Boxborough committee weighs fire station layouts, debates Mass. Ave. access versus Sarah’s Way

Design consultants presented four concept schemes and program changes for a proposed Boxborough fire station on Tuesday, and committee members spent much of the meeting weighing trade‑offs between site access from Sarah’s Way and a direct curb cut to Route 111 (Massachusetts Avenue).

The team explained operational and community trade‑offs behind each layout. Chris Logan, one of the project designers, said the visioning session demonstrated community preference for vernacular New England forms and materials and that the design work would try to reflect that while meeting the department’s needs. “We had a very successful visioning session … the town of Boxboro is a very engaged community,” Logan said.

On program changes, the project team added a horizontal line to the program to accommodate emergency surge staffing and increased the number of bedrooms in the station to seven so on‑call personnel can be housed during large incidents. The design team also reported it had enlarged the medical triage room so a stretcher can be moved in without displacing a patient.

A core question during the review was which roadway should carry daily apparatus traffic. One set of schemes uses Sarah’s Way for apparatus in and out of the station; another variant pushes apparatus closer to Mass. Ave. and would require a curb cut and coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The consultant told the committee that preliminary civil‑engineering review indicates Sarah’s Way in its current condition likely would not support repeated heavy apparatus traffic and would require reconstruction to serve as a primary apparatus route.

Committee members and the chief examined operational risks. The chief said he preferred layouts that place the triage room close to the lobby for quick walk‑in patient handling and favored circulation that reduces crossings between public and apparatus areas. “I like the layout of it … the separation of the firefighters’ living quarters,” the chief said, adding that single‑story layouts are operationally preferable though a two‑story building could be made to work.

Traffic engineers have not recommended a signal at the Route 111 intersection based on initial work, but they will prepare a traffic study and MassDOT will make the final determination. The project team proposed a flashing warning system tied to the station alerting system as an alternative to a full traffic signal, so lights would flash only when an apparatus is responding and not during routine vehicle movements.

Cost implications were repeatedly raised. The consultants said they will produce high‑level cost estimates for several refined options so the committee can compare (a) schemes relying mainly on Sarah’s Way, (b) schemes using both roadways, and (c) schemes with primary access to Mass. Ave. A committee member asked for estimates that include likely curb‑cut and pavement upgrades for Sarah’s Way, excavation or retaining‑wall needs for a Mass. Ave. approach, and the extra pavement and drainage work each option would require.

On procurement and schedule matters, the committee noted the contract with Context and its subconsultants is finalized and pending town‑counsel review; the signed contract will be posted to the project website when complete. Mike, speaking for the project administration team, told the meeting that the property closing has not yet occurred and that the team currently expects closing in late July, subject to title work.

Next steps: the design team will refine the preferred schemes, prepare a set of high‑level cost comparisons for the committee, and coordinate a traffic study with MassDOT. The committee will gather additional community feedback at a planned session during Fifer’s Day and will review combined input and the cost data at the next meeting.