50 new handicap ramps make Saugus streets more accessible

SAUGUS – Sidewalks in Saugus are a lot more accessible to the disabled after more than 50 ramps were installed throughout town.Town Meeting member and Sidewalk Committee Chairman Peter Manoogian said that during this year?s project, ramps were installed along Essex Street from School Street to Route 1 and Lincoln Avenue from Central Street to Ballard Street.?It?s basically a master plan,” said Manoogian. “We?re trying to make sure that all heavily traveled roads to and from public facilities, school, bus stops and so forth, are handicapped accessible. We?re pleased with this work ? Things look good. When you see people using them and more people walking and having access that otherwise didn?t, you feel like it?s working out.”Over the years, ramps have been installed on sidewalks along Main Street, Central Street, Cliftondale Square, Essex Street and Winter Street, and Manoogian said he?s hoping the rest of the ramps will be finished next year.?We?ve accomplished a lot,” said Manoogian. “In terms of the ramping, there?s not a lot to do. The next leg would be to repair badly damaged sidewalks and add sidewalks where there are none. For example Appleton Street is an issue.”The sidewalk repairs are paid for with so-called Chapter 90 money, which the state grants to communities for road repairs. Manoogian said 18 percent of that, which is around $120,000, is set aside for sidewalks every year.?We pay the engineering cost, the contractor and police details,” said Manoogian. “We?re looking forward to the time where everything is accessible; then we can start doing stuff in between.”Manoogian said he also wants to look into “reconfiguring” the intersection at Chestnut Street, Ballard Street and Lincoln Avenue.Acting public works director James Waugh said the ramps are fitted with warning pads and were installed where no access was available.?The work went pretty well,” said Waugh. “There was nothing there before. They installed ramps where there were high curbs or areas where people were having trouble navigating the sidewalks, especially elderly people and handicapped residents.”The sidewalk committee is a “recommending body” which oversees the sidewalk repairs and Manoogian said several Town Meeting members have been instrumental in helping things run smoothly, including Jeffrey Moses, Stephen Sweezey, Jean Bartolo, Stefano D?Anna, David Cottam, Joyce Rodenhiser, Joan Fowler and Al DiNardo.?It?s a fantastic group,” said Manoogian. “We have great attendance at our meetings and it?s a very collaborative approach that we use. At first I thought it was going to be cumbersome but it really works out well.”Manoogian said installing the handicap ramps has been long overdue.?The last time there was major sidewalk improvements in Saugus was during the (Works Progress Administration) of the New Deal under Franklin Roosevelt,” said Manoogian. That was in the 1930s.?In the next round of specifications we?re asking that the WPA brass placards be retained and be put in display cases of Town Hall or given to the Historical Commission.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].