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Westborough advocates push warrant Article 18 for crosswalks near high school
Summary
An Active Transportation Safety Committee member asked the school committee to support warrant Article 18, seeking a $60,000 free-cash transfer for crosswalks, signage and related pedestrian improvements on Ruggles Street following MassDOT Safe Routes walk audits.
Julie Squires, a member of Westborough’s Active Transportation Safety Committee, urged the school committee to back a draft warrant article that would use a transfer from free cash to pay for crosswalks and signage near Westborough High School. "This is a draft article number 18, crosswalk and other improvements ... to transfer from free cash the sum of $60,000," Squires said, explaining the request is based on MassDOT Safe Routes to School walk audits and the town’s Complete Streets prioritization plan.
The warrant language Squires read asks town meeting to approve funds to install new crosswalks on Ruggles Street, add a crosswalk across the high school back driveway and make "potential additional improvements on Ruggles at the high school, including all costs, incidentals, and related thereto." She said the MassDOT audits recommend items numbered 14, 17 and 19 on the committee's slides and that the proposals and supporting plans are posted on the town website.
Committee members asked technical questions about whether flashing beacons would be included and whether a school zone could be added. Squires said the DPW did not plan flashing beacons in the current scope but that a school zone with a 20 mph limit is under consideration as part of construction planned later; she agreed to raise the flashing‑beacon question with DPW and return with an update. Members also asked whether state grants might offset costs; Squires said significant Safe Routes grants are already in place for Fisher Street and Hastings, limiting immediate new grant submissions.
The presenter said the motion for the article requires a simple majority at town meeting and that the Active Transportation Safety Committee would bring the article to relevant town committees. School committee members expressed general support for the initiative while asking staff to confirm final cost estimates, DPW timing and whether flashing beacons could be added without a large increase in cost. The committee did not vote on the article at this meeting; members directed staff and the presenter to provide additional details ahead of future votes.
