Bob Williford

The crosswalk from handicapped parking is blocked by merchandise in the fire lane, which forces pedestrians to walk in the traffic lane to reach the entrance. This is probably a fire protection issue that should be passed to the fire department, as well as a violation of the accessible route requirements of the Americans with Disability Act. Nothing has changed since last month, when the City reported the problem was resolved and they closed and archived it. Not resolved.

The crosswalk from handicapped parking is once again blocked by seasonal merchandise outside Big Y. people can't get out of the roadway, so they are in the path of cars until they reach the entrance. Plus, they are examining the plants and garden supplies. This material is also in the fire lane, hindering firefighters from parking their trucks where they can connect to hydrant or sprinkler systems, which is illegal. Exactly the same problem reported in the fall.

Displays of seasonal merchandise were blocking the crosswalks at the main entrance to Greenfield Big Y, so you couldn't actually get to safety out of traffic. You had to walk in the traffic lane to get into the store. While they have unblocked about half of the main crosswalks, they still have large boxes of seasonal merchandise (pumpkins, potted plants) in the fire lane. Believe the fire department would have a hard time in an emergency. Either the fire lane shouldn't exist at all, or it should be completely clear.

When Colrain Street was paved the curb cuts at Colrain and Riverside were installed, but the crosswalk was never repainted. The curb cut on the Riverside/Greenfield Gardens side is angled incorrectly and would not direct a blind pedestrian toward the opposite curb cut. Finally, there are no signs warning of a crosswalk from either direction, even though the crosswalk is around a curve from either direction and immediately after a narrow bridge.

Bush in traffic lane on narrow bridge. Traffic from other direction often crosses the centerline and an unmarked pedestrian crosswalk is just beyond the bridge, so the distraction from the bush can be hazardous to cars and pedestrians.

The flower garden in front of the John Zon Community Center is beautiful, but it obscures the view of traffic from the Center's driveway when exiting onto Pleasant Street. Can shorter plants be used to improve the view? I almost pulled in front of someone coming from the direction of Federal Street today because I couldn't see around this growth. I'm sure it will improve soon as plants die back, but it needs some thought for the next growing season.

Sidewalk at the new Fiske Avenue pocket park that connects Main Street to the parking lot and access to the raised planting beds is buckled, making wheelchair or walker transit impossible. Anyone wanting to get to the lower view of the planters or between the park and the parking would have to take a long detour down Miles Street and then back. If the city didn't already own this piece of sidewalk, it probably does now with the construction of the new park.

There are three utility poles on the north side of Arch Street that are imbedded in the roadway, away from the adjacent sidewalk. The sidewalk was recently replaced, and there should have been a tree belt (also called hellstrip, parkway, verge, or curb strip) constructed between the edge of the sidewalk and the street, surrounding these poles so they no longer pose a head-on crash threat. This also provides a small area to put shoveled snow in winter. Coming out of the narrow tunnel under the railroad line on Arch Street, if you followed the edge of the widening roadway you could easily hit one of these poles. Don't think there are street lights in this area, but not sure. If there's some waiver permitting utility poles in the roadway, I would like to see it.

The sidewalk disappears into a mass of cracked, broken asphalt over this private driveway. My friend who uses a wheelchair was unable to get past this mess, or to even get to the street to go around it. It is an obstacle to Franklin Street area residents who want to go to Main Street and violates the Americans With Disabilities Act and Public Right of Way accessibility requirements. While this is signed as a private drive at top and bottom, it is frequently used as a shortcut to Sport & Spine's parking area and will likely be used by traffic trying to reach or exit the new library through its north parking exit. The City bears the responsibility for keeping this sidewalk in good condition and in compliance with the ADA standards.

The sidewalk on Wells Street has lampposts, utility poles, and parking meters in the pedestrian right of way, making it impossible for wheelchair users to use the sidewalk. This is a violation of the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act. This would be a problem anywhere, but especially impedes residents of the nearby Mill House Apartments who are trying to reach Main Street. The sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the City, not adjacent businesses.

Utility poles have been installed in the middle of the sidewalk, making it impossible to use a wheelchair or wide stroller. This is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Although this photo is around Sirum & Co., 295 Deerfield Street, there are poles in the sidewalk on this side of the road all the way to 126 Deerfield and perhaps beyond. Even if the State has charge of this section of the road, they are not exempt from the requirements of the ADA and Public Right of Way guidelines.

Sidewalk condition is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act standards. People were walking in the street to avoid this section of Church Street, among other places on Church. Wheelchair access impossible. A driveway crosses the sidewalk here and leads to the Verizon truck parking behind the New England Telephone and Telegraph building. Other sections in front of this building have large, water-filled holes and wide cracks. Believe sidewalks belong to the city and are the city's responsibility to maintain.

As you drive Colrain Street, heading southeast, you cross Woodard Rd and come to a bridge over the Green River. Riverside is the street just past the bridge. The segment of the bridge on the right as you approachfrom Woodard is actually tilted by a few inches. If you follow the top rail of the bridge side in the photo, you will see it does not meet the rail of the non-tilted piece of the bridge farther down. The sidewalk is also tilted up from the roadway. Obviously a long-standing problem, since somebody put down asphalt to try to level the sidewalk a bit. Would like assurance some engineer has inspected this bridge.

Ames parking lot kiosk at the bottom of the lot (near Pete's seafood) was not accepting coins at mid-day. Looked like a coin was sticking the slot.

sidewalk on Main from parking lot next to post office heading west toward library was not shoveled Monday. Still unshoveled when I drove by this morning.

Between Greenfield Savings Bank and Baker Office Supply, one sign says to turn down School Street to paid parking. On the other side of School Street is a one-way, do not enter sign. They can't both be right. Believe the one-way sign is not supposed to be two sided.

Tree limbs down on Homestead Ave near Shelburne Road. Dragged them to the roadside.

This large branch is above the path people take from the parking to the downstream side of the Green River from the covered bridge. A "widowmaker" waiting to happen. Please saw it off before it falls and hurts someone. Photo is rotated 90° right as posted--branch is hanging almost straight down.