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Resident urges town action on noise, speeding and cyclist safety; board to follow up
Summary
A Texas Road resident told the Select Board he and neighbors face repeated weekend noise, speeding and dangerous close passes on bicycles; board members said Westford lacks a general noise bylaw and pledged to connect the resident with the Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee and seek highway/dept briefings.
A Westford resident who identified himself as Mr. Buckley told the Select Board on July 14 that weekend noise and persistent speeding near his Texas Road home have made his neighborhood's quality of life difficult and raised safety worries for his young family.
"Our peace is being ruined," Mr. Buckley said, describing loud music and prolonged noise over many weekends and reporting radar readings of vehicles traveling "40, 45 miles per hour" on his street. He asked whether the town has a noise ordinance and whether officials could explore signage or other enforcement to slow traffic.
Mr. Buckley also told the board that he regularly cycles in Westford and has experienced repeated close passes that endanger him and others. He said he had shared video footage with police but felt it was not acted upon and urged the town to take a more proactive approach.
Town staff replied that Westford does not have a general bylaw covering noise; Jeff Goodwin stated the health department or zoning approvals may address noise in specific circumstances but confirmed he was not aware of a townwide noise bylaw. The chair said the board would consult the town manager about the process for researching noise control and consider bringing the issue back for discussion.
On speeding, board members suggested asking the highway department and town engineer to brief the board on statutory speed limits and whether Texas Road meets the criteria for a 25 mph designation or additional signage. The chair offered to put Mr. Buckley in touch with the town's Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee, which handles recommendations on infrastructure and education to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety.
The board did not make immediate regulatory changes at the meeting but directed staff to follow up with the relevant departments and committees and to schedule an orderly briefing on possible responses.
