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MISC CORRESPONDENCE WSHC i 1 Page 1 of 1 Jane Guy From: Lynn Duncan Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 3:48 PM To: David Hart; Doug Desrocher; Hannah Diozzi; Jessica Herbert; Kathy Harper, Larry Spang; Laurie Bellin; Laurie Bellin Cc: Jane Guy Subject: 1A Bridge Street plans To: Historical Commission I have just learned that MHD has approved brick sidewalks on 1A Bridge Street from Howard Street Extension to Webb Street on both sides of the roadway. We are in discussions about the crosswalk material. The City of Salem is proposing the thermal imprint material that is used in downtown Salem that has the look of brick and is referenced in the Commission's letter dated February 7, 2007. Lynn Lynn Goonin Duncan, AICP Director Department of Planning & Community Development City of Salem 120 Washington Street Salem, MA 01970 T: 978-619-5685 F. 978-740-0404 8/4/2009 f RECEMED OTETRATECH RIZZO JAN U 2 20D9 DEPT.OF PLANNHI G& OOM?:UPT`f DEVELOPI�'NT December 30, 2008 Salem Historical Commission City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development 120 Washington Street Salem, MA 01970 ATTN: Jane A. Guy Re: Bike Path and Bridge Street Reconstruction Salem, Massachusetts (MHD Project No. 601017) Section 106 Review Dear Reviewer: The Massachusetts Highway Department(MassHighway) and the City of Salem are proposing to construct a bike path connection from the Bridge Street Bypass to Bridge Street within an abandoned former railroad right of way now owned by the Commonwealth. On behalf of MHD and the City, Tetra Tech Rizzo is initiating early environmental coordination with appropriate agencies for this work. Previous correspondence was submitted in 2006 regarding the Bridge Street Reconstruction Project to which this bike path connection is being added. The project is located within a former 400 foot long railroad cut section that has been partially filled with stone and earth. Proposed work will include placement of additional fill between Cross Street and the Bridge Street Bypass bike path and construction of a 10 foot wide paved surface with drainage swales to the side and loam and seed to the edges of the former railroad right of way. It is anticipated that this project will be supported in part with federal funds and will require review, therefore, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (36 CFR 800). The attached Figure 1 —Site Locus Map depicts the project location. MassHighway and the City of Salem request that the Salem Historical Commission review the proposed project at its earliest convenience and provide any comments that the Commission wishes to make regarding this project. Written comments should be One Grant Street Framingham,MA 01701 Tel 508.903.2000 Fax 508.903.2001 ® TETRATECH RIZZO submitted to: Frank Tramontozzi, P.E., Chief Engineer, Massachusetts Highway Department, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: Geoffrey Fulgione. If you have any questions concerning this project please feel free to contact Steve McLaughlin(617) 973-7245 of MassHighway's Project Management Section. If you have any questions concerning the Section 106 process, please feel free to contact Geoffrey Fulgione (617) 973-8253) of MassHighway's Cultural Resources Unit. Sincerely, C Brian Ackley, P.E. Tetra Tech Rizzo Copy: David Knowlton, City of Salem Lynn Duncan, City of Salem Steve McLaughlin, PM, MHD Geoffrey Fulgione, CRU, MHD Brona Simon, SHPO Attach. Site Locus Map PTP FY2WM4W0 4985Bik0aNt nvimnmentaMai=Hietotic Let dm - 2 49A5 lows `,`�� � J- ' ,,:.' ' f � 75 ��' /F t t ']3 =;.� A ' �i,n,°# ��� • � `� �?'YiQX6 4 i+� l '.•� � � P apt. �S. iii ,J81C.} F yr T� 1 O ''" ` ��7f4Y1 •�� f : 4 � , �,M pix r. , r uo. „K„it yfl 1 6�. �•--�-d..;-1`1• { � ..�Ld sir � s f � i �l BRIDGE STREET :� SITE �a •. . •.� (NO CHANGES IN LIMITS) BIKE PATH `.] _ . ;: yj .ate• •::;, SITE = 4 Nau ' (NEW LIMITS) ° hr { ♦.t, f ' '(y e 1. / 1 vI 4 �`r'fvd ^r� ✓ • : o_' a �` 'fit , .• e,'.L 'M M •'111 � � '""/ 4.a Q. yA.�,��� � ��� ,�� .till /♦y��.L �• x `k� � ,� �t / Y�y ..j q � ��... - y. '� -i,& s':CC+.� *er G�q ' w`" •a'` ' O'' • 1581 m ,.efmintai. 14 in t ' �Y. � '�„ Y� .. _ `• n � v ��_., . ten_-rv�1«'s.