July 18, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
The long-awaited Route 3A corridor project — still in the planning stages — will feature a shared use path along part of the waterfront.
SUPs are designed to accommodate a variety of users — walkers, bicyclists, joggers, individuals with disabilities, and pets — among others.
As background — at the same time the Route 3A project was progressing toward the 75 percent design stage, the town acquired the 30 Summer St. harborfront property in Nov. 2023.
The purchase led to reconsideration of the location of the planned SUP as the process of identifying uses for the property moves forward, according to Town Engineer J. R. Frey.
“This involves determining what can be appropriately permitted and programmed in order to achieve the best and highest use of this public asset,” Frey stated in a June 14 update to the select board.
The Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission all have jurisdiction over current and potential future uses of the Summer Street property, which will decide what options are available to the town — “whether in the existing structure or a new construction built to maximize the use and value of the purchased property,” Frey said.
In the meantime, the select board discussed the SUP this week. The general consensus is to situate the potentially 10-foot-wide path to the rear of the 30 Summer St. property — offering a stunning view of the harbor and providing a safer environment for bikers, walkers, joggers, and other users further away from the main roadway. A fence will be installed by the seawall as a further safety measure.
The idea is that this option would provide a greater level of “comfort and safety for all SUP users,” Frey told the select board.
Route 3A Task Force Chair Judy Sneath noted that the SUP “is not intended for use by high-speed bike riders. It’s for recreational purposes only.”
There’s also space to the east of the existing Summer Street structure for outdoor enjoyment.
There will be further discussions about the Route 3A project and potential uses for the 30 Summer St. property.
Go to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/795/Route-3A-Task-Force for details about project design plans and presentations