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Burlington & Woburn Sound Barrier Committee Meeting UpdateJanuary 29, 2009Thank you to everyone that attended our Burlington and Woburn Sound Barrier committee meeting on Thursday, January 29. We are once again grateful for the tremendous turnout that we had on such a cold winter evening. More than 50 citizens from Burlington and Woburn joined Senator Ken Donnelly and Representative Jim Dwyer; senior staff members attending on behalf of Representatives Jay Kaufman and Charley Murphy; Charlie Culhane (Assistant to Woburn Mayor Tom McLaughlin); Woburn Aldermen Joanna Gonsalves, Darlene Mercer-Bruen and Mike Raymond; and Burlington selectman Al Fay.Below is a summary of the key items that were discussed and the next steps that were agreed to. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Thanks, Chris Bortlik Woburn Sound Barrier Committee WoburnSoundBarriers@verizon.net 781-315-3889 http://www.WoburnSoundBarriers.com ---------------------------------------- Terri Keene Burlington Sound Barrier Committee BurlSoundBarriers@yahoo.com 781-248-1623 http://www.BurlingtonSoundBarriers.com Key Items Discussed: 1. Chris Bortlik (Woburn Sound Barrier committee) and Terri Keene (Burlington Sound Barrier committee) provided an update. The good news is that our initial efforts and persistence over the past few years have paid off - sound barrier funding for Woburn and Burlington was approved and included in the State Transportation Bond Bill that was passed and signed in 2008. One of our next challenges includes getting the project scheduled with Mass Highway so the money can be appropriated and design work can begin. 2. Senator Ken Donnelly and Representative Jim Dwyer updated everyone on a recent meeting that they, along with Representatives Jay Kaufman and Charley Murphy, had with Mass Highway and the status of funding for transportation related projects, which are funded and prioritized separately from other areas of the State budget. 3. The current round of transportation related funding is being targeted at projects that are “shovel ready” (i.e. design phases are completed and construction is ready to commence) and priority right now is being given to projects that create both short and long term job growth in the region. 4. Discussion was then focused on what is needed to get our project “shovel ready” and higher in the priority queue with Mass Highway so we can address our important public safety, health and quality of life issues being caused by routes 93 and 128. 5. Ed LoTurco from the Lexington Sound Barrier committee updated everyone on the successful process that they followed and the status of their design and construction. 6. It was agreed that Burlington and Woburn should next seek to have a noise study performed along routes 93 and 128. We will also seek a follow-up meeting with senior members of Mass Highway and the Governor’s office. Specific details and action items are provided below in the “next steps” section. 7. Tony Graziano (Woburn resident) reminded everyone of the need to continue to consider the needs and preferences of all abutters of routes 93 and 128 throughout the design and construction process. Ed outlined how this process has successfully worked in Lexington and we will continue to be inclusive and collaborate with all impacted residents as we move forward. Next Steps: 1. The offices of Senator Donnelly and Representatives Dwyer, Kaufman and Murphy will work to setup a follow-up meeting with senior members of Mass Highway (hopefully including the new Secretary of Transportation) and the Governor’s office. This meeting will be at the State House and will also include our State and local elected officials as well as citizen members of the Burlington and Woburn sound barrier committee. The goal of this meeting is to determine what needs to be achieved to get our sound barrier project “shovel ready” so the approved money from the Transportation Bond bill can be appropriated. 2. Charlie Culhane (Assistant to Woburn Mayor McLaughlin) will work with the Mayor and Woburn Aldermen to assess options for the city of Woburn to apply for a grant to get started on the required highway noise studies. Al Fay (Burlington Board of Selectmen) will work with his colleagues in Burlington to pursue the similar grant needs for Burlington. The local elected officials in Woburn and Burlington will also discuss whether to submit joint or separate requests for this. 3. Terri Keene & Chris Bortlik committed to keeping the full committee updated as things progress. The next full committee meeting will be scheduled in 3-6 months based on need. |
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