--. a,�. ��r ti r i aoo o ,00 zoo aoo Bridge Street Reconstruction Salem, Massachusetts Approximate Scale TETRA TECH RIZZO ❑ Site Locus Map Figure 1 ENGINEERS • SCIENTISTS PLANNERS One Grant Street 3 4�^ �"'@ Framingham, MA 01701-9005 Ez Gy II (508) 903-2000 R I Z Z O DEI; 2 1 1006 (5o8) 903-2001 fOX A S S O C I A T E S www.rizzo.com A TETRA TECH COMPANY DEPT. OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT November 14,2006 t Hannah Diozzi, Chairperson Salem Historical Commission 120 Washington Street 3rd Floor Salem, MA 01970 Re: Bridge Street Reconstruction Salem, MA Section 106 Review Dear Ms. Diozzi: Rizzo Associates,Inc. is under contract with the City of Salem for the proposed Bridge Street reconstruction project and we are initiating early environmental coordination with appropriate agencies. Construction of the project may be supported, in part, with federal funding through the Massachusetts Highway Department and will,therefore,require review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended(36 CFR 800). The proposed project involves the reconstruction of a portion of the Bridge Street corridor,beginning at the southern end of the Beverly—Salem Bridge and extending in a southerly direction to Howard Street(a distance of approximately 1,200 meters). This project includes full depth roadway and sidewalk reconstruction,pedestrian and traffic safety improvements,parking improvements for the abutting businesses, landscape and streetscape improvements, street lighting and drainage improvements. We are aware that a portion of the project is located within a historic district and there are historic buildings within the project limits. A locus of the project is enclosed. Please provide any comments that the Commission may wish to make regarding this project. We request that all comments be submitted within 45 days. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions concerning this project,please contact me at (508) 903-2341. Very truly yours, Matthew Shute,P.E. Senior Project Engineer encl. copy: MassHighway Cultural Resources Unit Massachusetts State Historical Preservation Officer PA4000\4985\EnvironmentaAEarly Environmental Coordination\Historlcal_Commission_Lettecdoc CITY OF SALEM DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STANLEY J.USOVICZ,JR. MAYOR 120 WASHINGTON STREET•SALFM,MASSACHUSETTS 01970 JOSEPH P.WALSH.JR. TEL:978-745-9595•FAX:978-740-0404 DIRECTOR June 7, 2004 Lance Kasparian, Chair Salem Historical Commission 120 Washington Street Salem, MA 01970 RE: MassHighway Final Plans for Salem's Bridge Street By-Pass Project Dear Mr. Kasparian, The Department of Planning and Community Development recently received several copies of the final plans for the Bridge Street By-Pass project from MassHighway,and I wanted to forward a copy along to your Commission. The Historic Commission provided significant ongoing and continual input throughout the design to improve these plans. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your efforts and please feel free to contact me at the Department of Planning and Community Development at 978- 745-9595, extension 311 if you have any questions. Sincerely, &AA310 Denise S. McClure, AICP Deputy Director no I' �:I \f!_LJ 0 MCC%n ' 1HIS I M 2: P5 Re SF,LEi P.O. Box 865 PLANNIHNJG1970 incorporated Salem, M4 00799 Telephone: (978) 745-0799 April 10, 2002 Mr. Lance Kasparian Chairman Salem Historical Commission 120 Washington Street Salem,MA 01970 Dear Lance: We appreciated the opportunity to speak with the Historical Commission at your regular meeting on April 3 regarding the 106 review process for the`By pass Road". As you know, we were directed to the Salem Historical Commission by MHC. At your request,we are forwarding very preliminary comments on the proposed project. (As you also know, we were first made aware that you and MHC were reviewing the project the week of April 1, 2002, and have not yet had the opportunity to physically view and review the plans.) These comments are in addition to those included in our letter, attached,to the Federal Highway Administration, other signatories and consulting parties, regarding this project, in which we request the opportunity to participate in the on-going Section 106 consultation process. Thank you for your review and comments, and for any help the Commission can provide in addressing this important issue. i ere L/ n V Goff Margaret S. wohey Executive Director Presiden Enclosures: Letter dated April 10, 2002 to the Federal Highway Administration Preliminary Comments Fax: (978) 744-4536 ' Email: hsi@nii.net • Web: http://www.historicsalem.org/ Preliminary Comments on the 75%Design Documents of the changed alignment of the Boston Bridge Street"By-Pass Road", made without benefit of viewing the documents before the Historical Commission Historic Salem,Inc,April 10,2002 1. The new alignment(c- 1998)brings the roadway very close to three National Register properties -the First Universalist Church,the Old Salem Jail and Jailers House, and the granite retaining wall of the Howard Street Burying ground along with the Burying Ground itself—as well as the Salem Common Historic District. The new alignment is six and five lanes wide. This width most likely will produce negative visual impacts (albeit, we have not seen the particulars of the design and there may be ways of mitigating it. Vibrations and snow removal caused by traffic on this wide roadway,with National Register properties which appear to be within 5 feet of the traveled way, are likely to cause severe negative impact, particularly on the Church. 