Comments for East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition

Comment on School Committee Candidate’s Responses by FORWARD to Friends, then VOTE Saturday | East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:35:56 +0000

[...] School Committee Candidate’s Responses [...]

Comment on EALS Request Street Light Fixes for Mass Ave by Mark Kaepplein

Mark Kaepplein — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:55:07 +0000

What is the progress on this? Given light bulbs have about the same lifetime, replacing them all is usually the most cost effective. I’ve seen more lights fail since this list was made, as evidence all bulbs of similar age should be replaced.

Comment on EALS Request Street Light Fixes for Mass Ave by Mark Kaepplein

Mark Kaepplein — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:03:23 +0000

Bravo! The tragic pedestrian deaths on Mass Ave. in Arlington ~14 years ago were successfully addressed by the town when it added street lighting, wider, bold painted crosswalks, and placed bollards in the middle. The important thing the town does is maintain the paint on these crosswalks for visibility. Regressing on street light maintenance risks the success of previous pedestrian safety gains.

Also, a $6,000,000 construction project might not be necessary so soon if Arlington was a better steward of the asphalt and sidewalks. Pavement cracks are not sealed to prevent more water infiltration, frost damage, and expansion. Sunken pavement seems entirely due to utility digs that were not correctly refilled and patched. The thick concrete sidewalk slabs have remained even against tree roots for many decades, however in a very few places edges are not even. The universal solution is filling the step with a ramp of asphalt to reduce trip/fall injuries – again not done. Still, the sidewalks have lasted far better than the much younger brick ones at the center and Cambridge lines – all rippled by tree roots.

Comment on Letter of Support for Rte 16 Green Line Extension and Community Path by Doug Carr

Doug Carr — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:23:54 +0000

Great letter. I am pleased to see East Arlington organized and getting into the fray on the GLX. I work with Ken Krause of MGNA and we agree with you 100%. route 16 is the best terminus location, hands down. I look forward to working with you to get the Route 16 Station in the project scope. Can you tell me if Arlington submitted a letter on the FEIR in support of Route 16?

Cheers, Doug Carr MGNA
dcarr@cube3studio.com work email

Comment on Bike Accomodation Memo to Mass Ave Committee by admin

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:35:16 +0000

Setting up license plates and registration for bicycles will cost the state more money than it would ever recoup. If they would be willing to spend it on bicycling improvements I would be all for it. Insurance would be for the bicycle not the roadway and it would be quite cheap compared to cars. If a bicycle damages a car you can always sue. I’ve yet to hear any good reason to do what you are suggesting other than punishing people who don’t want to drive their car. These are just impediments requested by people who really would like to see bikes on the bike path and no where else. Should strollers be licensed or pedestrians?

Comment on EALS and Sustainable Arlington Push for Bus Shelters by admin

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:30:16 +0000

The bus shelters and their maintenance are provided free by Cemusa. I doubt umbrellas would last very long, due to wind and foul weather. I think that is the reason you haven’t seen this solution before. There are very few proposed locations and the placement should and will be sensitive to business visibility. At some point when do we decide it is important to support different transportation options that single occupancy car travel? We’ve done that for a while and I think it is clear our environment, social fabric, and general well being have suffered. Bus shelters is a micro step in the right direction.

Comment on EALS and Sustainable Arlington Push for Bus Shelters by Mark Kaepplein

Mark Kaepplein — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:50:29 +0000

How much does a bus shelter cost to build? How much to maintain on average? Same for a bench? I think the difference pays for many umbrellas without the reduced safety of shelters blocking sight lines for drivers entering Mass Ave., along with general ugliness and visual clutter/distraction. Business owners who lose visibility to traffic and customers who have to look out at a shelter (eg. restaurant) will also favor the bench+umbrella solution.

Comment on Bike Accomodation Memo to Mass Ave Committee by Ann Bowler

Ann Bowler — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:45:08 +0000

With all these rules and regulations for bicyclists and motorists, I believe they should be made to register their bicycles, get license plates (like we had to when we were younger) and pay insurance for the roadways.

Comment on EALS Coalition Supports Kevin Greeley for BoS April 10th by Ed Starr

Ed Starr — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:25:37 +0000

Right on!!!!! It will be a close race, and all advocacy possible is needed.

Thanks for your support to Kevin ……. Ed Starr

Comment on Letters to the Advocate copied to EALS from Residents by Peter

Peter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:49 +0000

“I would disagree however with your perspective on this plan. The plan has been well publicized, there were over 300 people at a meeting at the Hardy school last spring. Have you ever heard of a meeting in town that garnered that much attendance?”

I have never heard of a relatively small meeting as a counter example and especially so many of the participants (I was there) being more opposed and concerned than in agreement with the plan.

Since when is an example of such a meeting of 300 more representative than thousands who would have a chance to vote at, for example, that same precinct voting place? Emily is right.