HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-04-05-TSC-min-worthen.pdf cili
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TO: James F. Crain, Chairman DATE: 4/5/83 PAGE: 1
Board of Selectmen
FROM: Peter M. Chalpin, Chairm-, SUBJECT: Request for
Traffic Safety Committe- v . Crosswalk - Worthen Road
Madelyn Simmons
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.", At its meeting of March 30 , 1983 the Traffic Safety
Committee met with Madelyn Simmons to discuss her request
for a crosswalk on Worthen Road at the Shawmut Bank. Ms.
Simmons indicated that residents of Greeley Village do their
shopping at the Stop and Shop and that nearly all walk to
and from the store. Their route takes them behind the Medi
Mart, and they generally cross Worthen Road at mid-block,
near the Shawmut Bank. This route is being used because it is
shorter than using Bedford Street to the cross signals at
Worthen Road, and because traffic in and out of the Shell
station driveways is a concern to them.
The Committee explained to Ms. Simmons that we were
opposed to installing a mid-block crosswalk on Worthen Road,
particularly one which would be used primarily by senior
citizens, because of the traffic volumes and patterns in the
area. Beyond this, we explained that the presence of such a
crosswalk did not provide a physical barrier and would not
assure Greeley Village residents of safety when crossing. We
agree that they must walk an additional distance to use the
pedestrian signals and that the gas station driveways may at
times be confusing. Nonetheless, we must recommend this as
the route they use. The pedestrian signals at Bedford Street
were originally installed for the benefit of Greeley Village
residents, and the State had to be convinced that they were
warranted for these people because the overall required mini-
mum pedestrian volumes did not, and do not now, exist. (See
enclosed letter dated 11/28/75)
It is our recommendation therefore that the request be
denied. While no street crossing, including a signalized one,
guarantees pedestrian safety, we believe the chance of a
pedestrian being struck at the signals at Bedford Street is
far less than at the mid-block location. In addition, we are
very concerned that the Greeley residents continue daily to
cross Worthen Road at the Shawmut Bank. They do not appreciate
the chance they are taking. With this in mind and in keeping
with Capt. Lima' s offer to Ms. Simmons to have the Safety Officer
address the residents, we wish to include a visit by the Safety
Officer as an additional recommendation.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: James F. Crain DATE: 4/5/83 PAGE: 2
FROM: Peter M. Chalpin SUBJECT: Crosswalk
Worthen Road
Finally, the Bedford Street pedestrian signals were timed
for a walking speed of 3. 33 feet per second to accommodate the
elderly. The national average is 4 feet per second. Currently,
15 seconds are provided in the Walk/Don' t Walk phase. Ex-
tending this phase to 20 seconds may be desirable. Twenty
seconds is based on a walking speed of 2 .5 feet per second, and
this additional time should not cause undo traffic delays.
This would require amending the State permit for the signals.
Those in attendance: Peter M. Chalpin
Capt. James J. Lima
Mr. Donald Graham
Dr. Eric T. Clarke
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enclosure
cc: Traffic Safety Committee
Robert M. Hutchinson, Town Manager
Walter J. Tonaszuck, Director of P .W./Eng.
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