Wilson Square
Sep. 15th, 2010 11:15 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
gruene.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareNow that the paving is finally finished on Somerville Ave, it seems that the city really missed an opportunity to do something nice with Wilson Square. (That's the triangular intersection with Elm Street a bit past Porter.) While the redesign of the intersection is certainly better than the god awful mess that was there before, a larger plaza with some benches and flower beds, like what Cambridge built when they redesigned the Main Street/Mass Ave split near Central, would have really spruced up the area. That weird stub of Elm street with its lumpy ramp is unnecessary and a lot of cars disobey the rather confusing "Local Traffic only" sign. ("Local" to just the two buildings on that block?) I realize the businesses in the area are rather car-centric currently, so it's not exactly a pedestrian mecca, but it will not stay that way forever. Infrastructure should be designed with the future in mind, not just the present.
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Date: 2010-09-16 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 04:09 am (UTC)The long stretch between porter and harvard also continues to improve, which is nice. though for every new business, one seems to go under as well.
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Date: 2010-09-16 06:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 11:35 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-09-17 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 01:47 pm (UTC)That said, I'm not sure what the problem was with simply allowing all traffic to bear right. It seems silly to make a number of cars queue up at the red light just because the first car in line is continuing straight.
Any word from the city on WHY that change was deemed necessary?
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Date: 2010-09-16 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-09-16 10:38 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-09-16 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-16 03:15 pm (UTC)It actually is a pretty pleasant square, aesthetically, there's some nice new construction over there which I believe is office space, not a lot of retail.
Probably a good spot for a T stop halfway between Porter and Union. Won't see that for at least 10 years though.
MBTA buses get a pass?
Date: 2010-09-17 02:31 am (UTC)