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Commission advances Washington Avenue crosswalk but drops proposed raised speed table
Summary
After reviewing speed data, the commission approved a high‑visibility crosswalk with bump outs, ADA ramps and signing for Washington Avenue near a school bus stop, but voted to remove the raised speed‑table element because of concerns about emergency‑vehicle impacts and proximity to other speed tables.
The Chelsea Traffic and Parking Commission unanimously advanced a traffic‑calming measure on Washington Avenue on Feb. 3, directing staff to install a high‑visibility crosswalk, curb bump‑outs, ADA ramps and pedestrian warning signage, while removing a proposed raised speed table from the current recommendation.
Jason Adams of Bowman Consultant Group presented traffic counts showing average speeds at or below the posted limit and 80th‑percentile speeds slightly higher; he also reported isolated high outliers up to about 55 mph. "It's not that there are no people speeding, just that there's not a significant number of them," Adams said, while noting the crosswalk would serve a school bus stop about 50 feet east of Garland Street.
DPW staff and some commissioners said the proximity of existing speed tables and the operational concerns for fire and other emergency response vehicles argued against adding another raised table at this location. One commissioner summarized a compromise: proceed with the visibility and curb‑treatment elements now and reserve the raised table as a future option if monitoring shows it is required.
A motion to progress the crosswalk elements without the raised speed table passed by voice vote. DPW will incorporate bump‑outs, ADA ramps, signing and (if appropriate) bracket flashing beacons as part of the next design step.