2. The new alignment also is quite close to, and actually touches at several points, the North River Historic Neighborhood, which was determined to be National Register eligible after the 1992 MOA. The potential adverse effect should be subject to the Chapter 106 consultation process. 3. Also,the new alignment is close to the Salem Common (Local) Historic District, also enlarged since the 1992 MOA, and directs traffic up St. Peter Street toward the Common. This new alignment will also have an impact on historic resources on St. Peter's Street. The pedestrian access issues noted below apply here. 4. The new alignment will separate two major nodes from the National Register Courthouse District. These nodes are the MBTA Salem Depot Commuter Rail Station and the soon-to-be completed J.P1 Jefferson -at-Salem residential development of about 470 units, which is expected to house about 600 new residents. Pedestrian access across the existing 3 -4 lanes at the west end of Washington Street between the rail station and the court area-as well as the rest of downtown and the City at large- is minimal at present. It should be improved by the new roadway project, perhaps by an underground or overhead pedestrian passage, or other method if the crossing still has to be made at grade. 5. Pedestrian access across the existing two-lane Route 107 Bridge Street at the new JPI development,which is almost directly across the street from the Universalist Church and the Salem Jail, is currently controlled by a walk light. The newly constructed JPI complex is expected to be pedestrian-connected to the vital and vibrant historic Salem downtown, which is also part of a Downtown Salem Multiple Resource Area. Downtown Salem is currently the focus of a five-year National Trust for Historic Preservation"Main Streets"effort. The proposed new road projectwould replace the existing two lanes at this location with six lanes. We would suggest that significant lane reduction and other mitigation actions need to be considered to minimize the impact of these changes on historic resources. /2uo2 TUE 19:02 FAX 978 970 3121 CULTURAL RESOURCES 1@002 Downtown. Salem Neighborhood Association Lance Kasparian Chair, Salem Historical Commission. 7 April,200 1,Arbella Street, Salem Dear Lance, Bride Street By-Pass Following last Wednesday's meeting of the Commission and your request for a synopsis of our concerns in writing,the following are the issues which I,as a member of the Downtown Association, feel need to be addressed. A)The Process We would like to receive advice as to how"interested parties" are meant to find out about occasions on which items that they may have an interest in,are being considered;and how they may have the opportunity to participate and make their feelings known. The Mayor has indicated his determination to allow for greater participation and consultation with residents in local affairs. While I accept that it is unreasonable in most eases to expect City boards to notify individuals directly,publication of an accurate Agenda would at least bell►to take as beyond the rhetoric. It would also defuse any implication of covert activities'. B)The By-Pass 1)Having been advised by Masa Highway that issues we had raised relating to Historic preservation should be taken up with Salem and Mass Historic bodies,it seemed reasonable that we should take an interest In the news of your meeting with Mass Highway to discuss the latest plans. I,personally,find it incredible that Salem Historical Commission did not feel it necessary to seek some mitigation of a design that drives a 3 and 6 late Highway through the center of an historic City,and within an arms length of a building on the National Register. The noise,vibration and noxious pollutants from traffic forced into a stop/go pattern immediately alongside the Universalist Church and close to the Jail and burial ground,MUST have an adverse e&d on the fabric of these edifices and the people who visit them.