Committee backs crosswalk upgrades and rapid‑flashing beacons at multiple city locations

The Worcester City Transportation & Mobility Standing Committee on Oct. 12 recommended a series of pedestrian‑safety improvements — including rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons (RRFBs), marked mid‑block crosswalks and associated ADA curb‑ramp upgrades — at multiple locations around the city.

Staff recommended approval or favorable action for crosswalks at Plantation Street near Holmes Field, a mid‑block pedestrian crossing on South Bridal Street by the PriceRite, the intersection of Bailey Road and Prouty Lane, June Street at Federal/Commodore, and other sites. Several items were approved pending funding and required curb‑ramp work; others were filed for later action after follow‑up or expanded evaluation.

Transportation staff said the Plantation Street location near Holmes Field is a suitable site for rapid flashing beacons but noted that ADA curb ramps will need upgrades to meet standards before beacons are installed. Residents, including petitioner Nicole Aubin Saint Germain, told the committee the crosswalk sits on a curve that limits drivers’ sight distance; staff said shifting the crosswalk location would be evaluated during design to improve visibility.

At South Bridal Street, staff told the committee that pedestrian volumes and observed crossings near the PriceRite support a marked mid‑block crosswalk; South Bridal carries about 14,000 vehicles per day, staff said, and additional countermeasures (RRFBs plus curb extensions or a median refuge island) would be needed because observed speeds exceed posted limits. The committee asked the city to prioritize funding for the South Bridal crosswalk and associated safety measures.

Other actions: the committee approved an order to develop plans and install an RRFB at Bailey Road and Prouty Lane pending funding, accepted staff recommendations to install a crosswalk on June Street at Federal/Commodore (with ADA ramp work), and approved a crosswalk near Esibald Lane and Bailey Road with pedestrian infrastructure upgrades to follow. A petition for Greenwood Gardens was filed for further review because a full pedestrian signal already exists; a request for South Ludlow/Proper Street was filed after staff said a rapid response evaluation and near‑term RRFB installation were already planned.

Commissioner Raleigh and staff emphasized that many installations will require concurrent ADA ramp reconstruction and sidewalk connections to meet federal and state legal standards. Mr. Todd Crane (staff) noted that in locations without sidewalks, installation also requires space for pedestrians to “land” on either side of a new marked crossing.

Quotes from petitioners and staff appeared throughout the discussion. Nicole Aubin Saint Germain, who spoke from Zoom about Plantation Street, said the current crosswalk “is right at a bend. So when the cars are coming up Plantation Street, they really can’t even see you.” Commissioner Raleigh said the locations often do not meet the legal warrant for traffic signals but are appropriate for RRFBs and related measures.

Implementation: approvals were contingent on funding and design work. Staff will prepare construction plans that include ADA curb ramp upgrades and will return with cost estimates as projects move from petition to design and construction.