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Minutes of January 27, 2010 – Traffic Committee Meeting
DATE: January 28, 2010
PRESENT: Sgt. David Horte
Lt. John Haley
Paul Healey
Leslie Kehoe
Phil Resca
Harry Sylvester
NOT PRESENT: Michael Pevarnik
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
A motion was made by Paul Healey to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.
Leslie Kehoe seconded this with all in favor.
I WATER STREET CROSSWALK
The issue of a crosswalk being installed at Water and Station Streets was revisited from the last meeting. Town Planner Katy Lacy proposed a solution for the lost parking space, which would be necessary if the Town were to install a new crosswalk. This would be to formalize one additional parking space to the south side of the building to make up for the space being lost. Jennifer Sullivan, Esquire (who was representing area businesses) agreed that this proposal would work.
Further discussion ensued however in regards to the safest spot for the crosswalk. Harry Sylvester pointed out sight line issues, and Leslie Kehoe stated that it’s very difficult now to back out of spaces at that location currently with traffic coming from Water Street and Station Street, and that it would be further complicated with the pedestrian crossing due to visibility.
The issue of a landing area, curb cut, etc. was brought up by Harry Sylvester and Paul Healey, which raised questions of the current configuration. Due to unanswered questions remaining in regards to the current setup, the Committee agreed to take another look at the area and this issue will be taken up at the next meeting.
II. THAXTER STREET
Thaxter Street resident Tim Dawson-Townsend requested that a raised crosswalk be considered for Thaxter Street similar to the ones on Beal Street to discourage speeding. Mr. Healey noted that the current raised crosswalks on Beal Street are experimental and there is a divergence of opinion as to the effectiveness of these on Beal Street. Sgt. Horte presented statistics regarding speeding on the street and it was determined to be negligible even though Mr. Dawson-Townsend stated that speeding was an issue, especially after dark. Sgt. Horte advised that Thaxter Street is on the Traffic Hotsheet and that he will put the Traffic Trailer there in the spring which monitors the speed of passing cars and has been shown to discourage speeding. Mr. Healey added that the Planning Board is studying the impact of traffic related to the Shipyard Project and he would seek to expand that study to include Thaxter Street in the future if a major modification warranted it.
III. NEW NORTH CHURCH
The topic of pedestrian traffic safety in the North and Lincoln Street area was revisited. Bill Thayer, Tom Bright and Pastor William Turpie represented the New North Church.They requested the approval of the Traffic Committee to have steps installed from Lincoln St. to the sidewalk in front of the church, remove shrubbery and place speed signs in the area of the church.
The committee declined to accept the invitation to take no position on the issue previously discussed, and instead Paul Healey and Harry Sylvester reiterated that the proposed steps would be dangerous, a liability issue, and that there was no safe landing area for pedestrians. Harry Sylvester stated that the removal of shrubbery would need to be taken to the DPW Superintendent, as a Shade Tree Hearing would be required. As for signs, it was observed by many members of the Committee that there are an abundance of signs in the area of as now and an additional sign would likely not be the solution.
The Church contended that there is heavy use of its building for children’s activities and lessons. They provided a schedule which shows 17 classes per week that take place from morning until night. The church acknowledged that the Montessori program once operated out of its facility but had to move due to the intensity of the use it put upon the facilities, much like what is happening now. The committee re-addressed the lack of a safe area for drop-offs and pedestrian crossing, but once again reiterated that a crosswalk isn’t feasible for that location due to lack of a safe landing area and pedestrian visibility. Sgt. Horte stated the safest area to cross would be in the current crosswalk at Talbots. Tom Bright suggested the possibility of a parking space on Lincoln Street west of the church site being re-designated to a 15 min. parking limit, which would facilitate drop off and pickup of people attending programs at the Church. Paul Healey and Harry Sylvester recommended that the Church obtain counts of the number of drop-offs and queuing rates per day as well as traffic issues and report their findings to the Committee.
IV. COLD CORNER
The issue of pedestrian visibility at the crosswalks at Cold Corner was revisited. Sgt. Horte sent letters to the residents of 421 and 424 Main Street requesting that their hedges be trimmed to improve visibility. The residents have agreed to do so. The committee will continue to monitor the situation.