(I imagine the impact on the residents of the adjacent homes for the elderly is not strictly a matter of historic preservation.) The Road Working Group you attended certainly seemed to recognize the danger. I hope the Commission may be persuaded to give the matter a serious re-think,even if your role is purely advisory, Yours, Iain Maclean 28 B Federal Street Secretary Salem �e�Jars.Jla�u ..Oc+alcuz ,ll.S� 02776-99 79 WILLIAM F.WELD GOVERNOR ARGEO PAUL CELLUCCI LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RICHARD L.TAYLOR December 5, 1991 SECRETARY JAMES J.KERASIOTES COMMISSIONER Salem-Beverly Transportation Project Annie Clay Harris Chairman RECEIVED Salem Historical Commission One Salem Green DEC 1 U 1991 Salem, Massachusetts 01970 Dear Ms Harris: SALEM PLANNING DEPT. Since our last letter to you (June 28, 1991) regarding the Section 106 Documentation for the Salem-Beverly Transportation project there has been additional correspondence. The Federal Highway Administration has asked the Department to provide copies of the following correspondence to you for your files. 11/19/91 FHWA to Advisory Council re. effect findings 11/18/91 MDPW to FHWA re. effect findings 11/21/91 MDPW/FHWA to Keeper re. North River Canal 11/15/91 MDPW/FHWA to Keeper re. Salem Tower 10/21/91 MHC to FHWA re. clarification of effect findings 10/17/91 Council to FHWA re. North River Canal 09/19/91 FHWA to Council re. North River Canal 08/05/91 Council to FHWA re. project effects; No.Rr. Canal 07/31/91 FHWA to MHC re. clarification of effect findings 07/25/91 MDPW to FHWA re. clarification of effect findings 06/28/91 MHC to FHWA re. effect findings Thank you for your interest in the Salem-Beverly Transportation Project. Sincerely, ? ICHAE SWAN.-SON, P.E. Chief Engineer je/do attach. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1W A FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION E GV, E �`` REGION ONE 7 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS CENTER �J aR 25 1991 55 BROADWAY, 10TH FLOOR ggaa � CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02142 SALEP619tl6d�dtl7 LB !Ig��!q . IN REPLY REFER TO: HB-MA BR-F-54 (085) Beverly-Salem March 19, 1991 Ms. Annie Clay Harris, Chairman Salem Historical Commission One Salem Green Salem, MA 01970 a Dear Ms. Harris: I have received your letter providing comments on the Section 106 historical review documentation for the above project. I note that you have forwarded a copy directly to the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. This action was most appropriate and will ensure your comments are considered as the project advances. Thank you for your interest in this proposal to improve transportation facilities in this area. Sincerely yours, Anthony J. Fusco Division Administrator 9 19 By: A. R. Churchill District Engineer pc: Mr. G. R. Turner Chief Engineer, M.D.P.W. u w�V HARRIS Frederic It. Harris, Inc., Consulting Engineers, Long Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 617-7234700 May 2, 1973 08-467-01 Salem Historic Commission c/o Mr. Robert Scagliotti Anderson-Nichols 150 Causeway Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114 Dear Mr. Scagliotti : Frederic R. Harris, Inc. has been contracted by the Mass. Dept. of Public Works to study the Salem/Peabody Connector Facility and prepare an Environmental Impact/ 4(f) Statement for the project. Our planning to date indicates that in order to link the Connector to the Salem Central Business District , con- necting ramps may cause a slight relocation of the Revolu- tionary War Plaque located on North Street . By law, any Federally financed transportation project which requires the use of public or private historic sites must undergo a review procedure, provided the properties af- fected are significant in the opinion of the officials hav- ing jurisdiction thereof. This review procedure is known as the "Section 4(f) Re- view, " and was instituted by Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, as amended. (The requirements of the statute as found in the Federal Highway Administration Policy and Procedure Memorandum 90-1 (FHWA PPM 90-1 ) are at- tached for your reference. ) It is important to note that the decision as to whether or not a project actually reaches the construction stage depends partly on the results of this review. In order to initiate the formal review procedure, F. R. Harris , Inc. is required to obtain a determination of signi- ficance of the Section 4(f) lands from the officials having jurisdiction. Accordingly, we are requesting a letter from you covering the following points : (1) A statement that you are in fact the officials having jurisdiction over the Revolutionary War Plaque. r UL HARRIS Page two 08-467-01 (2) A determination whether, in your opinion, the land is significant for the purposes of Section 