Winchester Hospital Addresses Residents' Concerns

continues to expand throughout Winchester. But the two newest properties – and – have raised concerns among residents.

Acting Town Manager, Mary Ellen Lannon, held a public discussion where approximately 25 residents met at the Jenks Center to discuss their issues with the hospital.

The biggest worry from those in attendance had to do with the parking, the buses and the potential increase in traffic in those areas.

“The most aggravating part with the buses is that they’re empty,” said resident, Ann Sera. “I’m waking up at 4:30 in the morning because of empty buses. I don’t understand why the buses aren’t on a schedule. Why do they run empty?”

Sera also suggested the hospital buses should visit the train stations and let the public ride them, in order to make the buses an asset to the town.

According to the hospital, its employees work at different times, making a bus schedule difficult. However, they are reevaluating its service to see if a bus schedule would work on certain days.

“Winchester Hospital is continually seeking new ways to improve the shuttle service,” the hospital said in a statement. “Some steps include purchasing smaller buses, as well as sport utility vehicles, that are used during non-peak times to minimize the impact on neighbors.

But Dick Burke, who lives along Holton Street, said that he has been frustrated with the hospital’s actions regarding these issues.

“We’ve been talking to the hospital for years about changing their equipment, and it’s been a dead end,” Burke said. “I suspect it won’t change. We don’t get a lot of sleep and our quality of life is being significantly diminished. I think it’s time we got some relief.”

The hospital said that they have updated their fleet, which includes two sport-utility vehicles, three 14-passenger buses and seven 30-passenger buses.

According to Peggy Schleicher, with the potential increase in patients and traffic in the area, the intersection at Cross and Holton Street, which is already a Level F (the lowest rating it can get), is not going to get any better.

“The situation that bothers me the most is that after a number of years, I’m tired of the meetings where we go over the same things, this isn’t a new issue,” Schleicher said. “There’s a lack of parking at 1021. I’m not anti-Hospital, I want it to succeed, but not at the expense of the neighbors.”

However, the hospital said in a statement that there is enough parking at that location, but they have agreed to monitor parking volume and possibly implement parking restrictions. The hospital also said that most administrative employees are required to park off-site.

“There are 90 parking spaces at 1021 Main St., providing ample parking for patients and visitors,” the hospital said. “In addition, we anticipate minimal impact on peak morning and afternoon traffic times.

According to Winchester Hospital, the 1021 Main St. location provides office space for primary care physicians and for administrative staff. On June 3, administrative staff and some physicians, moved into 1021 Main St. The remaining physicians will likely move in within the next six months, the hospital said.

“Throughout the town approval process for all Winchester Hospital projects, members of the public have been invited to share their concerns," the hospital said. "Winchester Hospital leaders have consistently modified projects to address these concerns and continue to do so.”

Lannon informed residents that she hopes to have another discussion regarding these issues sometime in July, at which time Winchester Hospital will be invited to attend.