Easthampton seeking feedback on Main Street revamp; initial meeting coming up

By EMILY THURLOW

Staff Writer

Published: 02-17-2023 5:05 PM

EASTHAMPTON — In the next decade, city residents will be walking, biking and driving through a completely overhauled version of Main Street.

But before that happens, city officials are seeking the public’s input to inform the reimagining of one of Easthampton’s main thoroughfares as it heads into the beginning stages of a now estimated $14.7 million infrastructure project.

To get a sense of what Easthampton residents and business owners would like to see, the city is hosting its first community meeting on the project on Tuesday, March 14, at the Easthampton Congregational Church at 6 p.m.

This first meeting is part of a multiyear design process and will introduce the Main Street project to the public, provide the design schedule and milestones, and be followed by break-out groups to develop ideas and inform the city and the design team to determine priorities identified by the community as the project design begins, said City Engineer Daniel Murphy.

“We want to know what people like about Main Street, what they don’t and what kinds of things they like to see to help improve it,” he said.

Last September, land surveyors established the existing conditions on Main Street/Route 10 from the Manhan River bridge to the intersection of Main and Park streets. The project scope also includes the rotary and a portion of Pleasant Street. The project area is within the Main Street Historic District in the center of Easthampton.

Similar to the ongoing Union Street project — which is on the verge of a complete rebuild — the majority of the Main Street project is being funded by the state Department of Transportation’s Transportation Improvement Program. The project will be designed by McMahon Associates of Westfield.

The intention behind the complete overhaul of the thoroughfare is to create a Main Street with improved safety, transit, walking, bicycle infrastructure, street trees, green infrastructure and employ designs that make the city’s downtown safer, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

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“This once-in-a-century project will transform Main Street into a safer, more accessible place for everyone and provide more space for business and community while maintaining its historic character,” Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said in a statement.

As part of the Transportation Improvement Program project, the state DOT requires the city to provide accommodation for people who walk and cycle through the corridor, said Murphy.

Similar to Union Street, which will see a complete underground replacement of gas, sewer and water utilities, Main Street has some of the oldest infrastructure in Easthampton, according to Department of Public Works Director Greg Nuttelman.

“It’s the next logical place for a TIP project,” he said.

For those who have school-aged children and might have concerns with finding someone to watch them while they attend the night meeting, child care will be available from Easthampton National Honor Society students, according to City Planner Jeff Bagg.

“It has been a request in the past. It’s hard to do, but the scale of this project warrants us trying to make it as easy as possible so a wide range of people can participate,” said Bagg.

Transportation to and from the meeting is available through the Council on Aging. For those seeking transportation, call 413-527-6152, ext. 0, or email coa@easthamptonma.gov.

To join the meeting remotely, visit https://meet.google.com/ptb-mrby-prq?hs=224

To provide feedback or learn more about the project, visit maps.bowman.com/portal/apps/storymaps/stories/a3fd1acf0e43443bad 28da7540538cae.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>