Around Town: Road work wreaking bike havoc at Umass

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on October 23, 2009

A year-long construction project at the intersection of Governors Drive, Eastman Lane and North Pleasant Street is posing problems for bicyclists riding through it.

Town Manager Larry Shaffer said this week that the temporary bike lanes are not satisfactory for the safety of those who use the intersection.

"We take this very seriously," Shaffer told the Select Board. "We want to resolve this issue."

Shaffer said he expects new signs to be installed and other design features to be incorporated to improve safety for bicyclists while the detour is in effect.

Called the North Campus Infrastructure Project, the work by the University opf Massachusetts will include construction of walkable tunnels beneath the current intersection that will allow for regular inspection of steam lines and will make replacement and repairs easier in the future.

<h4>Restaurant expansion</h4>

A popular downtown restaurant will be undergoing an expansion that will increase its seating capacity and add two handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

The renovations at La Veracruzana, which has been at 63-71 South Pleasant St. since 1998, will bring capacity up from 36 to 75 patrons and add a second egress. Designed by Kuhn Riddle Architects, the project will also include putting two bathrooms on the main level, but no exterior alterations will be made to the building.

The Select Board this week agreed to the changes, which is required under the board's authority as the liquor licensing authority. In May, the Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to the modification of a previous special permit.

La Veracruzana owner Martin Carrera said with his restaurant benefiting from regular activity on the town common, the new bathrooms will help the community. The current bathrooms in the building are located in basement.

The renovation will include reorienting the kitchen area and creating a hallway to access the new dining area at the rear of the building.

Shaffer complimented Carrera on the success of his business. "It's one of our premier restaurants, and a great participant in our downtown," Shaffer said.

<h4>Meetings</h4>

Monday: Select Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall

Wednesday: Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.

Thursday: Finance Committee, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.

<h4>911 education</h4>

Emergency dispatchers with the Amherst Public Safety Communications Center are again teaching children about dialing 911.

The 911 Education Program, started two years ago by dispatchers Carly Kinnas and Jason Rushford, is being incorporated into the Fire Department's Student Awareness of Fire Education, or SAFE, program, that teaches fire safety and prevention to fourth-graders in Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury.

Children will learn how and when to dial 911 and be able to practice through a simulated emergency call to the dispatchers.

This program is also offered to adults at community events such as open houses at fire station, flu clinics at the Bangs Center and the Seniors and Law Enforcement Together program.

Meanwhile, the Police Department is sponsoring an initiative to deter auto theft Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police station.

Representatives from the Governor's Auto Theft Strike Force will be etching vehicle indentification numbers, or VINs, into windows. A $10 fee will be charged for those who come to the event.