Safe Streets Needham urges board to revisit Great Plain Avenue design after child struck in crosswalk

A representative from Safe Streets Needham told the Select Board that a child was struck last week on Great Plain Avenue and urged the board to reopen consideration of safer road designs.

Aiden Boney, who said he lives on Nichols Road and spoke on behalf of Safe Streets Needham, described a sequence in which a yielding driver stopped for a child in a crosswalk and a second vehicle in the adjacent lane continued moving. “The child was halfway across the crosswalk when she was startled by a yielding driver honking their horn at an oncoming vehicle,” Boney said. He said the child then ran back into the westbound lane and was hit. Boney cautioned the board that the investigation is ongoing and asked the board to “pause” and reflect on the road’s design choices.

Boney cited data he said were reported publicly in the Needham Observer showing that about 35% of crashes on Great Plain Avenue are sideswipes — a crash type he said is a consequence of multi-lane roadways that permit drivers to pass stopped vehicles. He argued that a safer design is still on the table and urged the board to return to those alternatives.

The board acknowledged the comment and told Boney staff would have his emailed materials. The chair and other members thanked him for raising the issue during public comment. No formal agenda action or vote on design alternatives took place during the meeting; board members asked staff to include the concern in relevant traffic and planning conversations.

Next steps: The board did not schedule an immediate vote. Boney said he had emailed the board additional information and asked staff and board members to consider pedestrian-safety options for Great Plain Avenue going forward.