Downtown Franklin Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project
Franklin’s Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) is currently managing a design and engineering effort that will soon result in the construction of a major roadway and streetscape improvement project in Downtown Franklin.
The goals of this important project are to improve vehicular circulation and safety, improve emergency response time, improve the deteriorated conditions of certain secondary roadways, create a safer pedestrian friendly environment, improve the overall appearance of Downtown Franklin, and stimulate private sector investment. Implementation of the Town of Franklin’s Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project over the next few years will see major changes in the Downtown area.
Public Input
As the Town works with its design and engineering consulting team to develop plans for this major improvement project, input is needed from the general public, government officials, Downtown business owners, property owners, and other individuals and organizations. This web site was developed to make it easy for individuals to provide comment and suggestions, and to find other ways to participate in this important project.
For more information or questions regarding the Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project, please contact Franklin’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Bryan W. Taberner, at 508-520-4907 or btaberner@franklin.ma.us.
We look forward to hearing from you.
General Project Description
The Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project is a multi-year $7.25 million roadway and streetscape improvement project. The project includes elimination of the one way traffic pattern of Route 140 in the Downtown area, installation of interconnected traffic signals with emergency preemption system, period streetlights, traffic calming devices, resetting curbs were needed, ADA compliant sidewalks, resurfacing of streets, and streetscape/landscape improvements and furniture. Diagrams with examples of proposed improvements can be viewed by following the links below.
Project Funding
The Town of Franklin has been awarded a $1 million Public Works Economic Development (PWED) grant (State funding), and a $5 million High Priority Project (HPP) grant (Federal funding); the HPP grant will be matched by roughly $1.25 million in State and local funds.
Project Area
The two grants have different requirements and it is necessary to manage the Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project as two separate but directly adjacent projects. The project area for the HPP Grant funded portion of work is as follows:
- West Central Street, between Union and Main Streets
- East Central Street, between Main and Ruggles Streets
- Main Street, between East Central Street and Moore Avenue
- Emmons Street between West Central and Main Streets.
The PWED Grant project area includes improvements to the following areas;
- Emmons Street, between Main and Hillside Streets
- Dean Avenue, between Main and Ray Streets
- Depot Street between Main Street and Dean Avenue
- Ray Street, between Dean Avenue and Depot Street.
- Depot Street Municipal parking lot.
Follow the link below for a map of the HPP Grant and PWED Grant project areas.
Project Timeline
Given that two projects are located directly adjacent to each other the Town’s design and engineering team, headed by Weston and Sampson, Inc., are designing improvements concurrently. However, the two improvement projects will likely be constructed separately.
The PWED project construction will likely begin during the 2011 construction season, and the HPP project in 2012. The Town believes both improvement projects will be completed by the end of the 2013 calendar year.
Ongoing Downtown Revitalization Efforts
The Town of Franklin, partnering organizations including Franklin Downtown Partnership and Dean College, local businesses and individuals have made revitalization of the Downtown area a major priority for several years.
The Franklin Center Plan was developed in 2002 and 2003 to provide Town officials with a vision and basic strategy for revitalization of Downtown Franklin, The Plan’s major conceptual improvement components are as follows:
- Vision for Downtown Franklin
- Image and Identity
- Public Places
- Facades and Historic Preservation
- Cultural Uses
- Mixed Use
- Architecture
- Better Parking and Pedestrian Connections
- Streetscape Improvements
- Circulation Strategies and Traffic Calming
- Promoting Franklin Center
The Franklin Center Plan and related efforts, including formation of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, were funded in part through a Department of Housing and Community Development grant. The Downtown Partnership has become a very successful collaboration of residents, businesses, and community leaders, whose mission is the economic revival of Downtown Franklin.
The Town is carefully planning and managing projects to ensure they reflect the Town’s overall vision for Downtown. The Town has made steady progress implementing a variety of economic development strategies, resulting in consistent incremental positive changes in the Downtown area. At least some progress has been made in all major project components listed above. Much of the early work consisted of strategies that could be implemented quickly in order to demonstrate tangible results and build momentum.
While the Town has made much progress towards the incremental revitalization of Downtown Franklin, implementation of the Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project will result in major improvements over a fairly short period of time. Several of the major conceptual improvement project components outlined in the Franklin Center Plan relate directly to the Town’s Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project, including streetscape improvements, better parking and pedestrian connections, and circulation strategies and traffic calming.
Additional Information
For more information about the Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project follow the link to additional information or contact Franklin’s Director of Planning and Community Development, Bryan W. Taberner, at 508-520-4907 or btaberner@franklin.ma.us.
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