Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves seasonal Route 1 crosswalk pilot despite safety and measurement concerns
Summary
Council approved a Safe Streets pilot to test a seasonal crosswalk on Route 1 near the skiing center by a 4–3 vote after extended debate about location, measurement limitations, truck traffic, plow impacts and whether the study could demonstrate safety improvements.
The council voted 4–3 to approve a Safe Streets for All pilot to install a seasonal crosswalk treatment on Route 1 in front of the skiing center, funded by a state grant and intended as a test of concept.
Several councilors raised substantive concerns about the location: the crossing sits near the crest of a hill on a major truck route, engineers’ recommended measures would be seasonal (May–October) and the study’s short duration is unlikely to measure changes in pedestrian safety. "It just doesn't make sense to me... designing a system that's only really being built for a three-season, so not during the snow season," one councilor said, noting the proposal's limited winter utility and potential unintended consequences from flex posts and sudden vehicle maneuvers.
Supporters said the pilot is a low-cost, limited-duration study conceived by transportation engineers and that the Department of Transportation is involved in the study; they argued the test could inform future, more permanent improvements. Public commenters offered mixed views: some said the area lacks pedestrian traffic while others suggested enforcement or camera-based speed enforcement as alternatives. The council approved the pilot after debate and public comment.
