Planning Board: New Project Could Cause 'Worse F' Rating for East Street Rotary

A proposed 66,000 square-foot health care facility on Allied Drive could bring as many as 960 cars to the East Street rotary, a traffic consultant said Monday evening.

Developers would demolish a vacant 34,000 square-foot office building that would house medical office space, health care services and general office space.

Both Dedham and Westwood planning boards will need to approve the project since 40 Allied Drive straddles the town line.

Both boards have urged developers to attempt to get the project down to a “neutral effect” on traffic.

“If you can’t get it to that neutral point, then can you say what you’ve done and why it is the best effort possible?” said John Bethoney, member of the Dedham Planning Board. “I’m personally very excited about the project, if we would just lessen the blow of the 960 trips.”

Michael Podolski, a Dedham Planning Board member, pointed out that the rotary currently has a rating of ‘F’ for its traffic headaches, and adding more cars would make it a “worse F.”

“What we are trying to do is get that traffic to travel in a smoother fashion,” said Peter Zahka, attorney for the developers.

Zahka admitted they won’t be able to create a neutral impact, but offered several ideas to mitigate traffic:

• Install bike racks
• Build on-site services to reduce midday trips
• Make signage and pavement marking improvements
• Improve pedestrian access and ease of use
• Run shuttle vans to local Council on Aging offices
• Promote use of nearby MBTA station
• Join the Neponset Valley Transportation Management Association
• Subsidize MBTA fare for employees

Westwood planning officials pitched the idea of altering how traffic moves around the rotary, and consultants proposed they could create a tighter lane that would discourage drivers from believing the rotary is two lanes.

“The one bright part of this location is the MBTA [Dedham Corp. Center] station. Hopefully the numbers are a ‘worst-case scenario,’” Zahka said.

Developers and consultants will meet with the Dedham Planning Board on Dec. 8 on non-traffic issues, and will next meet with Westwood when both boards convene on Jan. 17.