improved pedestrian crossings and traffic signal upgrades.
The project has been submitted to MassDOT for inclusion in the state’s Transportation Improvement Program which, if approved, could allow for full federal funding of the construction costs of the project, with the city being responsible for design and right-of-way coordination.
Readers and those unable to attend this meeting are invited to email City Engineer Matthew Sokop at sokopm@holyoke.org with questions or comments.
The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for Holyoke Draft is also available for public comments and a public information session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26 at the Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut St., in the Community Room at 6 p.m.
Holyoke has experienced multiple natural hazard events over the last few years, from heavy rain and flooding to extreme heat events, and from windstorms to winter storms that may lead to power outages.
These events serve as continuous reminders of the risks posed by natural disasters.
Holyoke has maintained a natural hazard mitigation plan for many years, with updates approximately once every five years.
The city has updated the plan over the past few months to produce a Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for Holyoke.
The plan outlines a set of approximately 40 actions that can be taken to reduce losses of property and life due to natural disasters like floods, severe wind events, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, extreme heat events, earthquakes and invasive species.
The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for Holyoke will continue to make the city eligible for hazard mitigation assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The new draft is available at holyoke.org/hazard-mitigation-plan.
Past planning efforts related to climate change can be reviewed at the city’s web site at holyoke.org.
Live Spanish translation and light refreshments will be offered. The Holyoke Public Library is located on the PVTA bus routes P20, P21, P21E, B23, R24, X90.
Comments related to the draft Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan should be provided to the Conservation Department by Friday, March 28.
