Category: Uncategorized
Don’t Forget
At The White House!
Federal Street resident Marta Garcia was at The White House yesterday being recognized as one of our nation’s top 50 teachers. Marta, who teaches at Salem’s Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, was selected as the 2022 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Yesterday, she joined teachers from all fifty states to be honored at The White House by President Biden and First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.
Congratulations Marta!
Act Now!
Here is a link to all the information regarding the city of Salem’s traffic calming proposal for Federal Street. This contains a letter to FSNA members that includes:
- A summary of the proposal’s key points
- Concerns of the FSNA Board based on feedback by the FSNA Traffic Calming Committee
- A link to a brief survey to gage resident sentiment
- Contact information if residents wish to reach out to the Traffic & Parking Commission
FSNA Traffic Calming Letter To Members
WE URGE YOU TO ACT NOW AND SPEAK UP REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL.
Update – Traffic Calming – 26APR
Here is a summary of the traffic calming activity:
First, here is the application that FSNA submitted:
Full FSNA Traffic Commission Application
Second, here is the presentation that summarizes the recommendations that the city’s Traffic Commission has made:
FINAL-TRAFFIC-COMMISSION-APR13
Third, please help us collect resident feedback by completing a short survey by clicking HERE.
Update – Traffic Calming
More Trees Come Down – TIME TO ACT!
Trees were removed on the corner of 124 Federal and behind 117 Federal. The pace of tree loss is getting faster. Anyone who has not requested a replacement city street tree or a Greening of the Gateway Cities Program tree should do so quickly.
City trees requested NOW will be planted this sprint and will most likely receive watering bags to help them get established.
Darleen Melis, Chair, Salem Tree Commission
Traffic Calming Proposal and Hearing
The Federal Street Neighborhood Association Traffic Calming application submitted in May, 2021 will be discussed at the April 13, 2022 Traffic and Parking Commission meeting at 6:00 PM.
Contraflow bike lanes, speed cushions and two-way traffic are noted on the Traffic Calming slide presented at the Bicycling Committee meeting (see attached) on April 6th.
If you have concerns about the safety in the neighborhood, please plan to attend this meeting. A request has been made for more details about the plans before the meeting. If available, they will be posted on this site as well as on the Federal Street Neighborhood Association Facebook page.
HERE is a link to the Traffic and Parking Commission website for further details.
Traffic Calming Proposal
Salem’s Traffic & Parking Commission is considering a proposal to calm traffic on Federal Street. A draft design of the proposal will be presented to the Commission on Wednesday, April 13 at 6PM. Residents are encouraged to review meeting materials and participate via Zoom.
FSNA Board Supports Sidewalk Ordinance Amendment
The following was sent to Salem’s Councillors in support of the proposed change to the Sidewalk Ordinance. The proposed changes are intended to preserve, enhance and maintain brick sidewalks in our historic downtown, as well as to improve sidewalks in all of Salem’s neighborhoods. The Board encourages residents to share their thoughts with Salem’s Councillors as well. A list of and links to Salem’s Councillors can be found HERE.
To the Council,
We, the board of the Federal Street Neighborhood Association, are writing to support the proposed amendment to the sidewalk ordinance, presuming the error in the draft — i.e., specifying the deletion and replacement of “Section 38-195” which should be “Section 38-165” — is corrected.
Maintaining and installing brick sidewalks will serve to enhance the character of our historic neighborhoods and downtown. Brick is likewise more economic over the long term, as inevitable defects which occur only require the bricks to be reset, as opposed to breaking up, removal and replacement of unsightly and unsuitable asphalt.
The use of brick also advances Salem’s goals of being Greener and more resilient to Climate Change. Asphalt is made from petroleum, and its production causes the release of greenhouse gases. Unlike asphalt, a brick sidewalk set in stone dust is pervious, therefore reducing stormwater runoff and preserving the capacity of Salem’s storm-water collection system. (For this reason, it is essential that brick sidewalks not be set on an underlying layer of asphalt, as was done in the sidewalk renovation at the Public Library.)
We urge you to support this amendment.
Sincerely,
FSNA Board