Needham residents told the Transportation Safety Committee on Sept. 10 that repeated utility trenching and heavy‑truck traffic along Great Plain Avenue near Prospect Street had caused ongoing vibration and settlement at residences, and committee members agreed to restore proper regulatory speed signage and to evaluate signage and enforcement options.

A resident described repeated excavation and backfilling associated with an Eversource project that left settlement and “shaking” at houses, particularly early in the morning. Committee staff confirmed that standard practice is for the utility to complete a permanent trench repair the following year, and that the settlement and vibration described are a temporary condition until that paving occurs.

The committee also examined speed data captured earlier for Great Plain Avenue east of Prospect Street: an ADT of 4,904 vehicles per day, a peak‑hour flow of about 356 vehicles and 85th‑percentile speeds near 40 mph in both directions. Members noted that regulatory speed‑zone signing was incomplete on the westbound approach; in practice the route is a 35 mph regulatory zone but in some approaches the black‑on‑white regulatory sign was not posted.

Nut graf: the committee directed staff to install or restore the required regulatory speed signs on the approaches where they were missing so enforcement has a clear posted limit, and to consider additional short‑term measures (radar feedback signs, targeted markings) while recognizing that permanent trench paving by the utility will address the settlement causing vibration.

Committee member Lieutenant John McGrath moved that staff place the proper regulatory 35 mph signs on the westbound approach and on both sides where missing; the committee approved the motion. Members discussed radar feedback signs (each estimated at about $8,500) and agreed to have staff review that option and return with costs.

Ending: DPW staff said the town will pursue posting the regulatory signs to match the current speed zone and will follow up with the petitioner about the utility’s schedule for permanent trench paving next year.