Traffic commission tables petition seeking peak‑hour right‑turn restriction on Thistle Road

The Woburn Traffic Commission voted to table a petition that would restrict northbound right turns from Burlington Street onto Thistle Road during weekday peak hours.

Petitioner Evthymios “Tim” Busios told the commission he canvassed more than 40 neighboring households and gathered signatures supporting a restriction during morning and evening commute periods — primarily 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Busios said Thistle Road is being used as a cut‑through to avoid congestion at the nearby Burlington/Mountain/Wynn area and argued that the street is not designed to carry that volume.

Commissioners and staff noted two main concerns: (1) routing traffic to other residential streets (Quimby, Sheridan) and (2) that Burlington will soon activate a traffic signal at Mountain and Wynn that may substantially change travel patterns. Commissioners said they preferred to wait until after the new signal is operational to see whether it reduces cut‑through traffic.

The commission also suggested selective enforcement and urged coordination with Burlington officials; commissioners asked the petitioner to consider follow‑up data collection using the police department’s speed/volume equipment. The commission voted to table the petition to the October meeting so the group can evaluate the effect of the new traffic signal and any enforcement data.

Ending: The petition remains on the commission’s docket for the October meeting; commissioners asked staff to coordinate with Burlington and to consider selective enforcement data in advance of any vote.