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Art Illman/for Daily News and Wicked Local
J.C. Chen keeps track of Genzyme employees crossing New York Avenue in Framingham. Daily News photo by Art Illman
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FRAMINGHAM
In light of a Jan. 12 crash that sent one of its employees to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious leg injuries, Genzyme Corp. will revamp the sidewalks along New York Avenue, with a focus on better lighting.
Genzyme commissioned Tetra Tech Inc., a California-based consulting and technological services company with offices in Massachusetts, to work on the planning and design stages of the project, said J.C. Chen, a surveyor with the firm.
“Genzyme is committed to providing a safe environment for all of its employees,” said Dan O’Brien of Genzyme’s facilities management. “In a joint effort with the town of Framingham and Technology Park, we are partnering to improve safety at the Framingham Genzyme facility.
“While in the early stages, concepts include installing sidewalks and improving lighting around the surrounding area. In addition, the Framingham Police Traffic Safety Commission has held safety presentations at Genzyme to increase education and awareness of pedestrian safety.”
Last week, Tetra Tech dispatched Chen to Genzyme’s Science Center on New York Avenue to begin gathering data for the project.
Chen spends hours each day recording how many pedestrians use the crosswalks and he makes sure to mark whether they turn on the blinking warning lights before crossing.
Noting pedestrians’ movements, Chen shifts from crosswalk to crosswalk. “There are more people using the crosswalks than not,” he said Friday while sitting in his car, ledger book in hand.
After compiling enough data, Chen said, Tetra Tech will begin designing the project, honing in on specific issues such as lighting, which he emphasized as “the most important thing.”
Merrimac resident Joseph Mallory was crossing New York Avenue in a crosswalk on his way to work the morning of Jan. 12, when a van driven by Andre Desouza, of Marlborough, struck him with enough force to lift him out of his shoes.
Mallory landed 30 feet from the crosswalk.
Desouza was charged with driving without a license. State police and Framingham Police are investigating the incident, and more charges could follow.
Genzyme hired Framingham Police to monitor New York Avenue during the busy morning and afternoon commutes. Police spokesman Lt. Ron Brandolini said the officers are detailed until the end of February.
Brandolini also said some Genzyme employees had met with the department’s safety officer to discuss other ways the police could assist.