r/WorcesterMA • u/HRJafael • 11h ago
In the News 📰 Neighbors speak out on dual roundabouts in Chandler St. traffic plan
Dozens of residents on both sides of the issue spoke passionately about a redesign of Chandler Street that includes a pair of roundabouts.
A meeting Thursday night, Oct. 15., stretched beyond three hours, attended by more than 100 residents and others.
The Worcester Transportation Commission called for the public meeting after the project, which will replace the two intersections of Chandler and May streets with roundabouts, sparked tensions in the neighborhood. The roadway is near Worcester State University.
"I would oppose this project too if I had read all the misinformation about it," remarked a resident of May Street. "Unfortunately, every word from the opposition is false or a deception."
"Not true," someone shouted from the audience.
Some residents wore yellow pins that read "STOP the Chandler & May St Double Rotary," the same phrase seen on lawn signs across the city.
There is a distinction between roundabout and rotaries, a point that came up several times at the meeting, held at the Dual Language Magnet School. The project calls for the construction of modern roundabouts, which are designed to quell speeds. Rotaries allow vehicles to maintain higher speeds, according to the state Department of Transportation.
"If you want to call them rotaries, OK, but please understand why we're picky," said Steve Rolle, the commissioner of the Department of Transportation and Mobility during a 90-minute presentation he gave with Amanda Bazinet, a project manager at the engineering firm VHB.
"I'm from New England, I call it a rotary," one attendee said defiantly.
Some carried and held up signs that read "Support May/Chandler Redesign," also seen on lawn signs that dotted Worcester's West Side in recent months.
City Councilors Khrystian King, Tony Economou, Gary Rosen, José Rivera, Satya Mitra and Morris Bergman attended the meeting.
"I know there are some folks who have concerns about the project, others who support and probably just a lot of people who want to find out more," began Rolle.
Together Bazinet and Rolle walked through the Chandler and May streets project from conception to current stages, addressing concerns that have proliferated online, including cost, construction, safety and parking.
Crashes are commonplace
The city has released 100% design plans, with construction slated to begin in the spring or summer of 2027. Concerns about the roadway were raised as early as 2015, and the northern part of the corridor was identified as a high-crash cluster from 2015 to 2017, according to a road safety audit.
In 2018, interim lane marking and crosswalk safety improvements were implemented, which reduced crash rates, a point of contention for some who argue a complete redesign is no longer necessary.
However, driving speeds remain high, according to Rolle. The project will also address dangerous pedestrian crossings and improve poor pavement conditions, the commissioner said.
He and Bazinet pointed at years of federal and state research that show roundabouts decrease the number and severity of crashes.
During the course of the presentation, attendees applauded aspects of the plan, including the construction of a 10-foot-wide shared-use path, planting of 35 trees and examples of other roundabouts reducing fatalities.
The project requires the removal of 21 trees, two of which are diseased.
Others interrupted to express skepticism or share grievances over other redesign projects at Kelley Square and Mill Street.
Neighbors have their say
Rolle and Bazinet then stayed standing on the auditorium stage as a stream of residents shared their thoughts for an additional 90 minutes.
Those speaking in support of the redesign included John Goins, the husband of WikeBike Worcester founder Karin Goins, who was hit by a car while crossing June Street last year.
"Accidents like that are inevitable when our roads aren't safe," Goins said. "It's important roads be designed and engineered to promote safety."
Others shared personal experiences about traversing other circular roadways on foot or bicycle, saying they didn't always feel safe. Many questioned if Massachusetts drivers were educated on right of way rules at a roundabout.
Rolle agreed education will be an important component of the project.
The commissioner also agreed with an impassioned opponent, Mardia Coleman, a May Street resident who criticized the city for not keeping neighbors better clued in during the course of the project design.
"This didn't have to be so contentious if you included neighbors sooner," Coleman said. "You should be communicating with us every step of the way."
Rolle responded, "I agree we should figure out how to get everyone involved early so everyone has a voice in the process."
"I commit to working on that," he said.
