The town of Montague, village of Turners Falls, has issued an RFP for the “Avenue A Streetscape Enhancement Project,” one of the site-specific recommendations included in the Livability Plan prepared by Dodson & Flinker in June 2013. The sidewalk at Avenue A and 3rd Street will extend into existing parking places to make room for seating, plantings, and public art. This provides a plaza-like gathering space to people-watch, eat, perform, have pushcarts, and more. Increased bicycle parking sends a message about how alternative transit is valued in Turners Falls. This sidewalk plaza will provide downtown residents and visitors with a varied and interesting street experience, a key element of creating vibrant, livable downtowns.
The RFP was issued in October 2013 and an award is expected to be made in November 2013, with all construction documents to be completed by January 2014. It is hoped that this project will be the first among many of the recommendations included in Dodson & Flinker’s report to be realized for the citizens of Turners Falls.