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
Leslie Kehoe
Harold Goldstein
Scott Peterson
James Costello
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Chief Taylor Mills
RE: Minutes of October 27, 2010 – Traffic Committee Meeting
DATE: October 28, 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
Harold Goldstein
Scott Peterson
James Costello
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
A motion was made by Paul Healey, seconded by Leslie Kehoe, to accept the minutes of the previous meeting on 10/13/10. Unanimous vote in favor.
Sgt. Horte introduced and welcomed new member James Costello to the Committee.
I. Request for Signage at Rte. 3A Rotary
Kilby Street resident Carole O'Connell submitted a letter to the Board of Selectmen requesting signage and road markings to direct traffic approaching the Rotary as to what lane to be in to ensure proper traffic flow and safety. Harry Sylvester advised that Rte. 3A is a State road which means that the State is responsible for all sign postings and would require their approval. The matter would need to be referred to Mass Highway/Dept. of Transportation. Leslie Kehoe stated that she sees merit in the idea of signage to clarify matters for drivers approaching the rotary. Harold Goldstein observed that similar signage is used in England with favorable results. Harry Sylvester made a motion for the Committee to send a letter to the State recommending that take another look at the area and possibly install signs approaching the Rotary to simplify entering and exiting properly for motorists. The goal is to improve traffic flow and increase safety for all drivers.
II. Main/Cushing/South Pleasant Street Intersection
Paul Healey commented that more facts are needed from Coler & Colantonio before the Committee can proceed with their recommendation to the Selectmen. Information needed is: projected costs for signal with the options of a dedicated light for the intersecting Cushing and South Pleasant Street roadways, the roadwork costs associated with redesign of the existing intersection, projected cost for roundabout, design consequences for each option, the hard and soft costs associated with carrying out each option, (i.e., engineering, permitting, details, utilities, etc.) as well as alternative measures (such as slowing speed and increasing length of gaps in traffic). Also, more information is needed in regard to pedestrians for each option. Mr. Healey noted that a traffic signal would increase the wait time no matter what street is being used and that C&C needs to advise the estimated wait time with a signalized LOS intersection w/ dedicated lights as to both Main Street, Cushing Street and South Pleasant Street. A helpful comparison would be based on the current wait time at the Main/High/Free traffic signal. Paul Healey reiterated that the preliminary data showed that traffic volume hasn't increased substantially since the prior Traffic Study which was conducted in 2003. Information is also needed from DPW. Harry Sylvester stated that the approximate cost of a traffic signal would be $200,000.00 and noted that Main Street (now a level of service A) would be adversely effected by a traffic signal. He also noted that accident history is below average which translates that the issue is not one of public safety but of convenience. Harry Sylvester said that the Committee should not recommend a traffic signal based on these facts.
Sgt. Horte suggested that alternatives need to be explored as well. Dennis Friedman of Cushing Street asked about the possibility of a police detail or an officer being assigned to the intersection at peak hours. Sgt. Horte explained that details are a four hour minimum (presently $185.00) as mandated in the police contract which would be cost prohibitive in the long run. With regard to having the officer assigned to the South sector being charged with traffic control for the intersection, manpower is reduced and in all likelihood, the officer will be called away from the scene to attend to other situations. Paul Healey stated that criminals pick up on predictable routines of officers assigned to the same area day after day and would take advantage of the situation. Dennis Friedman asked if it would be possible to install a sign to alert drivers on Main Street to the number of cars in queue on Cushing Street in hopes that they would show courtesy. Sgt. Horte replied that signs need to conform to certain regulations and such a sign would be unenforceable.
Cushing Street resident Elizabeth Kelham noted that it's dangerous to stop on Main Street to allow Cushing Street traffic to exit since drivers are in a rush. Geoff Emerson of Main Street asked if the traffic signal at Main/High/Free could be adjusted to create gaps in traffic. Sgt. Horte replied that there is too much distance to make much of a difference. This needs to be studied further. Harry Sylvester replied that it is difficult to time lights based on the fact that drivers tend to increase speed when light turns green.
Greg O'Meara of Cushing Street stated that cost figures are needed as well as a procedural timeline. Dennis Friedman of the Advisory Committee said that the deadline for the Warrant is 1/20/11. Items must be received by Adcom. prior to that date in order to be on the Town Meeting Warrant. Paul Healey said that he spoke to the C&C traffic engineer and requested cost estimates ASAP. Mr. Dick Cook (retired traffic engineer from BSC and a former long time member of the Planning Board) has volunteered to assist the Committee and will be reviewing all data that has been collected as well as the final report for C&C. Paul Healey will follow up with Mr. Morgan of C&C regarding the status of the report. A cost estimate will also be obtained from Harry Sylvester of DPW. The Traffic Committee will review all information and will compose a report and recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. The Committee is proceeding with all deliberate speed and will continue to analyze all data with the best interests of the Town in mind; especially when potentially expending funds.
Harry Sylvester stated that there are other spots in town which are more in need of a traffic signal based on accident history. We need to look at the facts as related to public safety. The view emerging is that the Committee needs to view the need for a traffic light based on public safety factors and not for the convenience of drivers. Cushing Street resident Chandrasen Gajria said that traffic lights are needed based on volume at peak times. The number of near misses are not shown in the accident history but is an issue of public safety. Harry Sylvester reiterated that the installation of a traffic light would reduce the level of service on Main Street from an A to a C.
III. Bulow Road
Sgt. Horte presented traffic counts based on the information gathered from the
Traffic Trailer. The average speed was found to be 22 MPH which is below the
posted speed of 30 MPH. Traffic volume appeared to be the main issue since
there were a total of 748 vehicles on the street in the period of a week. The number of
vehicles travelling above the speed limit was 14. Possible solutions of a traffic diverter
was mentioned by Sgt. Horte. Harry Sylvester stated that this was not an option due to
the fact that emergency vehicles need to have access to the street as well as snow plows.
Traffic coming from Talbots was mentioned as a factor in the increased traffic volume.
A motion was made by Harold Goldstein to send Joseph and Patricia Powers of Bulow
Road a letter explaining the Traffic Committee's findings along with Sgt. Horte's traffic counts related to traffic speed. It is the opinion of the Committee that additional measures are not warranted based on the evidence of the study conducted by Sgt. Horte.
The motion was seconded by Scott Peterson with all in favor.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled tentatively for 11/17/10 and 12/22/10.
A motion was made by Harold Goldstein to adjourn and was seconded by Leslie Kehoe.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jan Jacobson
Administrative Assistant
Hingham Police Department