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Safe Routes committee says select board removed Ruggles Street safety article from warrant without notice
Summary
Westborough Safe Routes and Transportation Safety committee members told the school committee they were blindsided when the select board voted to remove a warrant article that would have funded crosswalk safety improvements at Ruggles Street; the school committee discussed next steps and recommended follow-up with town administration and counsel.
Members of the ACTRA Transportation Safety Committee and the Safe Routes to School liaison told the school committee they were surprised and disappointed that the town select board removed a safety warrant article for the Ruggles Street crosswalk from the town meeting warrant.
"We were completely blindsided," said Ali Gugel, the Safe Routes liaison, explaining that the committee learned of the removal by watching the select board meeting rather than being notified. Julie Squires, who chairs the ATSC, said the crosswalk and related safety improvements had been identified by a MassDOT walk audit and in the town’s Complete Streets plan.
The safety advocates said their original intent had been to present residents with a menu of options at town meeting — including a rapid flashing beacon — but they were told planning and DPW staff argued against the timing. Committee members responded by advising the safety group to escalate the question to the town manager and town counsel and suggested the safety committee may re-file an article for a future warrant.
School committee members expressed concern about the change given the committee’s earlier endorsement and asked staff to check the legal process for a town committee’s right to place articles on the warrant. One committee member said the action was "significantly insensitive to the protection of the kids in this town," and urged the Safe Routes committee to follow up with town leadership.
No final remedy or vote on the crosswalk occurred at the school committee meeting; speakers said the article could be reintroduced at a later town meeting if warranted.