4(f) ; (3) A brief statement of the reasons supporting your determination; (4) A statement in your opinion as to why the Plaque should not be relocated and/or any suggestions as to where the monument could best be relocated if it is so decided. (Please find attached a Preliminary Sketch of the proposed alignment for your review. ) We are required, at a minimum, to include your de- termination of significance in the Environmental Impact/4(f) Statement . At your option, we will include verbatim, your statement. Should you have any questions , please feel free to con- tact our office. We will be happy to provide you with what- ever further explanations or assistance you may require. We would appreciate hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience as your input is an important part of the review process. Sincerely, FREDERIC R. HARRIS, INC. 6&'� /),/, 'G�wv' Robert H. Demer Environmental Engineer RHD:mdh i Attach (2) - V.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - Transmittal 257 FEDERAL WAY 1' POLICYt�AND PRO";EDURE MEMORANDUM 90- 1 : ISen September 7 972 ENVIRONMENTAL IDIPACT AND RELATED STATEMENTS 'Par.- 1, Purpose - (it) any adverse,environmental 2- Authority -- - . effects which cannot be avoided should the 3. Definitions _ proposal be implemented, 4', Policy - (iii) alternatives to the proposed 5, Application - .. action,' 6. Procedures . - - (iv) the relationship between local - _ 'short-term uses of man's environment and - - . Appendix A Procedures on Historicthe maintenance and enhancement of long- . - Preservation - ' term productivity, and - Appendix B -Example of Design Con- (A any irreversible and irretriev- currence Letter - - able commitments of-resources which would Appendix C -.Location Stage Flow Chartbe involved in the proposed action should it Appendix D - Design Stage Flow Chart be.implemented. Appendix E Environmental Statements - Contents and Format - Prior to making any detailed statement; the Appendix F - Evaluating Highway Section - responsible Federal official shall consult Environmental Effects .' with and obtain the comments of any Federal _ -Appendix G - Inter-Agency-Review of agency which has jurisdiction by law or spe- Draft Environmental Statements cial expertise with respect to any environ- Appendix H - Selections from PPM 20-8, mental impact involved- Copies of such for Use in Preparing Environmental - statement and the comments and views of the Statements - - - appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies Appendix I - Purchasing Copies of which are authorized to develop and enforce - Environmental Statements ' environmental standards,- shall accompany the proposal through the existing agency review processes. 1,, PURPOSE b Section_ 1653(£), Title 49, United States Coce 1T Sectlon_138,-5'itle 2nited. To provide guidelines to highway depart- - States Code, (hereafter referred to-as Sec- ments and Federal Highway Administration tion 4(f)") permits the Secretary of Trans- - -(FIIWA) field offices to assure that the human purtation to approve a program or project environment is carefully considered and - which requires the use of publicly owned land national environmental goals are met when - from a park, recreation area, or Wildlife develdping federally financed highway and waterfowl refuge of national, Slate, or improvements. local significance as determined by the Fed- eral, State or local officials having jurisdic- 2. AUTHORITY - - tion thereof, or land from an historic site of national, State, or local significance as so a. Section 4332(2)(C), Title 42', United - determined by, such officials (hereafter "See- -e ----- -- ---asSe ---_. . States Code (popularly known_as Section 102 _ tion,4(f) land') only if: t2T(C) of the i\ahonil Fm ironmen_tal Polite - - Act of 19b9 P, L 91 1"�) states in part that - (1).' there is no feasible and prudent all agencies of the Federal Government shall:_ alternative to the use of such land, and _ 't "include in every recommendationor (2) such program includes all oos- 'report on proposals for legislation and other sible planning to minimize harm to the Sec- major Federal actions significantly affecting,- tion 4(f) land resulting from such use. the quality of the human environment, a - detailed statement by the responsible officials on --- 1/ Section 1653(f), Title 49, United States Code, is identical to Sections 138,. Title 23, (i) the environmental impact of.the United States Code, and 4(1) of the Depart- proposed action, - ment of Transportation Act as amended by # _ Section 18 of theFederal-AidHighway Act 17 r 2719+2 _ rc-,J RAL Alf? 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