Council authorizes Hopeworth traffic‑calming study and asks state review of Gooding/Medicom pedestrian signal

The Bristol Town Council on Dec. 10 authorized staff to proceed with a traffic‑calming engineering study for Hopeworth Avenue and asked the Town Administrator to request a review by the State Traffic Commission for a pedestrian-signal safety modification at the Gooding and Medicom intersection.

The administrator reported a resident petition met signature thresholds and a police speed study indicated excessive speeds warranting engineering review. Council authorized administration and the Department of Public Works to initiate an engineering study with an estimated cap of $6,000 for design options that could include speed humps, striping, road narrowing or radar signs. Funding would be through DPW and/or next year’s budget.

Separately, the administrator said he observed a pedestrian crossing incident at Gooding/Medicom where perpendicular traffic had a right‑of‑way when a pedestrian activated the signal, creating a confusing or unsafe crossing condition. The council voted to ask the Rhode Island Traffic Commission to examine an all‑directions stop on pedestrian signal activation and to recommend a solution.

Next steps: DPW and administration to initiate the Hopeworth engineering study subject to budget availability and to report results; the administrator will request a Traffic Commission review for the Gooding/Medicom intersection.