Circulation
Transit Parking
Create additional parking facilities to serve the downtown, commuter rail stations, and any other transit/service center hub developed in the future, particularly considering the construction of a parking garage in the downtown.
The Town should identify options, select desired options, and prepare plans to create additional parking for the Downtown, commuter rail stations, and future transit/service center hubs. Continue to pursue the construction of a parking garage in the vicinity of the MBTA and municipal parking lots.
Bicycle Lanes
Mark bicycle lanes and provide bicycle stands at major points of destination.
The Director of Public Works should ensure that shoulders of a minimum width of.75 meters be included in all roadway designs to accommodate bicycle travel outside of vehicular travel lanes.
Pedestrian And Bicycle Links
Develop pedestrian and bicycle path links outside of roadway alignments to provide "shortcut" access to high-demand areas.
The Town should develop a bicycle and walkway overlay to establish a proposed layout for connecting neighborhoods, open space, and recreation areas outside of roadways. Require subdivision and site plans to include sidewalk and bicycle path connections to existing or proposed sidewalks and bicycle paths on abutting property not proposed to be connected by roadways.
Safety Improvements
Construct sidewalks, traffic islands for channelization, and road grade and width improvements to improve safety and reduce accident potential, while maintaining the "character of a New England town" and its visually pleasing road layouts.
- Apply federal and state safety standards tempered by the desire to retain tree-lined roadways and rural character to road reconstruction projects.
- Provide affected residents with more of a role in the road re-design process, including review of streetscape design options.
Future Roads
Lay out and preserve corridors for future roads to provide better linkage and flow.
Develop an overlay identifying layouts for new Town roads and necessary roadway connections and take action to acquire the appropriate right-of-ways. Review existing right-of-way layouts to identify roadways that should be proposed for connection to adjacent roads.
Subdivision Connections
Connect proposed subdivision roads with existing subdivision roads to facilitate the delivery of services, traffic circulation, and emergency response time.
Continue to require new subdivisions to provide connections to abutting parcels or connect to existing roadways.
Sidewalk System
Establish a program for annually extending the sidewalk system.
Establish an objective and appropriate the necessary funding for the specific length of new sidewalk to be constructed each year along existing Town roads.
Grove Street
Reconstruct Grove Street to arterial road standards to provide relief to the 140 corridor.
Take the actions necessary to have Grove Street added to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
Prior to total reconstruction, widen travel lanes at intersections with Forge Hill, Beaver, Prime Park, and Kenwood Circle to allow marking of left turn lanes.
Intersection Improvements
Provide turning and longer stacking lanes at the intersection of collector roads.
Identify intersections where service levels are at levels "E" or "F".
Ensure that adequate turning lanes are incorporated in road reconstruction projects at intersections identified with service levels at levels "E" or "F".
When required, initiate reconstruction projects to add or extend turning lanes at intersections where service levels are at level "F" and are considered dangerous.
[Service levels run from "A" to "F", with "F" being the worst, and "A" the best.]
Alternate Circulation Options
Promote alternate circulation options, including the use of bike paths and sidewalks.
Using the bicycle and walkway overlay, identify areas where bike paths, sidewalks, and paths are needed and require them to be included in subdivision and site plans and recreation and open space development plans.
Shuttle System
Promote the formation of a shuttle system to move commuter rail passengers to and from commuter rail stations to places of employment.
Organize a group of Franklin employers to establish a shuttle system for transportation to and from the commuter rail stations.