Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Neighborhood Traffic topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents win first reading for do-not-enter restriction from East Greenwich Avenue onto Campbell Street after traffic complaints
Summary
The Town Council approved a first-reading ordinance on Oct. 7 to prohibit entry from East Greenwich Avenue onto Campbell Street, responding to resident petitions and traffic counts that residents say show heavy cut-through and large truck usage.
The Town Council approved a first-reading ordinance on Oct. 7 to make the East Greenwich Avenue approach to Campbell Street “do not enter” for inbound traffic, an immediate response to persistent resident complaints about cut-through traffic, speeding and heavy trucks.
Residents organized a petition and staff said Major Ketchum had placed notices for affected households on Sept. 30. Councilors and residents described a significant increase in cut-through traffic in recent years, which residents said accelerated after nearby construction projects used other primary routes. One resident cited a two-week traffic count of more than 5,900 vehicle movements on Campbell Street, an average well over 400 vehicles per day, and others described tractor-trailers and construction vehicles using the narrow residential street.
Councilors explored several remedies — including making the street one-way, adding a cul-de-sac or installing speed bumps — and concluded that restricting entry from East Greenwich Avenue while preserving resident access (so residents could still reach Campbell Street from other approaches) would be the most practical near-term fix. The ordinance as drafted contains an explicit exemption for school buses and emergency vehicles after the school department confirmed bus routing could accommodate the restriction.
Council member Dennison and others said the signed petition reflected strong neighborhood support; the council heard from multiple residents in favor of the change at the meeting. Major Ketchum and the Traffic Safety Committee had previously collected radar and vehicle-count data that supported residents’ claims of heavy cut-through volumes. Councilors said the ordinance would be subject to a second reading and a 20-day posting period before signs could be installed and enforcement could begin.
Ending: The council approved the measure on first reading and scheduled the required follow-up steps. Staff and the Traffic Safety Committee will finalize sign placement and enforcement details; the ordinance will return for a second reading and final vote, after which the town will implement signage and begin enforcement.
