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Select Board hears neighborhood concerns and keeps stop control in Cross/Forest corridor plan
Summary
Town planners recommended keeping the existing stop sign on Forest Street and using speed humps, curb adjustments, signage, and formalized parking to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety; residents pressed for stronger physical measures, temporary trials and enforcement. The Select Board asked staff to return June 17 with refinements.
The Winchester Select Board on June 3 heard an extended public hearing on proposed traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety improvements along Cross Street and at the Forest Street intersection. Town planners recommended maintaining the existing stop control on Forest Street while adding targeted measures — two speed humps near the Tri-Community Greenway crossing, new curb extensions, refreshed yield lines and markings, and formalized on-street parking to prevent cars from mounting sidewalks.
Erica (Planner), presenting the technical review, said the crash analysis for 2017'2021 showed three reported crashes at the Forest Street intersection and that counts and queuing analyses did not support a traffic signal or an all-way stop. "Maintaining existing control is what I'm going to ultimately be recommending today," Erica said, and staff proposed emphasizing visibility and self-enforcing geometry rather than installing a signal that would push queues across the greenway crossing.
Residents said the proposed measures did not go far enough. Shannon Callahan (resident) praised the plan's speed-hump element — "I love the speed bumps... I'm really thrilled to see those changes" — but asked for temporary trials (flex posts or delineators) and clearer no-parking stripes to prevent sidewalk parking. Several neighbors described dangerous near-misses at the Forest crossing and asked the board to pursue stronger, sooner steps, including clearer sight lines and consideration of a 20-mph safety zone.
Dorothy Symboi, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, told the board that traffic mitigation had been discussed during permitting for a nearby nine-unit development and that the developer agreed to work with DPW on driveway and curb-line adjustments. Property owner Mario Cavino asked for specific driveway "no parking" signage to improve sight lines at his driveway.
Staff explained constraints shaping the plan: drainage, existing curbing and ramps, utility poles, truck-turn requirements and ADA compliance. Erica said an all-way stop did not meet warrant criteria and a mini-roundabout "does not fit physically with the Right of Way," and she noted that some desirable curb-builds would require additional structural or drainage work.
Town staff estimated roughly $250,000 available from Eversource and River Street funds to finish design work and possibly to add the Holton/Cross improvements and a rapid flashing beacon at Kirk Street. The board asked staff to return June 17 with design refinements and to explore temporary physical trials, additional signage and enforcement options. The hearing was closed for formal deliberation but the board encouraged continued coordination with Eversource on construction timing and restoration.
