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Residents urge Somerville council to tackle speeding on South Richards Avenue
Summary
Residents told the council that speeding on South Richards Avenue has become dangerous for families with young children; the mayor directed short-term police enforcement and asked the public safety committee to study longer-term traffic-calming measures.
At the Jan. 20 Somerville Borough Council meeting, two residents urged action on vehicle speeds on South Richards Avenue, saying the block has become dangerous for children.
"It is imperative that something be done before someone is injured," said Alexander Lee, who said he has lived at 6 South Richards Avenue for more than 30 years and described vehicles frequently speeding past his home. Brian Martin, who lives at 7 South Richards Avenue, said his toddler plays on the street and asked the council to act now.
Mayor Brian Gallagher responded that the borough would pursue a two-part approach. For the short term, he said, "nothing deters speeders like tickets," and asked Police Commissioner Randy Pitts to speak with the police chief about posting officers and enforcement. For the longer term, the mayor said he would ask the public safety committee to evaluate physical traffic-calming measures and other options for the block.
The council did not take a formal vote on specific traffic-calming installations at the meeting. Mayor Gallagher said enforcement and committee study are the next steps and encouraged residents to raise the issue with the public safety committee, which will consider potential engineering changes or policy actions.
The public comment period closed without further testimony on the subject; the council indicated it would return to the matter in committee and follow up with enforcement actions in the near term.
