In his recent letter [“Main Street redesign supports health of downtown,” Gazette, Aug. 23], James Lowenthal argued that one reason to support Northampton’s downtown Main Street redesign plan is because it’s not like the MassDOT construction work on Route 9 in Hadley, which he characterizes as “expanding the highway to downtown-killing big-box stores at the malls.”
I agree that the two projects are quite different. The Route 9 construction in Hadley is a much bigger project, extending for miles, and with a much larger cost and longer timeframe. However, the writer’s simplistic, disparaging description fails to capture many elements of the MassDOT work that has been going on along Route 9 in Hadley, and also from the Amherst/Hadley line into downtown Amherst, and how these projects will improve safety and mobility for multiple modes along the corridor. As described in previous Gazette articles and in MassDOT public hearings, MassDOT’s construction work along these parts of Route 9 includes new and improved walking and bicycling infrastructure — sidewalks, bike lanes, and in some sections shared-use paths — as well as new bus shelters and bus stop pull-off areas, improved intersections and enhanced crosswalks with flashing lights in between intersections for safety.
These changes will improve safety and access for many — not just for motorists — to stores, restaurants, schools, service providers, offices, and other businesses along Route 9 in Hadley and in downtown Amherst. It will also improve access to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the commonwealth’s flagship university campus and largest employer in Hampshire County. The letter unfortunately mentions none of this. Hopefully others, however, will recognize that there will be many benefits to the MassDOT work on Route 9 in Hadley into Amherst Center especially after the construction is complete.
Tracy Zafian, transportation researcher at UMass and chair of the Amherst Transportation Advisory Committee
Amherst
