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City, police and Boys & Girls Club outline steps to improve Court Street crossing after safety review
Summary
After a speed and site review, Taunton police, the Boys & Girls Club and the city described immediate and near-term steps — including a crossing guard, blocked parking, improved lighting, new signage and pursuit of flashing beacons — to reduce risks at the Court Street crosswalk near the Boys & Girls Club.
City officials, Taunton police and Boys & Girls Club leaders told the municipal council they have coordinated a set of measures to improve pedestrian safety at the Court Street crosswalk by the Boys & Girls Club.
Mayor Shawna O'Connell read a letter from the administration summarizing a police-conducted speed study and subsequent actions. Police said the week-long speed count measured roughly 41,000 vehicles through the corridor and found that speeding was not the primary factor during pick-up hours; instead, limited sight lines created the greatest hazard because motorists approaching the crosswalk could not see pedestrians until they were partly into the crosswalk.
Immediate steps described in the briefing include installation of an electronic warning sign on Court Street, repainting of crosswalk stripes to increase visibility, replacement of malfunctioning flashing crosswalk signs, targeted enforcement patrols by the Taunton Police Department, blocking one parking space adjacent to the crosswalk to improve sight lines, added lighting behind the club, and the Boys & Girls Club supplying a trained crossing guard during heavy pickup hours (initially proposed for about 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The club also said it will work with its bus provider to adjust drop-off/pick-up locations, revise parent pickup procedures and continue outreach to families to encourage use of side/rear parking so fewer pedestrians must cross Court Street.
Police and safety staff agreed to explore funding and grant opportunities for additional measures such as embedded flashing beacons (rectangular rapid flashing beacons or similar). Officials noted some equipment costs may exceed available local budgets and could require grant support or a capital request; a vendor estimate mentioned during discussion was roughly $1.3 million for a particular full-signalized option, which participants said would require further scoping and cost verification.
Councilors urged continued focus on education, enforcement and engineering: repeated safety messaging to parents and children (wait for cars to stop before entering crosswalk), more consistent enforcement during problem hours, and evaluation of traffic-calming measures such as raised crosswalks or speed cushions where appropriate. The committee and council asked staff (police, DPW and the Boys & Girls Club) to reconvene, assess engineering alternatives (including cost and plow/maintenance impacts), pursue grant options for beacons, and deploy interim measures now. The council praised the Boys & Girls Club and police for immediate action and asked for updates as solutions are developed.
Ending: Officials said keeping children safe at the Court Street crossing will be addressed through a combination of interim operational fixes and a data-driven engineering plan the city will bring back for council review.
