Needham committee asks DPW to design townwide South Street speed-calming plan

The Needham Transportation Safety Committee on Sept. 10 asked the Department of Public Works engineering staff to prepare a corridor-wide plan of advisory signs, pavement markings and potential radar-feedback signs for South Street after members reviewed a speed study and discussed next steps.

Committee Chair Justin McCall opened the discussion with study results showing an average daily two-way volume of 4,395 vehicles and 85th‑percentile speeds of 41 mph eastbound toward Dedham Avenue and 37 mph westbound. The study station was sited near Canterbury Lane; the petitioner asked for the study because of speeding near their driveway, McCall said.

The nut graf: the committee focused on treatments that can be implemented administratively (signs, edge lines, radar feedback) and on longer-term geometric or traffic-calming measures that may require planning-board or capital funding because part of South Street is designated a scenic road under Massachusetts law.

Committee members and staff described the corridor as narrow, winding and visually enclosed by trees, which they said likely contributes to higher vehicle speeds. Members discussed a graduated, “end‑to‑end” advisory-signage plan that would add curve warnings and 20–25 mph advisory plaques where appropriate, add or widen edge and centerlines to create a visual narrowing effect, and install radar feedback signs at high-volume stretches. Several members said that isolated advisory signs alone were unlikely to solve the problem and that more intensive treatments — from pavement markings to physical islands or cushions — might be needed in parts of the corridor.

Engineering staff and the committee noted legal and procedural constraints: because part of South Street is a scenic road, certain physical changes (curbing, tree removal) may need planning-board approval under Massachusetts scenic‑road rules. Committee members also discussed state limits on automated enforcement: Massachusetts law currently requires officer presence for some automated speed enforcement, and the committee mentioned ongoing state legislative work to expand automated options.

The committee voted to ask DPW engineering to produce a sign-and‑marking plan for South Street (beginning to end), including a recommended location set for radar feedback signs, and a conceptual design for center/edge‑line adjustments and curve warnings. The committee directed staff to prepare cost estimates and a phased implementation proposal that could begin with signage and testing of markings before advancing to capital projects.

Members said line‑painting will likely wait for favorable weather in spring, while signs could be ordered and installed sooner. The vote passed with the motion recorded as a committee request to DPW; the committee did not adopt a specific capital appropriation at the meeting.

Ending: DPW staff will return with a diagram of proposed sign placements, pavement‑marking options and cost estimates so the committee can prioritize low‑cost steps and assess whether to seek capital funding or select‑board and planning‑board approvals for larger changes.