PUBLIC WAYS & SAFETY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
November 15, 2006
Members Present: Barbara Bing, Leslie Breeze, Mary Ciummo, Don Cole, Deborah Kellett, Cia Ochsenbein, Dan Senie (Chair).
Guests: Rob Hagopian, Martha Remington
Meeting opened at 7:08 PM
Minutes of the last meeting 11/08/06 were approved, as were those of 9/28/06.
Fog Lines Follow-up: Agreed at last meeting to follow up on status of fog and centerline painting throughout town. Deb Kellett prepared a history of actions from the Archives for reference.
· Funding: About $16000 was approved by BOS in January of 2005; this amount was subsequently removed from budget by Advisory.
· Policy: DPW requested a fog line policy from PWSC back in 2005 and we have not yet provided it. A list of important points (what, where, when to paint) was prepared for this and Barbara Bing offered to draft the recommended policy for the Committee.
Yield to Stop Signs Follow-up: As part of Traffic Rules and Orders process, Police had asked PWSC to approve their recommendation to convert all existing Yield signs in town to Stop signs. PWSC requested time to review this request and the issue was taken up again at this meeting.
· Issues: Several complex issues surfaced during discussion, including MUTCD recommendations, public input on any changes, and the specific role of PWSC in whatever is the eventual outcome.
· Action: Return to original request by Police Dept., and review their list with them, including their reasons for their original request. Dan Senie will set up joint meeting with Police in near future.
Change Side Road Indicator Signage on Berlin Rd.: Berlin Rd. has two roads that split off from it at an angle. Going South on Berlin Road from Wattaquadock Hill, one first comes to the split off to the left of So. Bolton Rd., and later to the split off to the left of Frye Road.
· Replace “Y” sign with barred curve: Both intersections are presently marked with a sort of “Y” sign, which does not denote the major road (Berlin) clearly enough. PWSC thinks a sign with a large curve bearing right, with the upper right ending in an arrow, and with a small leftward diagonal near the top of the C would better indicate the principal road. Thus, drivers intending to proceed on the side road, So. Bolton, should yield to oncoming drivers proceeding through the intersection on Berlin Rd., but current signage doesn’t make this sufficiently clear. Both these intersections need redesign, but changing signage now would
enhance safety and modify what is presently a needlessly dangerous situation.
· Change or modify?: If the curve sort of indicator is still available, we may recommend changing the vaguely Y signs to the curve sort. East End Rd. going left off 117 East is marked by such a curve plus spur yellow cautionary sign. If the curve sort is no longer an approved sign, the bars on the “Y” sign can be altered and/or topped with an arrow to more clearly indicate the principal road.
High School Speed Limit: Martha Remington shared an observation from Wayland. They have a situation similar to Nashoba, with a High School on a major numbered road with a higher than safe speed limit. They have recently erected yellow, cautionary 20 mph signs at the school. In addition, they have had a Police presence (at least in the a.m.) in the immediate area, as well as a mobile electronic speed limit board on site (also posted with a 20 mph). While the 20 mph may be technically unenforceable, Ms. Remington reports that the traffic is definitely slowed with these traffic calming measures in place.
We may explore this option.
Next meeting: Wednesday, December 13, 7:00 PM
Chair will notify Committee if venue is to be Police Station
Meeting adjourned, 8:22 PM
Minutes submitted by Deborah Kellett
| 
