Link back to Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes
Police Chief Taylor A.B. Mills, Chairman
Sgt. David Horte, Representative for Chief Mills
Lt. John Haley, Representative for Chief Mark Duff
Harry Sylvester, DPW
Paul K. Healey, Planning Board
Philip Resca
Leslie Kehoe
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Chief Taylor Mills
RE: Minutes of June 23, 2010 – Traffic Committee Meeting
DATE: June 25, 2010
PRESENT: John Haley, Lieutenant, Hingham Fire Department
David Horte, Sergeant, Hingham Police Department
Harry Sylvester, Hingham DPW
Paul K. Healey, Hingham Planning Board
Leslie Kehoe
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
A motion was made by Harry Sylvester to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.
Leslie Kehoe seconded this with all in favor.
I BULOW ROAD
Bulow Road residents Joseph and Patricia Powers were present to address the problem of traffic speed and volume has steadily increased on their street. They cited the fact that drivers appear to be using the street as a cut-through to avoid the lights on Rte. 3A and to avoid the speed bumps on Beal Street. Other residents of Bulow Road present concurred with this assessment and possible solutions were offered. Mrs. Powers suggested closing down one end of the road, Joseph McCracken suggested one way traffic, Robert Higgins suggested signage stating “do not enter – 3:00-6:00 PM”. which are the peak traffic hours. Susan Wetzel of High Street cited difficulties that can occur when a portion of the road is closed and related her own experience with this issue with respect to converting the roadway into a one way road. Reduced yellow speed signs of 15 MPH were suggested as well but it was noted that those are not enforceable as that is a suggested speed only. Redesign of the intersection at Bulow and Fottler Roads was mentioned as well.
Paul Healey observed that the number of residents affected and in attendance at the meeting was impressive. Mr. Healey suggested that limited access to the road as a first step. Lt. Haley asked residents what they would like to happen. Mr. Mario Romania suggested a “residents only” sign but Sgt. Horte replied that wasn’t an option since Bulow Road is a public way. Harry Sylvester advised that blocking off one end of the road isn’t possible as there wouldn’t be enough room for plows and larger vehicles to turn around. Increased police enforcement isn’t an option as manpower is extremely limited at this time per Sgt. Horte. Paul Healey and Harry Sylvester concurred that the next step for this problem is to obtain traffic counts, peak times, volume, etc. and give the committee time to review the area with the benefit of hard data. The issue will be tabled until the August meeting when data has been compiled and the committee will have the necessary information to give a recommendation to the Selectmen. Paul Healey made this motion which Leslie Kehoe seconded with all in favor.
II PROPOSED ALL WAY STOP SIGN AT WARD/HIGH/FRENCH STREETS
This is an issue that was being considered by the Planning Board in conjunction with the Ward Street Field application before it. A memo was circulated by Katy Lacy, Director of Community Planning and sent to the Police Department, DPW and the Traffic Committee for input and comment. Discussion ensued on this matter with area residents in attendance commented. High Street residents in attendance observed that traffic has increased significantly due in part to the Greenbush train station as well as their subjective assessments that drivers are using the street to access the traffic lights at High/Main/Free Streets. Speed and volume were cited as major issues as a result of the increased traffic flow in the area.
Paul Healey stated that the proposal of the all way stop sign was a result of a traffic study done by the applicant in relation to the Ward Street Field. Harry Sylvester said that this was premature and cited the fact that the layout and topography of the area are problematic and as a result, poorly suited for stop signs. Major reconstruction of the area would need to be done in order to make stop signs feasible but the cost would be prohibitive. Ward Street resident Jack Richman observed that previous enhancements to the area have greatly improved the situation. He claimed that studies have shown that four way stop signs don’t work. The most critical problems in this instance are the lines of sight and elevation. Elizabeth Kilham of Cushing Street suggested speed bumps as a possible solution. Harry Sylvester replied that speed bumps and rumble strips have restrictions by the Mass. DOT if the road is a direct route to a hospital which these roads are and therefore they cannot be used. Ward Street resident Mike Kaplan proposed a “dangerous intersection” sign which Harry Sylvester said may be ineffective.
Susan Wetzel of High Street asked how this intersection compared with Main and Cushing Streets in relation to number of accidents. Sgt Horte replied that there is a higher accident rate and Ward/High/French Streets. Paul Healey stated that the he will report back to the Planning Board with the comments and observations from the Traffic Committee and residents in attendance at tonight’s meeting.
III. MAIN/CUSHING/SOUTH PLEASANT STREET
Sgt. Horte presented crash statistics and traffic counts for the area. There were 21 accidents at this intersection in a 5 year period. Traffic count results obtained from Town Planner Katy Lacy were also presented. These counts were based on a study done for the
Ward Street Field Project by Tetra Tech Rizzo. Paul Healey reported that a traffic engineer is in the process of being hired based upon Town Meeting’s dictate to conduct
a study of the intersection. The traffic engineer will review all prior data. All options will be provided to the Traffic Committee to consider for their decision at a later date.
A motion was made by Lt. Haley to adjourn which was seconded by Harry Sylvester
with all in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jan Jacobson
Administrative Assistant
Hingham Police Department