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Conceptual drawing of reworked commuter lot on Kennedy Drive


By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The Kennedy Drive commuter lot, now free of its DMV shed, is in line for a major makeover.
In the near future, the town plans to put a bit of paving where the DMV shed stood and add some additional parking spaces, according to Town Administrator Elaine Sistare.
But already in the works, she said, are the town’s purchase of the Eversource (formerly CL&P) property that abuts the lot and then an overhaul of the whole thing.
The conceptual plan, drawn up by J&D Civil Engineers LLC of N. Grosvenordale this past January, calls for 195 parking spaces. The whole lot would be reworked, including the exits/entrances. She said the plan includes dispensing with the entrance/exit that is closest to the intersection on Kennedy Drive. Bottlenecks tend to occur at that one. The plan shows 20 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, relocated handicapped parking spaces and the possibly another set of stairs next to the Centreville Bank stairs to get to the Main Street/Union Square area. In addition some landscaped strips dot the plans. Currently there are round about 125 spaces.
“The design would modify the whole thing,” she said.
While the paving of the DMV area and the addition of parking spaces is being worked on shortly, the town is waiting for the cleanup of the Eversource jot of land next to the town’s parking lot. When the cleanup is complete the town will buy that lot. Because that will be paved, storm water improvements will need to be made there as well.
Sistare said she expects the conceptual parking lot plan to be finalized by this coming spring and then bids and then construction by the beginning of summer, 2023.


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