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Committee fast-tracks one-way street changes around Westall School after safety concerns
Summary
After a resident described children nearly struck at Prospect and Walnut, the committee approved an emergency preamble for one-way conversions near Westall School and advanced companion one-way changes linked to the Route 79 project.
John Ventura, director of safety and security for the former school district, told the Ordinance & Legislation Committee that children at Westall School have been involved in multiple near-miss incidents with vehicles at the Prospect and Walnut intersection. "We witnessed numerous children almost get hit by vehicles," Ventura said, urging the city to convert nearby streets to one-way to reduce conflicting turning movements.
City traffic staff and councilors then outlined a package of one-way proposals designed to create a loop around Westall School and to align with the Route 79 roadway project. Traffic and Parking Director Stephanie McArthur described the specific conversions: June Street southerly from Prospect to Maple, Maple Street westerly from June to North Main, and a short block of Lindsay Street northerly from President Avenue to Brownell as a one-way. McArthur said the Lindsay change is tied to Route 79 plans that will narrow the roadway to widen ADA-compliant sidewalks.
Councilors discussed trade-offs, including that School Street already runs one-way northbound and that routing changes could shift vehicle flows onto tight residential blocks. Councilor members asked whether abutters had been notified; McArthur said abutters were contacted and traffic board, police and fire had approved the requests. Councilors also clarified parking arrangements: June Street would remain restricted on the slope side and retain parking prohibitions where board policy already exists.
The committee approved an emergency preamble for the section containing the one-way conversions to allow the city to match the Route 79 schedule, then separated section 1 for immediate action. Sections 2 and 3 of the ordinance package — other related parking changes — were carried forward to first reading.
The committee left open follow-up steps including notifying any corner properties that may miss abutter mailings, confirming signage and enforcement plans, and coordinating with the Route 79 project schedule. The separated one-way section will go to full council under the emergency preamble; sections 2 and 3 advanced to first reading.
