Commission reviews Drewson Drive speeding complaint; data show average speed ~16 mph, councilor urges safety-zone option

The Transportation and Parking Commission on March 18 heard a traffic-calming request for Drewson Drive in Northampton and reviewed police speed and collision data showing low measured speeds but persistent resident concern about speeding and visibility.

The matter is notable because councilors and neighbors cited repeated reports of fast drivers and the absence of a posted regulatory speed limit on a twisting neighborhood route used by elderly residents and pedestrians; the commission discussed whether the city should pursue a "safety zone" regulatory mechanism rather than a full speed study.

Chief John Cartlidge presented the department's traffic data. He said the 5-year collision analysis found zero reported collisions at the studied location. A covert speed study conducted July 23–30, 2024, at 83 Drewson Drive recorded 429 vehicles, with an average speed of 16 mph and an 85th-percentile speed of 19.8 mph. "The street does not have an official speed regulation," Cartlidge said in his report to the commission.

Councilor LaBarge, representing the ward, told the commission she had relayed multiple resident accounts of speeding, including concerns about drivers entering Drewson from adjacent streets and a lack of sidewalks. She asked the commission to examine the area closely and to consider measures that improve visibility and safety.

Alex Bowman, who addressed the commission during public comment earlier in the meeting, pointed the commission to a Mass.gov description of a "safety zone" tool that allows a city to set regulatory 20 mph limits in short, defined corridors adjacent to land uses that attract vulnerable users. Bowman described the safety zone as "a speed calming tool" used by other municipalities and asked why Northampton has not used it.

Commissioners noted that a safety zone requires specific criteria—adjacent land uses that attract vulnerable road users and a minimum zone length (approximately 1/4 mile per the Mass.gov guidance Bowman cited). Commissioner Randy Sailor suggested the neighborhood might be a good candidate for a safety-zone approach if it meets the criteria; others said they would like staff to examine that option because it can be faster and less costly than a full regulatory speed study.

LaScalia said the city can consider different signage or regulatory signage types for streets that lack formal posted speed limits, but that regulatory speed reductions generally require an engineering study and MassDOT approval. Several commissioners said signage alone may not change behavior but could reassure residents and focus enforcement.

The commission did not adopt any enforcement action at the March 18 meeting. LaScalia said staff would review the safety-zone criteria and return with recommendations at a future meeting.