TURNERS FALLS — Residents got a first look at accessibility improvements proposed for Avenue A during a public input session at the Great Falls Discovery Center on Tuesday evening.

Improved access to businesses through the addition of ramps and railings, more accessible sidewalks and bringing existing infrastructure into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are part of the proposals for parts of Avenue A that have not yet been included in the Avenue A Streetscape Design Project. Designs for upgrades have previously focused on the sidewalks between 38 and 78 Avenue A and in front of Montague Town Hall.

To fund the latest project, the town will apply for a Community Block Development Grant in April 2025. The final designs will incorporate feedback from residents.

In 2023, Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority Community Development Director Brian McHugh recommended Berkshire Design Group to the Montague Selectboard to plan the improved infrastructure on Avenue A. The designs were broken down into lettered project areas, including Block A on the side of Avenue A with even address numbers between Fourth and Fifth streets, Block B on the side of Avenue A with odd address numbers between Fourth and Fifth streets, and Block C from Fourth Street to Third Street.

Design concepts

Block A focuses on the sidewalk outside of 152 through 170 Avenue A, including the Power Town Apartments and the Donlan & Donlan law office. Here, a proposed ramp would allow for access into the entrance of the law office parallel to the existing entrance. Although the sidewalk will be concrete, it will have the aesthetic appearance of brick.

Across the street is the Block B project area from 151 to 155 Avenue A, in front of The Gun Rack and A.H Rist Insurance Agency, to 171 Avenue A. Here, the same sidewalk improvements would be made with grade adjustments. There will be an extended ramp for access across both entrances at 151 and 155, with stairs off of the ramp.

Block C’s project area will cover storefronts from 101 to 105 Avenue A in front of Pipione’s Sport Shop, 107 to 109 and 113 to 115 Avenue A in front of Thornhill Tattoo and Art Collective, and 127 to 131 Avenue A in front of the former Black Cow Burger Bar and Kharma Salon. Ramps will be placed at 107 to 109, 113 to 115, and 127 to 131 Avenue A, along with sidewalk improvements.

Across these three project areas, the concrete planters will be replaced by granite planters for durability and aesthetic purposes. There are also plans to update the curb ramps to help them meet ADA standards. Railings will be incorporated with the ramps.

Questions and comments

Resident Pam Allan asked how these locations on Avenue A were chosen over others, to which McHugh explained these areas had not been updated yet over the course of the CDBG cycles used for improvements in previous years.

Suzette Snow-Cobb asked if the maintenance responsibility will fall to the town or the owners of the businesses, especially with the installation of ramps that will be used frequently. McHugh responded that the ramps and railings would be on town property.

John McNamara, co-owner of LOOT Found + Made at 62 Avenue A, asked about progress on improvements that have been discussed in prior years for locations on the even side of the road and the parks nearby. Montague Town Planner Maureen Pollock said work is underway to move that project forward.

“The town has, I believe, hired Berkshire Design to provide conceptual designs for providing ADA ramps between 102 and 152 Avenue A, and that’s the street block,” Pollock explained. “We’re working on it.”

When asked about parking accessibility, Doug Serrill of Berkshire Design Group explained handicap parking in Blocks A, B and C is a point the firm is working to address in the designs.

“It is something that you’re not seeing in the current drawing, but it has been under discussion and something that we are wanting to work in,” Serrill said. He added that parking spots would be restriped and an access ramp would be added to the curb in a possible design addition.

McHugh said comments or questions about the project designs can be sent to him at bmchugh@fcrhra.org.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.