Cites MassDOT’s lack of communication with council, community
By Barbara Taormina
REVERE – Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna asked fellow councillors to support her with a letter to MassDOT opposing the reconfiguration of Bennington Street for a bike lane.
McKenna explained the MassDOT plan would eliminate a lane of traffic in both directions and severely narrow the evacuation route out of Beachmont. McKenna displayed photos of Bennington Street which is prone to flooding and is already treacherous for Beachmont residents.
“We can’t do this – we just can’t do it. It will be a nightmare,” said McKenna.
Councillor-At-Large Robert Haas asked if there was a way to work with MassDOT to explain how their plan will impact the community.
But McKenna said they have called MassDOT to ask for a community meeting but no one returned the call.
“They are unresponsive,” said McKenna. “They come in with a study or a plan, and they don’t listen to people who live here.”
McKenna said the state comes into Revere, makes changes but typically fails to keep the community informed, and she has had enough.
She asked fellow councillors to join her and stand up to MassDOT.
Councillors agreed to back her and sign the letter opposing the bike lane plan for Bennington Street. Several councillors have had their own struggles with MassDOT.
Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya asked if MassDOT could be held responsible for failing to respond to elected city councillors.
Council President Anthony Cogliandro said they should respond to councillors and the community should have some say about what happens in their neighborhoods.
“But that’s MassDOT,” he said. “I’ll sign the letter but I don’t think it will do much good. Ultimately, they’re going to do whatever they want.”