Town Meeting Showdown for the Square

The Dedham Square Improvement Project will face a Town Meeting vote to authorize spending $6.1 million - $1.7 million of which will come back to the town through a state MassWorks grant.

While the project unfolded in the background for three years, talk of it picked up in March when the funding faced its first of several challenges. 

We've linked to stories on the project in 10 of the major facts of the project.

As always, any resident is welcomed on the floor of  to speak on the issue, even if they are not a Town Meeting member.

Facts:

• The project would .
• The project would put overhead traffic signals above the intersections at High Street and Eastern Avenue, and at High and Washington streets.
• Curbs at those two intersections will be "bumped out" to decrease the length pedestrians have to cross.
• The project would eliminate the crosswalk to the west of . It would put a new crosswalk on the east side of Eastern Avenue, going across High Street.
• , and drivers could park anywhere. Parking costs have yet to be determined, and some spots could remain free.
• The project would stop at the intersection of School and Washington streets, if construction bids for the entire project are under $6.1 million.
• There is a net increase of 39 parking spaces for the project. This includes angled parking in front of the and the elimination of some on-street parking.
• In October 2010, the state awarded Dedham .
• In May 2011, the state awarded Dedham toward the project, for a grant total of $1.7 million.
• The Capital Expenditures Committee voted 3-2 in favor of the project, . The . In their most recent vote, the Board of Selectmen at Washington and High streets.

Other Published Articles on Patch: