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Marlborough traffic commission weighs beacon, curb changes after pedestrian hit at West Main and Broad
Summary
Commission reviewed a Nov. 22 pedestrian collision at the West Main/Broad crosswalk and asked engineering to check state plans for curb realignment and other visibility fixes; members debated whether a flashing beacon could create a false sense of security and asked staff to report back on the DOT's status.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said the commission was responding to a complaint after a pedestrian was struck at the crosswalk on West Main at Broad, noting the incident occurred Nov. 22 and that video from a nearby business showed the first vehicle had stopped but a following driver did not see the pedestrian. "I want our taxes to go to making me feel safe," Unidentified Speaker 1 said, describing resident concerns and requests for a flashing beacon.
Commissioners and staff said the crosswalk sits near the crest of a hill and that sight-lines and weather likely contributed to the crash. Tom DiPercio of Marlborough Engineering said state planners have considered curb realignment and shortening the crosswalk to improve visibility and that he would check the project's current status with the state. "They were looking at doing some curb realignment, and I think they were gonna move the crosswalk a little bit, to try to shorten it and maybe make it a little more visible," DiPercio said.
Members discussed whether installing a pedestrian-activated flashing beacon would help or create a false sense of security. One commissioner cautioned that drivers sometimes treat beacons as an absolute stop and that other drivers still fail to yield. "Even when there's a flashing beacon... that gives you a false sense of security," an Unidentified Speaker 4 said. Engineering noted the town and state follow established design standards for devices and cautioned that a beacon alone may not address visibility or driver behavior issues; alternatives mentioned included curb extensions and targeted enforcement.
The commission asked DiPercio to confirm whether the state’s crosswalk/bus-stop program covers this location and to report back with the DOT's plans and any recommended engineering changes. No policy change or formal vote was taken; the item will be revisited after staff provides the DOT status and any engineering recommendations.
