[identity profile] gruene.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] davis_square
Now 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.

Date: 2010-09-16 03:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] frolain.livejournal.com
The local traffic only sigh is also poorly placed. I specifically looked to see if there was one and still missed it.

Date: 2010-09-16 04:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] clevernonsense.livejournal.com
not that i disagree with you at all, but i do think porter serves as an important hub for vehicular traffic, and that's OK. Harvard and Davis are both much more pedestrian-focused and on either side.

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.

Date: 2010-09-16 06:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kjc.livejournal.com
Wilson Square used to be maintained by the Somerville Garden Club. Perhaps now that things have settled down, that relationship can begin anew.

Date: 2010-09-16 11:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hrafn.livejournal.com
I used to walk through that intersection on my way home from the Porter T station, and while I'm sad that the nice garden that was there is gone, it now looks A LOT MORE pedestrian-friendly than it was pre-construction. Not as pretty, though maybe that can still be fixed. (Note that I have only gone through it recently on a bike or in a car, so it might not be as safe as it looks.)

Date: 2010-09-16 12:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thetathx1138.livejournal.com
I live near there and frankly, it's a gas station, a car wash, and a busy intersection. There ain't much to spruce. It's pedestrian friendly, so that's nice.

Date: 2010-09-16 01:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] derekp.livejournal.com
A sign really shouldn't be necessary at all. It's quite obvious that by bearing right and driving OVER THE CLEARLY VISIBLE SIDEWALK you are doing something that wasn't intended for all traffic.

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?

Date: 2010-09-16 03:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rethcir.livejournal.com
I would completely write this square off if it wasn't for Tacos Lupitas, hands-down the best burrito joint in the area (and that is saying something).

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)
From: [identity profile] inf-analemma.livejournal.com
Pedestrians at that intersection beware. I was driving behind an MBTA bus on Somerville Ave. towards Porter and it drove right into the local traffic only entrance to Elm St. It was going very fast and never even slowed down. Since I'm so used to going that way and I was right behind it I blindly followed. I had to slam on the brakes when I realized where I was. Meanwhile the bus just sped right along. Do all MBTA buses get a pass or was that one breaking the rules?

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