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Worcester committee moves to fast-track flashing pedestrian beacons after woman describes near-fatal Harding Street crash
Summary
After a Worcester resident, Caitlin R. Doyle, described severe injuries from a May pedestrian crash on Harding Street, the city’s Parking & Traffic Committee voted to pursue rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs) and interim signage at multiple Harding crosswalks, and approved chair’s orders for lane markings and a secondary stop sign at one intersection pending funding.
Caitlin R. Doyle, a Worcester resident who said she was struck by a car while using a Harding Street crosswalk in May, urged the Parking & Traffic Committee on Dec. 18 to install solar-powered flashing pedestrian crossing signals and other treatments to improve safety.
"I was hit by a car as a pedestrian… I almost died," Doyle said, recounting multiple fractures and a stent procedure that followed the crash. She told the committee she wants measures that increase motorist awareness at the Harding Street crossings near her building in Kelly Square.
Transportation and Mobility staff told the committee that crash data for the nearby Winter/Harding intersection remain elevated — roughly double the statewide average for comparable unsignalized intersections — and recommended a mix of near-term and longer-term steps. Commissioner Steve Raleigh said the department cannot install RRFBs at locations with four-way stop control but endorsed installing a rapid flashing beacon at the non-stop Harding/Winter location and adding interim pedestrian crossing signs while funding is identified.
"An RRFB is a good solution here because it can help draw attention quickly to the fact that someone's using the crosswalk," Raleigh said, adding that DTM has identified some available funding but would need to prioritize installations. He also recommended adding a second stop sign on the left side of Winter Street approaches and painting a 20-foot hatch to prevent parking too close to the intersection.
Committee Chair Donna Calorio said she would try to fast-track the petition. The committee voted to accept the DTM recommendations: to pursue crossing signage immediately and to advance RRFB installation pending funding, and to file chair’s orders for lane markings and the secondary stop sign. Councilors recorded unanimous support during roll call.
Doyle asked whether private donations could help pay for installations. Raleigh said the city could accept donations subject to council acceptance and noted that the city dedicates some revenue from ride-share taxes to fund additional RRFB installations.
The committee’s action directs staff to pursue interim crossing signage and to prioritize the RRFB at the location where crossing control is eligible; the vote does not commit construction funding beyond the staff-identified potential sources. The committee said more design work and funding approvals will follow.
The committee will return items to the agenda as needed and indicated a willingness to fast-track locations tied to documented crash history. This motion advances Doyle’s requests to the next steps of procurement and funding review.
