Selectmen check out Merchants Way 'concept drawings'
Whatever you do, just don't call it a plan.
Community and Economic Development Authority Director Salvador Pina appeared before the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night to present "concept drawings" of the proposed redesign of Merchants Way.
Frank Gay of the Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA), and Christine Scypinski of the Winchester-based Waterfield Design Group, which came up with the concept drawings, joined him.
Presentations have been made to business owners, town department heads, and the public over the past few months to solicit input before a definitive plan for Merchants Way decided upon.
On Tuesday, Pina repeatedly said that the concept drawings do not represent a plan that's set in stone.
"Throughout the process we have tried to stress to folks that these are just concepts," said Pina. "They are not plans."
Scypinski reiterated the goal of redesigning Merchants Way, saying its purpose is to "create a more vibrant Wareham Village by improving Merchants Way."
The concept drawings include: A small cafe in the train depot with outdoor seating, benches, and bike racks; improved parking, generous sidewalks, better signage, a boardwalk along the river, outdoor art; green infrastructure with storm water infiltration to minimize the runoff of pollutants into the adjacent river; a separate, multi-use walking/bike trail.
"This is where the train is passing and this is what they see of Wareham when they pass," said Scypinski.
GATRA already has buses that serve Wareham in the town itself, and with bus service to the MBTA commuter rail line in Middleborough. Gay said Tuesday that the company would like to offer service to New Bedford from the renovated depot, and have it be the hub of its transportation program in Wareham.
"We can also bring in some state and federal money," said Gay.
Selectman Alan Slavin expressed concern about business owners on Main Street.
"You're going to have to come up with some programs ... so businesses can afford to make changes and can absorb three to four months of construction," he said.
Pina said he plans on meeting with property owners one at a time to discuss the potential impact.
"The goal of the concept drawings is to say, 'we like this, we don't like this,'" Pina noted.