As a Northampton resident and certified city planner who attended dozens of public meetings related to the coming Main Street project, I feel the need to respond to David McCutcheon’s July 2 guest column “Common sense needed with Main Street redesign.”
I don’t know what the writer’s background is, but the column makes several claims about street design that are not true. Contrary to what the writer believes, “heavy traffic” is not reduced by adding more traffic lanes. And as far as parking goes, we know from other cities that trading parking spaces for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure often results in increased business activity (people who walk and bike downtown tend to shop and stay downtown longer).
In addition, the column does a great disservice to the countless local residents and stakeholders like myself who have been working to improve safety on Main Street, in my case for over 20 years. A major goal of the new Main Street design is to make the street safer for everyone. For people on bicycles and wheelchairs, for people who walk, and for motorists, too.
Another major goal for Main Street is to create wider, safer sidewalks for social gathering and outdoor dining. The new design will also allow for a larger canopy of trees and new greenspace.
Finally, contrary to what the writer suggests, the community process for the Main Street design has been especially inclusive and open. Over the years there have been many, many chances for the community to make comments and suggestions. I’d like to remind everyone that the current design reflects changes made to address people’s concerns and comments.
Michael DiPasquale
Extension associate professor,
Landscape Architecture & Regional
Planning, at UMass Amherst,
Northampton