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
Scott Peterson, Esquire
Harold Goldstein
James Costello
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Chief Taylor Mills
RE: Minutes of December 22, 2010 Traffic Committee Meeting
DATE: December 23, 2010
PRESENT:
John Haley, Lieutenant, Hingham Fire Department
David Horte, Sergeant, Hingham Police Department
Steven Dearth, Sergeant, Hingham Police Department
Harry Sylvester, Hingham DPW
Paul K. Healey, Hingham Planning Board
Harold Goldstein
Scott Peterson, Esquire
James Costello
NOT PRESENT: Leslie Kehoe
Sgt. Horte called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
A motion was made by Paul Healey, seconded by Scott Peterson, to accept the minutes as written of the previous meeting on 11/17/10. Unanimous vote in favor.
I. South Elementary School Overflow Parking on Independence Lane
Independence Lane resident Nancy McAloon, along with other residents appeared before the committee to express their concerns relative to the issue of traffic overflow caused by parents queuing on Independence Lane to pick up their children from South School. Sgt. Horte reported that David Killory of the School Department had previously instituted staggered release times as of 11/29/10 and the residents were asked whether these changes have made a positive difference. Nancy McAloon stated that there has been some improvement in the short term but would like to remedy the situation for the future. The main concern is that those parents who are picking up their children and parking on both sides of Independence Lane make access difficult if not impossible. The children are also observed running into the street without looking which is a
safety hazard due to their size and poor visibility from vehicles parking on both sides of the street.
Steven McAloon reported that his main concern is for safety and that he has a difficult time getting through with his pickup truck during school pickup times. The most problematic time is between 2:30 and 3:30 pm. each school day. It was observed that in the event of an emergency, fire and emergency vehicles would have reduced access. Lt. John Haley of the Fire Department stated that he was unaware of this situation and would contact Station #3 (which is closest to South School) and have them take an engine truck to the area as a test. Lt. Haley said that the situation needed to be remedied since emergency vehicles must be able to access the area. Discussion ensued with various solutions mentioned such as limiting parking to one side of the street, restricting parking during certain times of day, etc. Sgt. Horte stated that limiting parking to one side of the street also affects residents and restricting parking to certain times of day is difficult to enforce. Paul Healey noted that parking restriction signs are currently at the High School as well as at Foster School and they seem to be working well. Due to the fact that the traffic issue stems from the South School, it was determined by the Committee that the School Department needs to be contacted and involved in finding ways to solve this problem. In the meantime, residents were encouraged to call the Police Department in regards to vehicles that block access to the street and to take pictures as well for documentation purposes. This issue will be revisited at the next meeting, which is has been tentatively scheduled for 1/26/11.
II. Downer/Thaxter/3A/Lincoln Streets
This issue will be revisited in more depth at the next meeting as the Traffic Sergeant
was unable to complete his study. Paul Healey stated that Selectman Bruce Rabuffo
conducted an unofficial study and agreed that there is definitely an issue at this location.
Sgt. Steven Dearth (Police) will conduct a traffic study prior to next month’s meeting.
III. Main/Cushing/South Pleasant Street Intersection
Paul Healey of the Planning Board presented the “Report of the Traffic Committee
to the Board of Selectmen” to the Committee for their input. The report summarizes
the actions taken by the Committee as directed by Article 29 of the April 2010
Town Meeting and contains background information from previous studies of the
intersection along with the results of current studies conducted by Hingham Police
Department and Coler & Colantonio. After analyzing all data, the Committee
determined that the safety concerns raised by the proponents of the article to justify
the installation of a traffic signal are unsupported by the facts. The Traffic Committee
recommended that no action be taken at this time in regards to the installation of a traffic signal. It is recommended however, that the issue of this intersection be referred to the
Planning Board as it is in a better position to analyze the growth of South Hingham and its impact on the roadways in South Hingham, most notably Cushing Street. The Planning Board would be the more appropriate town board to continue considering this intersection as it addresses future growth, traffic circulation and development issues effecting Hingham residents as they arise in the projects that come before them for permitting.
The committee by a vote of 7-1 (with Harold Goldstein dissenting) agreed with the findings and conclusions set out in the report. Mr. Goldstein agreed with the facts as presented in the report but reached a different conclusion with respect to the need for a traffic light. The committee suggested a few minor changes to the report which would be amended to reflect these changes. This included: (1) adding South Pleasant Street to the title of the report so as to make clear that this intersection was likewise considered in the analysis,(2) as suggested by Mr. Sylvester of the DPW) to note that alternate routes are
available for drivers who wish to make use of an intersection controlled by a traffic light (Main Street, High Street and Free Street); and (3) the accident rate at the Main and Cushing/South Pleasant Street intersections has not appreciably increased. Such changes shall be made before the final report voted as amended are forwarded to the Board of Selectmen.
IV. New Business:
a. Station Street –Harry Sylvester mentioned that 1 Station Street has asked for 15 min. parking signs in front of the apartment building for drop off and pick up. The Traffic Committee will discuss the issue of parking regulations and restrictions on Station Street at next month’s meeting.
b. Red, white and blue striping on Main Street – Harry Sylvester noted that many residents have commented that they would like to have this permanently on Main Street from center Hingham to downtown Hingham as it was for the 4th of July (which was paid for by the 4th of July Parade Committee to celebrate the Town’s 375th Anniversary). He also reported that Rep. Garrett Bradley is involved in making it permanent. Paul Healey observed that the colors are difficult to see at night to which Harry Sylvester replied that
he would add reflective beads to the striping for better visibility.
c. Traffic problems at Notre Dame Academy – Paul Healey reported that there is a traffic problem at Notre Dame Academy due to the fact that both NDA and the Hingham Middle School have the same start times. Also, NDA does not currently have a traffic supervisor but probably should. A possible solution would be to stagger start times at the schools or assign a traffic supervisor at NDA. Sgt. Horte suggested contacting NDA regarding a solution to the problem. Also, Sgt. Dearth will get the accident history for the location to be presented at the next meeting.
Sergeant Horte introduced Sergeant Steven Dearth (who will be taking over as Traffic Sergeant in January) to the Committee. The committee thanked Sergeant David Horte for his work on the Traffic Committee and wished him good fortune in his future endeavors.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jan Jacobson
Administrative Assistant
Hingham Police Department