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Council adopts four‑way 'no right on red' at Washington and Lucas to boost pedestrian safety
Summary
An ordinance amendment adding four‑way no‑right‑on‑red restrictions at Washington and Lucas avenues passed unanimously. Proponents said it is the first step toward broader safe‑system improvements; residents urged broader application across the Broadway corridor.
The Kingston Common Council adopted an ordinance amendment on June 2 prohibiting right turns on red in all directions at the Washington and Lucas intersection.
Alderman Michael Tierney said the change "would add no right on red in all directions on Lucas And Washington Avenue" and described it as "the 1st step in what I hope to be a multistep process to create long term safety improvements to this intersection." He credited constituents and the city engineer for helping craft short‑term and longer‑term fixes.
Resident Rose Quinn urged the council to apply similar measures more broadly, saying the Broadway corridor and other areas where children walk would benefit. "I think that actually ... there should be no right on red, particularly on the Broadway corridor where children are walking," she said during public comment.
Alderman Sarah Pasti said she initially opposed the change at a committee meeting but reversed her position after receiving information from constituents and evidence of safety benefits; she said the public process had worked. The ordinance amendment passed 8 to 0.
Council members said additional pedestrian safety measures will be pursued as part of long‑term planning, and staff were thanked for engineering input. The measure was adopted as part of traffic ordinance amendments brought forward in the meeting's resolutions.
