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Council approves fund transfer for school-area pedestrian beacons after MassDOT requires hardwiring
Summary
The council approved a transfer to cover the city's share—$45,771—of pedestrian-beacon work near a school after MassDOT required hardwired beacons rather than solar units, roughly doubling local costs; staff said installation should occur before next school year.
WOBURN — The council approved a transfer to provide the city’s share of $45,771 toward pedestrian-beacon work near a school after state transportation officials required hardwired pedestrian beacons rather than solar-powered units.
Council Viola and Mayor Conkenna described the cost as the city’s share after consulting with MassDOT and identified mitigation accounts to cover the amount. A staff speaker said the decision by MassDOT to require hardwired (not solar) pedestrian beacons roughly doubled the expected local portion of the cost.
Timing and installation: Superintendent Durand told the council the beacons should be installed well before the next school year. Staff said procurement for the hardwired units can move quickly once funding is approved. A council member asked whether Eversource must install a drop to serve the hardwired units; staff said that was unclear at the meeting and would be confirmed during procurement.
Council action: A motion to approve the transfer passed by voice vote (Aye; motion carries). No ordinance change was required; the action authorized use of identified city mitigation accounts to fund the share.
