Hi all, I spent 12 years as a Select trying to grapple with this. Obviously, we made very little progress.
Speed bumps require certain sight lines and topography and geometry to be safe and effective.
Our winding, narrow country roads limit our choices.
As to the suggestion to add more roadside paths- yes! The limitation there is having enough land to construct them. Many roadways do not have enough municipal land to allow for the addition of paths without a taking of private land. Unwillingness of property owners to allow acquisition to land prevented the creation of paths along Sandy Pond and Weston Road in the past. Perhaps sentiments have changed.
Perhaps neighbors could come together and explore creating connections that would allow the expansion of our paved path network?
This is really tough.
Best, Sara
Sent from my iPhone
Speed bumps make good sense to me.
Larry Buell
60 Tower Riad
From: Lincoln <[email protected]> on behalf of Jack <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2023 6:27:52 PM
To: Bob Wolf <[email protected]>
Cc: Lincoln Talk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Did you know Tower Road is planned to be re-paved in 2024? Concerned about what this will do to vehicle speeds? If so, read below...
And regarding speed on our roadways, appropriate speed bumps can be build that don’t require coming to a near stop (or a full stop for low riding cars - of which I speak from experience). More frequent rises in any
road can help keep speed below a determined level with these more appropriately designed ‘bumps’. Road depressions work equally well but likely not in regions where freezing is an issue, for water may collect in them.
Steve
I think we have the same sentiments about the town’s roads and the behaviors we’d like to see on them.
My one quibble with your post is the fondness for potholes.
Yes, they might slow some drivers, but folks in some SUVs may not feel them much at all. Bikes, on the other hand, tend to be more sensitive to roadway imperfections and have to navigate around them. But the bikes, then, are not predictable to many motorists,
who swear at the cyclist for being erratic. Or worse.
This is a repaired section of MA 126 between Conant and Old Concord Roads (but could be in a lot of places, even on Tower). Most cars go right over that patching without a thought. Where does the cyclist go? Right? Left? Today I went to the left and
was honked and sworn at for choosing that path.
<IMG_2318.jpeg>
My personal view is that we should design our roadway rebuilds for safety including the vehicular speeds we want. Not rely on the potholes.
Take care,
Bob
Regarding the comments directly below - I am wondering if there is anybody here who has spent substantial time watching the world go by on Tower Rd by car, bike, stroller, foot, hoof and leash who believes that traffic speed on cars (and bikes) would NOT
increase substantially if it were repaved as is, especially in its rougher segments between 117 and Lincoln Rd. I would anticipate that increasing the curvature and narrowness of Tower Rd would likely make it even more precarious for all users, day and night.
While a narrower and more curved road may slow down average speeds by the average driver, the main concern is with those who may see it as an (even more) attractive opportunity to test their driving prowess. And even the average road biker may see it as an
enticing enhancement. Heck, I know I would. Still, I am happy to seek such roads elsewhere, and I personally remain grateful for every pothole, divot, nook and cranny on Tower Rd that currently (and exclusively) act as important controls on speed.
Steve Brown
24 Tower Rd
On Sep 10, 2023, at 7:33 PM, Allen Vander Meulen <[email protected]> wrote:
I remember Noah Eckhouse commenting on the repaving of Bakers Bridge Road, which was done a year or so before he stepped down from his position on the Select Board. He said that repaving a road in poor condition does not make a substantial difference in traffic
speed. What does slow drivers down are more curves and less width.
He went on to say that when Baker’s Bridge Road was repaved, the town made sure it conformed to the original route and width (since paving crews tend to straighten curves and widen roads over time). The result was a more curved and narrower road, resulting
in - as predicted - slower traffic speeds.
I imagine the same will (or should) be done with Tower Road.
- Allen Vander Meulen
Beaver Pond Rd
On Sep 10, 2023, at 15:40, Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote:
All,
All interested in this issue should be sure and bone up on the world of options/opportunities and challenges.
Use your energy and talent to understand major issues and constraints, and come up with practical, constructive ideas.
Simply throwing out things like “speed bumps/humps,” “roadside paths” and stirring as solutions, dig in and learn where they might (and might not work).
Respect that Public Safety and DPW know something and are your allies.
Ask their opinion(s) in ways that allow them to answer honestly- they have a lot of useful information and experience to share.
While some of their answers and ideas may disappoint you, that does not mean their ideas are invalid.
Perhaps, with all the experience and talent at the table, you all can find some ways to improve experiences along Tower for all … including cars.
Namaste,
Sara
------
Sara Mattes
On Sep 4, 2023, at 8:27 PM, John Mendelson <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello LT,
If you live on or near Tower Road, I am sure you've seen the gas line work that is underway. We'll, next year, Tower Road is going to be resurfaced and I, for one, am worried what this will do to already high rates of vehicular speed along our narrow, winding
road.
If you'd be interested in coming together to discuss what traffic calming ideas we, as Tower Road residents might want to get in front of the RTC, BPAC, the Select Board, and town administration while there is still time to impact the outcome, please send me
your email address and I will convene a meeting to kick things off in the coming weeks.
Thanks so much,
John Mendelson
30 Tower Road
--
The LincolnTalk mailing list.
To post, send mail to [email protected].
Browse the archives at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/.
Change your subscription settings at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
--
The LincolnTalk mailing list.
To post, send mail to [email protected].
Browse the archives at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/.
Change your subscription settings at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
--
The LincolnTalk mailing list.
To post, send mail to [email protected].
Browse the archives at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/.
Change your subscription settings at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
--
The LincolnTalk mailing list.
To post, send mail to [email protected].
Browse the archives at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/.
Change your subscription settings at
https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
--
The LincolnTalk mailing list.
To post, send mail to [email protected].
Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/.
Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
|
