Beverly council gives first approval to remove stop signs at three intersections with pedestrian-safety conditions

The Beverly City Council gave first approval Monday to an ordinance change that removes stop signs at three Beverly intersections, as amended to preserve pedestrian protections.

The council voted, 8-0, in favor of the first reading of Order 220, which would amend Chapter 270, §270-25(b) to remove stop signs at Kernwood Avenue at Harris Avenue, McPherson Drive at Federal Street, and River Street at Federal Street. The change was amended to include conditions recommended by the Parking and Traffic Commission to keep pedestrian crossings and add advance warning signage.

Councilor Todd Rotondo, who co-filed the ordinance, said the change responds in part to upcoming signal work and his own observations of traffic. “I have not really seen a lot of traffic being disrupted,” Rotondo said, describing typical vehicle movements at the McPherson/Federal intersection.

Councilor Sue Spang proposed — and later withdrew in favor of a different approach — an amendment that would have allowed the Department of Public Services commissioner to delay removal of signs on McPherson and River streets until the MassDOT traffic signal at River and Bridge streets is fully activated. After discussion the council instead amended the ordinance to incorporate two conditions the Parking and Traffic Commission unanimously recommended at its Sept. 9 meeting. Richard Benevento, chairman of the Parking and Traffic Commission, wrote that the commission voted “6-0 to recommend” the removal at Kernwood/Harris, and “6-0 to recommend” the McPherson/River changes subject to: (1) preserving the pedestrian crosswalks and installing new fluorescent yellow pedestrian crossing warning signs in advance of the intersection and (2) allowing the Department of Public Services to install any additional warning signs as needed.

Councilor Stephen Sweeney said he would be comfortable supporting the measure provided those pedestrian safeguards are implemented. “I would feel comfortable voting for the recommendation as is with some assurance that those signs will be installed,” Sweeney said.

The council heard that the Parking and Traffic Commission considered the matter and that the Planning Director will attach the commission’s letter to the ordinance file. The change passed its first vote and will be available for a second reading and final passage at the council’s Oct. 20 meeting. If adopted, the ordinance will remove the listed stop signs but leave stop control in place on the crossing streets as specified by the commission’s recommendation.

No public speakers were recorded on this agenda item during Monday’s meeting.

The ordinance text and the Parking and Traffic Commission letter will be available from the City Clerk’s office.

For now the amendment remains at first reading; the council must take a final vote at its next regular meeting to enact the ordinance.