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After child struck, Woonsocket council debates cameras, engineering and traffic-calming; work session planned
Summary
Following a recent traffic incident in which a woman and a child were struck, the council discussed speed and red-light cameras, traffic engineering, and longer-term pedestrian improvements. Council members and the mayor planned a work session to evaluate engineering options and funding.
A recent collision that injured a woman and a 4-year-old child prompted extended discussion at the Feb. 3 Woonsocket City Council meeting about traffic enforcement, automated cameras and safety-oriented street design.
Councilwoman Fox urged a staged approach if the council adopts speed or red-light cameras: public notice, an installation period, a probationary period and then activation. "We need to let folks know that when this goes up, it's coming," Fox said, describing a public-information and probationary schedule modeled on Providence's rollout.
Mayor Chris Beauchamp described the incident as personally affecting his view of traffic behavior and said, "I don't know if cameras is the answer, but I mentioned it because it's 1 of the thoughts that I've had because I've seen them work in other communities." He and the council discussed a mix of short-term and structural measures — signage, raised crosswalks, speed bumps, lane narrowing and protected bike lanes — and not relying solely on cameras.
Council President and others urged greater emphasis on engineering. A council member cited prior local Safe Routes to School projects that changed pedestrian patterns by physically directing people to safer crossings; the council president said such engineering, rather than cameras alone, "will actually make a difference." Director Pagliarini and the mayor said they will meet on Monument Square options the next day and asked for a council workshop to weigh engineering, enforcement and grant-funding sources such as Safe Routes and TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) dollars.
Councilwoman Fox proposed using a portion of any citation revenue from cameras to a restricted account for transportation improvements in trouble spots and to help the police department recruit officers; other council members cautioned that some camera revenues may be restricted in use by state rules.
Ending: The council agreed to schedule a workshop and to pursue engineering reviews, DOT coordination and grant options before deciding on automated enforcement or capital street changes.
