Happy New Year! On behalf of the Merrimack Valley TMA, I want to wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014!

Here at the MVTMA, we are starting off the New Year with a bang as we launch our  New Year, New Commute vanpool promotion beginning February 3rd!

It looks like Shattuck Road businesses will wait a bit longer to learn if they will have a housing complex as a new neighbor.  

Over on Federal Street, the MVTMA helped businesses gear up for the long anticipated Schneider Electric move when they hosted a roundtable with representatives of Federal Street businesses and town officials. During the meeting, the group discussed congestion and access concerns. The group also addressed current TMA transportation demand (TDM) management planning efforts underway to help ease congestion.

And we are just getting started -- 2014 is going to be an action packed year for the MVTMA! Please check our website often for updated events and information and please visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

Here's to a great year of worry-free commuting!

Cheers,

Andrea Leary

Executive Director

Beginning on February 3rd, the Merrimack Valley TMA will kick off our New Year, New Commute Vanpool Promotion. Save time, save money and actually enjoy your commute when you participate in a vanpool. If you live 15 or more miles from work, you are eligible! Additionally this spring, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will offer a financial incentive to newly formed vanpools offsetting the cost by $600/month! That means your commute to work could cost as little as $34/week! On top of that, our vanpool partner V-Ride is offering a free first month.  Check it out today!

Please take our vanpool survey  to help us make your commute work better for you! If you complete our survey between now and Noon on Friday, February 14th when our "New Year, New Commute" promotion ends, you will automatically be entered to win an Amazon Kindle!

Even if vanpooling isn't right for you, please help us find options that could improve your commute. Take our survey today!

Map of Shattuck Road in Andover

On December 17, 2013, the Massachusetts Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) overturned the Andover Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) denial of the 40B permit to build four garden-style buildings with 248 apartment units at 30 Shattuck Road in Andover.

Arguments for and against the progress of this development have been passionate and persistent. Companies located in the area have argued that 30 Shattuck Road is zoned for commercial use and not for residential properties nor is it a safe area for children and/or school buses. When the ZBA denied the 40B permit, Hanover Companies -- the project developers -- appealed the decision to the Appeals Committee for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The rationale for overturning the denial of the 40B permit is that the HAC determined that the interest of the town could not overcome the importance of affordable housing. Though Andover has a history of solid planning, the HAC determined the development of affordable housing reigned supreme.

The Andover Board of Appeals will not appeal this decision  due to a procedural issue and the abutters have filed a motion for reconsideration that will be heard before the full HAC.

A group of tenants, property owners and town officials met at VICOR on January 27th to discuss the congestion on Federal Street in Andover (Exit 45).

Schneider Electric is moving more than 700 employees to the top of Federal Street and the MVTMA has been proactive in discussing options for congestion management. The TMA has solicited input from both the Town of Andover and the MassDOT Highway Division regarding potential light sequencing pattern changes at both the intersection of Federal Street and River Road and River Road and I-93 North. Andover Public Safety Officer Chuck Edgerly has provided potential suggestions for re-configuring the bottom part of Federal Street as it intersects with River Road (see image above). The MVTMA is looking at a number of multi-modal solutions including vanpooling, carpooling and negotiating through the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to divert one of two Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority bus routes to traverse up Federal Street. Please visit our website for updates and if you work on Federal Street, please take our super quick 3 question Federal Street Bus Survey!