GREENFIELD — The city furthered its plans to revitalize the downtown this week, when the City Council approved $65,900 for additional studies for the Main Street improvement project.
The plans for what could eventually be a multimillion-dollar project would include an intersection upgrade at Main, High and Crescent streets: repaving, adding bike lanes, and reconfiguring angled parking to parallel, according to Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner.
Warner said the city could eventually receive millions of dollars from the state for the final project, but it will have to do the survey work and environmental screenings first, which is why the project needs the $65,900. The study would include a topographical survey, soil borings, a tree survey and early environmental screenings.
Phase A was to initiate the project, which would run from High to Solon streets. The initiation has been completed, so Phase B1 is next with the data collection. In Phase B2, project development will begin, at which time the city will have to come up with at least 25 percent of its design plans. Once those phases have been completed, Phase C, the final phase — which includes funding, full design, permitting and putting the project out to bid — will begin.
As the project proceeds, there will be a review of existing utilities along Main Street, a close look at street layout, plus consultation with assessors and property owners, according to city officials working on the project.
Warner said design costs are estimated at about $605,400.
The Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously this week to recommend the $65,900, but before the full City Council took its unanimous vote Wednesday night, At-Large Councilor Ashli Stempel-Rae asked if the city’s Complete Streets, as well as its Sustainable Master Plan, would be used as the project moves ahead, saying it would be a shame to duplicate studies. She said she’d like to see the city use work that’s already been done.
Warner said those documents and their contents have been and will continue to be taken into consideration. Currently, he said, the project is “purely conceptual,” so there’s a long way to go.
“As we move forward, we will be looking for lots of public comment and will be holding public hearings,” Warner explained. “We’ll also be getting input from city boards and committees. We want everyone to be involved.”
Warner said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is excited about the project, rating it “high” on its list. He said the plans that will be developed with the funding approved by the City Council will allow the project to move forward, though it won’t be a quick process.
“We’re very early in a very long process,” Mayor Roxann Wedegartner agreed. “We expect it will take several million dollars to make it happen, but the money being asked for is worth it to put into the project, because we will get many times more from the state before it’s over.”
Precinct 3 Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher, like all other councilors, said she is in favor of the project. She said the improvements will compliment the new fire station that — if negotiations go well — will be located at the open-air market property at Main Street and Coombs Avenue.
Not only will the city have this plan, along with its Complete Streets plan and Sustainable Master Plan, to guide it as it moves toward improving the downtown, but earlier this month it received a new report, the Greenfield Downtown Business District Assessment and Market Analysis. Funded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development’s Massachusetts Downtown Initiative, the report surveyed businesses, organizations and residents, and considers the downtown in terms of arts and culture, shops, retailers, social services and more.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.