Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
111809_TrafficStudyMinutes
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Source page 1
TRAFFIC STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2009 1:00 pm Present: DPW Superintendent Michael Trotta, Officer Donny Wolffe, Rosanna Hennessey Secretary Dorothy Marshall Resident Irene Johnson of 1350 Washington Street No official votes were taken due to a lack of a quorum. FULLER STREET The Committee members discussed again the request by Joanne Wheeler to make some changes at the intersection of Fuller Street and Neponset Street. As it now exists, there is a right hand turn lane and a straight ahead lane. She made her request because she feels that turning left onto Fuller Street poses a danger. One of the suggestions was that a left hand turn arrow be added to the straight ahead lane sometime in the Spring. The Committee will discuss the issue again at a Spring meeting. BAILEY STREET The Committee also discussed posting No Thru Trucking signs at the Town Club on Bailey Street. SHERMAN STREET Mention was made that Sherman Street is the approved truck route until the Reservoir Dam is fixed. DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC Ms. Johnson made several comments about the recent changes to the traffic flow downtown. She has done an "informal survey" and proceeded to discuss the results with the Committee. Originally, she had written a letter (see file) requesting the removal of the parking space from in front of the brick block from Rockland Street toward Church Street. This block holds three businesses and three apartments. She said that at that time the new traffic lights at Church Street and at Neponset Street were fully operational. She stated at the meeting that now that the lights are flashing, the situation has improved. The problem was that traffic backed up coming from the mall with cars waiting to turn left at Church Street. She interviewed the owners of Dr. Rappaport's, the Nail Shop and the Yarn Shop. None of these business owners were in favor of removing the space. The businesses have a good parking area in the rear of the building but there is no handicapped ramp as there is in the front. With the lights now flashing, Ms. Johnson stated that "the tenor of the people is more relaxed and courteous." She feels the owners are justified in wanting to keep the space. Her suggestion is to keep the lights blinking or non-operational. She asked the Committee to make a strong recommendation to keep the lights flashing and maybe return that spot to a handicapped spot as it was originally. Also, at the crosswalk at Neponset Street, the stop line is about 20-22 feet back from the cross walk. She suggested moving that white line closer to the crosswalk. It was explained that this line was put there to allow traffic to exit and enter the Big D's restaurant driveway.
Source page 2
Now the Church Street light will go red when the button is pushed. Officer Wolffe stated there should not be aback-up at Bolivar Street with Church Street flashing. Mr. Trotta stated that the focus of the project was to discourage cut though traffic, encourage more shoppers and restaurant visitors and to calm traffic. Rosanna Hennessey stated that she is glad that traffic has slowed in the downtown area. Five parking spaces were lost in the new design. An outreach was made to both the Bank of Canton and to Mr. Marini. The Board of Selectmen is against decreasing the number of parking spaces. The traffic problem seems worst in the afternoon. Other centers have the same problems with too much traffic and not enough parking spaces. Ms. Johnson agreed that if the light at Church Street is flashing, people will be more likely to let people in. The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 pm. Respectfully submitted, Dorothy Marshall