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City to forward $6,020 in easements for MassDOT Safe Routes work near Rebecca Johnson School; resident urges repairs for truck vibration damage
Summary
The finance committee flagged two agenda orders to authorize construction easements—totaling $6,020—for a MassDOT Safe Routes to School project near Rebecca Johnson School. A resident during public comment asked staff to inspect vibration damage from heavy trucks on neighborhood streets.
The Springfield City Finance Subcommittee reviewed two council orders authorizing construction easements for a MassDOT Safe Routes to School project around Rebecca Johnson School and flagged them for the full council. Staff said the total easement payments amount to $6,020 for about 15 property easements.
Chris Signoli, budget staff, described the work as "sidewalk, crosswalk improvements, traffic signal improvements" and said the easements are construction easements only: "this is only about $6,000, and a 15 easements on property and no takings, just, easements to construct these sidewalks and these crosswalks in the, around Rebecca Johnson School." Signoli said notifications went out more than a month ago and the law department had not received complaints.
During public comment, resident Steven Howard described vibration and structural concerns on homes near Rebecca Johnson School and asked staff to inspect local streets. Howard said: "I would like to invite you to our home for about 10 minutes so you can sit in my office so you can feel the vibrations of the traffic... we really need to have those streets fixed because, Springfield is built on a landfill, and it's mainly sand." Finance staff asked Howard to follow up after the meeting and said staff contact information would be provided.
Staff noted the easement orders (council agenda items 13 and 14) will appear on the full council agenda for a vote. Signoli characterized the easements as standard state-required steps when the Commonwealth carries out sidewalk and crosswalk work on a state project.
No formal objections or complaints were reported to the law department in advance of the orders, staff said. The committee flagged the items to proceed to the full council for consideration tonight.
