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Commission recommends multiple stop‑control changes and daylighting crosswalk ordinance amendment
Summary
The Transportation Parking Commission voted on Oct. 21 to forward a set of traffic control changes to City Council, including a stop sign at Bedford Terrace and State Street, an amendment daylighting crosswalks (no parking within 10 feet), and three intersection stop‑control changes recommended by Fuss & O'Neil.
Northampton — The Transportation Parking Commission on Oct. 21 voted to recommend several traffic control ordinance changes after staff presented engineering findings from Fuss & O'Neil and conceded the need for clearer stop control and crosswalk sight lines in multiple neighborhoods.
The commission recommended placement of a stop sign on Bedford Terrace at State Street as part of a sidewalk reconstruction project that will add curb extensions and new pedestrian signage. DPW said the 2020 Fussen O'Neil study recommended adding stop control. “Bedford Terrace currently lacks a stop sign, but should have one for safety,” the presentation quoted from the consultant report, and commissioners voted unanimously to forward an amendment to add the stop.
Separately, the commission recommended amending the city ordinance to remove the words “where posted” from the parking prohibition that bars parking on or within 10 feet of a crosswalk. Councilor Alex Jarrett framed the change as a daylighting measure to improve sight lines at about 300 city crosswalks; the commission approved the amendment unanimously and discussed using a short warning period to ease enforcement implementation.
Staff also presented three intersections identified by Fuss & O'Neil for stop control changes. The commission advised forwarding recommendations to convert the Prospect Avenue/Blackberry Lane intersection to an all‑way stop; to add a stop to the unregulated leg of Corteselli Street at Pine Street so signs align with driver expectation; and to convert the Audubon/Mulberry/Reservoir/River intersection to all‑way stop control citing five crashes in the study period and limited sight lines. Councilors and residents who live near the Audubon intersection reported near misses and supported the change.
Commissioners and staff discussed implementation tactics used for prior recent conversions — orange barrels, additional signage and short periods of police presence — and noted seasonal constraints (installation ideally before winter plowing and ice control begins). The commission moved a positive recommendation to forward all three intersection changes and related ordinance amendments; the motion passed on voice/roll call.
