Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rail-trail committee asks Brookfield selectmen for crosswalk sign and trail repairs
Summary
Members of the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Committee asked selectmen to permit and help fund additional crossing signage at Clark Road and to authorize trail repair where storm action has narrowed the path.
At the start of the May 6 public-input period, Frank Frazier of the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Committee told the Brookfield selectmen that volunteers repainted a crosswalk at Clark Road and plan to repaint it again if needed. Committee members and nearby residents reported vehicles failing to slow after road paving, and committee volunteers requested permission for the town to install a pedestrian-crossing sign at the trail crossing to alert drivers.
Frazier said two existing yellow signs were placed with prior selectmen’s permission, but drivers continue to cross the area at speed. He asked the selectmen to discuss installing a standard pedestrian-crossing sign at the trail location; he added the rail-trail committee would cover the cost if the town preferred the committee to pay, but indicated the committee could also request the town to pay the sign expense.
Frazier also reported a trail-washout area about one mile from Clark Road, near the picnic tables and toward Wolfeboro, where the trail is narrowing and needs repair for safety reasons. He said the committee will perform cleanup and localized trail maintenance and will widen the washed section.
Selectmen and several residents discussed parking and enforcement at the trailhead. One resident advised that speeding complaints be directed to the Wakefield Police Department for enforcement. Road-agent remarks during the meeting noted a 50-foot state right-of-way from the rail centerline limits how much additional parking can be created without major excavation.
Why it matters The crosswalk and parking requests affect everyday trail safety for pedestrians and cyclists and involve coordination between volunteers, town officials and state right-of-way rules. Approving signage and planned trail repairs would change traffic awareness at the crossing and address a localized safety concern.
Next steps noted in the meeting Selectmen said they would bring Frazier’s sign request and the trail-repair information to the board for discussion and follow-up. The transcript shows no formal vote on the sign or parking at the May 6 meeting; residents were advised to report speeding incidents to Wakefield police for enforcement.