V. CHIEF JUSTICE CUSHING HIGHWAY & KILBY STREET
The committee reviewed a letter written by Dorothy Galo, Supt. of Schools to Rep. Garrett Bradley written in response to a Kilby Street resident’s request for a traffic light with a pedestrian signal to be installed at Kilby Street at Rte. 3A to enable parents and children to walk to East School. Rep. Bradley had written a previous letter suggesting that crossing guards be used instead as a short-term solution. Dr. Galo replied that she, the School Committee, Police Chief Mills and School Business Services Director David Killory are in agreement that the use of crossing guards in that area is unsafe due to speed and volume of traffic.
Dr. Galo also pointed out the current budgetary constraints as well and stated that the safest solution is to bus the children who live on the other side of Rte. 3A which is the current practice.
V. NEW BRIDGE STREET
The connector roadway from Fort Hill onto New Bridge Street south of the traffic island was discussed, in regards to whether the Town should regulate traffic to one-way in a northeasterly direction on this piece of roadway. It was decided that this makes sense, as the roadway is not sufficient in width for safe two-way travel. Sgt. Horte provided the Committee with statistics from a traffic study of the area that confirmed that
left turns on New Bridge Street are a small minority of the traffic from New Bridge Street onto Fort Hill Street. In advance of the meeting, Sgt. Horte contaced Marion Garvin of the Hingham Schools Transportation Department . Mrs. Garvin stated that one bus is required to make a left from New Bridge Street heading west onto Fort Hill Street
heading south. The assessment was made that the left turn can be made by the school bus from the right side of the island. Sgt. Horte also relayed to the Committee that he had not been informed of any other concerns with other Town personnel regarding this proposed change.
A recommendation to the Selectmen will be prepared requesting this change in designation to the traffic rules and orders.
The issue of New Bridge Street parking restrictions in the area of South Shore Country
Club was raised in relation to the “sledding” area. The issue was raised by Lt Taylor regarding the safety issues, which develop during times of high sledding activity in the area. Current regulations prohibit parking on the South side of the street from #43 New Bridge Street in a southeasterly direction for 1700 feet. Discussion ensued and it was agreed by all that current restrictions should be strictly enforced. Additionally Harry Sylvester agreed to review the no parking signage in the area and to place additional signs as needed. Phil Resca suggested that in the future this be posted in the Hingham Journal as well to alert residents.
VI. EAST SCHOOL QUEUING
In response to a resident request, Sgt. Horte undertook a review of the queuing issue at the East Elementary School. He observed that cars in the afternoon are queuing onto Eastgate Lane several car lengths short of the intersection of East Street and Eastgate Lane. He also conferred with the Traffic Crossing Guard there and obtained additional information on the potential causes of this problem. It appears, preliminarily that there is a confluence of the school busses and private passenger vehicles with respect to the children being picked up there. This issue may be remedied by an alteration of the pickup times for children so as to allow the school busses to enter and exit the site unimpeded. Sgt. Horte will address the issue with Mr. David Killory and the East School administration.
VII. TRAFFIC COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT ROLE
The role of the Traffic Committee becoming more involved in building projects was discussed and the feasibility of having a separate presentation by applicants to the committee. Mr. Healey, the Planning Board’s representative explained that the statutory criteria under which the Planning Board worked differed from the advisory role of the traffic committee. The Planning Board is statutorily charged with complying with filing and notice requirements, conducting peer review engineering, statutory rights of appeal, coordination of Site Plan Review with Zoning Board of Appeals in conjunction with A2 and A3 Special Permits. He added that the importance of enhancing an application process that did not place further burdens the town’s limited resources and time was also a factor here. A discussion of the additional engineering burdens on various subdivisions was discussed. Mr. Healey indicated that the Planning Board would email interested committee members to inform them of upcoming meetings which might be of interest as it relates to traffic concerns, but pointed out that copies of applications of consequence are routinely circulated to the Police, Fire and Public Works Department for review and comment as part of the overall review process.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.