Redesign Intersection of Rt 60/Medford Street and Mystic Valley Parkway- Arlington, MA

Concern: The Rotary at Route 60 and Mystic Valley Parkway in East Arlington is hazardous for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and has concerned local residents for years. There are two major issues that should be addressed: Vehicle Safety and Pedestrian.

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/xyXms

Vehicle Safety: Mystic Valley Parkway and Route 60 are major commuter routes, and Route 60 is a major route for fuel trucks from the Revere/Everett fuel farms to Route 2 and beyond. Trucks and cars enter the rotary at great speed, and the roadway is unmarked. There have been numerous accidents, including the May 31, 2013 jack knifing of a tanker truck that:

-Spilled thousands of gallons of diesel fuel into the Mystic River while seriously injuring the operator
-Damaged private and public property
-Placed dozens of first responders from numerous agencies at risk
-Directly impacted hundreds of nearby Arlington and Medford residents, and the thousands who drive through the intersection every day
-Necessitated a massive and expensive multi-week environmental cleanup of the Mystic River.

Pedestrian Safety: There is no safe or regulated route for pedestrians to cross the intersection to access The Reservation, or travel between Arlington and Medford.

-No crosswalks within sight of the rotary.
-No curb cuts for handicap access, and adjacent sidewalks in disrepair.
-Located in a dense family neighborhood bordering Arlington’s popular Parallel Park and Mystic River Reservation.
-In addition, the intersection is contiguous with the DCR’s Alewife Brook Greenway Corridor Improvement Project.

Barriers: This intersection is on State Land, thus action requires the involvement of DCR and neighboring towns.