Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Pedestrian Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tamworth committee pitches low‑cost village walkways, board asks for engineer and fire‑access review
Summary
The Traffic Safety Committee proposed short‑term painted walkways and crosswalks to improve pedestrian access in the village this summer and outlined a longer master plan; the board requested consultation with a transportation engineer and the fire chief and asked staff to check liability with town counsel and the insurer.
Traffic safety committee members presented a three‑tier proposal to the Tamworth Select Board on June 9 to make walking and biking in the village safer.
The committee described an "onion" approach: immediate, low‑cost actions (painted walkways, a crosswalk from a parking lot to the library, and clearer signage) that could be implemented this summer; mid‑range sidewalk and curb realignments that would require design and grant funding; and long‑term connections such as bike lanes between the school and the village that would need engineering and grants. The immediate changes are framed as paint, signage and minor reconfiguration to create a safer pedestrian route from the bridge to the library and slow vehicle speeds by visually narrowing the roadway.
Board members and staff pressed for further checks before any changes: they asked the committee to consult the fire chief about emergency‑vehicle access and to get input from a transportation engineer (the committee identified Ryan Oconor as a possible resource). Board members also asked the committee to clear potential liability with town counsel (Mike Malagoodi) and the town’s insurance agent (Primex) before town staff or volunteers repaint road markings. The committee said HB engineers would return with costed proposals for larger buildouts (which the presenters said could exceed $1 million), and that the painted option was a temporary, low‑cost way to provide a safe walking corridor this summer while pursuing longer‑range work.
The board discussed parking impacts (the proposed crosswalk could eliminate one or two spaces) and snow‑removal implications in winter. The committee said it had measured curb and parking geometry and would coordinate with the road agent, the police chief (Chief Littlefield was consulted and reported as generally supportive but noted width concerns), and the engineer before returning with specifics for a future vote. Several board members requested that the committee present documentation of these consultations and a written risk/liability review when the item returns to the board.
