The question was not so much about crosswalk design on 117. It is impeccable.
The question raised was the rational for location-the general policy to guide such decisions, and the advisability of using under 100 citizen response to a survey to guide tax investments in public safety and roadway questions. > On Dec 13, 2025, at 3:04 PM, Margaret Olson <[email protected]> > wrote: > > The town’s five year plan is available on the Transportation Coalition > website: > https://www.lincolntown.org/1552/Transportation-Coalition > > The town’s engineering consultants designed the crosswalk - all > infrastructure improvements are professionally designed. Site lines > determined the exact location of the new crosswalk as they do all crosswalks. > > Margaret > > On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Past road projects were informed by professional guidance, standards and >> research. >> I am surprised to find that a survey response by under 100 residents seems >> to now guide decisions. >> >> The 117/Old Sudbury Rd. crosswalk is beautifully executed. >> However, it leads to a narrow, busy road (Old Sudbury Rd.) with no shoulder, >> no path, no sidewalk.. >> >> When the Roadway and Traffic Committee (the RTC) was formed, clear >> guidelines and standards were established for all such decisions. >> Crosswalk locations were determined to be safest and most appropriate where >> site lines were clear and the crosswalk connect paths and/or trials. >> >> It would be instructive to have the Transportation Coalition share the >> rational developed through guidance documents and professional reports that >> direct the expenditure of tax dollars on these projects. >> >> >> >>> On Dec 13, 2025, at 2:18 PM, ٍSarah Postlethwait <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> “The crosswalk by town hall has new, hopefully more visible signs. It will >>> be upgraded to a speed table in the spring, once the water main patches >>> have settled. The speed table will give drivers, pedestrians, and Public >>> Safety experience with this new traffic calming measure. We will then >>> consider whether speed tables are well suited to other crosswalks in town.” >>> >>> I am genuinely struggling to understand why a traffic table is being >>> presented as the preferred solution for Lincoln Road, particularly given >>> its well-documented drawbacks and the availability of safer, more effective >>> alternatives. >>> >>> Traffic tables carry significant and foreseeable downsides. They can delay >>> emergency response vehicles, create safety hazards for motorcyclists due to >>> abrupt elevation changes, and cause damage to vehicle suspensions, >>> undercarriages, and front splitters—especially once the Table has a few >>> seasons of New England weather has left it in less than optimal condition. >>> Is the Town prepared to accept liability for vehicle damage caused by this >>> installation? If not, why is a measure with such predictable consequences >>> being advanced? >>> >>> Moreover, a single traffic table does nothing to meaningfully reduce >>> overall vehicle speeds along Lincoln Road. At best, it creates a brief >>> bottleneck where drivers slow momentarily, only to accelerate immediately >>> afterward. This does not address speeding behavior along the rest of the >>> roadway and offers no comprehensive traffic-calming benefit. >>> >>> It is also worth noting that traffic tables are not safely traversed at >>> 20-30mph. In practical use, drivers must slow to approximately 15–20 mph to >>> avoid vehicle damage. This creates an inconsistent and potentially >>> hazardous driving environment, particularly for unfamiliar drivers, >>> cyclists, and emergency vehicles. >>> >>> Compounding this concern are ongoing discussions about asking residents to >>> contribute financially to repaving Lincoln Road- work that will likely be >>> necessary sooner rather than later due to the extremely poor patching >>> performed after the water main replacement. If repaving is imminent, would >>> the newly installed traffic table need to be removed and rebuilt? If so, >>> how is this an efficient or fiscally responsible use of public or resident >>> funds? >>> >>> There are proven, safer alternatives that address pedestrian safety without >>> introducing these risks. For example, pedestrian-activated crossing >>> signals, such as the flashing system used at Walden Pond, have been shown >>> to improve driver compliance and pedestrian visibility while preserving >>> road continuity. Why was this option dismissed by the Transportation >>> Coalition, and on what evidence was that decision based? >>> >>> Finally, it remains unclear who would be responsible for the installation, >>> maintenance, and long-term upkeep of the proposed traffic table. What are >>> the projected costs, and how will they be funded? >>> >>> Given these unresolved concerns, it is difficult to justify a traffic table >>> as the best, or even a prudent solution for Lincoln Road. >>> >>> Sarah Postlethwait >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM Margaret Olson <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> Everyone, >>>> >>>> We wanted to share with you the results of the Transportation Coalition >>>> survey and give you an update on recently completed and upcoming projects. >>>> >>>> The Survey: >>>> >>>> The survey opened on August 26th and closed on October 13th. 312 of you >>>> responded to our outreach: postal mailing, flyers, and emails. To all who >>>> responded: Thank you! The feedback we received will help guide our >>>> long-term planning. The Transportation Coalition will continue to partner >>>> with the Town's Public Safety Department and DPW on road safety and >>>> maintenance, and to fund as much as possible with a combination of state >>>> Chapter 90 money and grants. >>>> >>>> Resident’s top-rated priorities were additional roadside paths/sidewalks >>>> (82 votes), road maintenance (77 votes), and speed/traffic control (61 >>>> votes). Answers to the question "if you could pick one project to improve >>>> pedestrian or cyclist safety in your neighborhood, what would it be?" >>>> reflected these priorities: sidewalks and speed. The intersection of 117 >>>> and Tower Road and additional bike lanes were the largest group of >>>> specific responses. >>>> >>>> When it comes to taxes to support improvements, 146 of you are opposed, >>>> 129 are in favor, and 27 responded with "maybe". >>>> >>>> Projects: >>>> >>>> The crosswalk at Old Sudbury Road and Route 117 is now complete! It >>>> consists of new pedestrian refuge islands and a pedestrian activated >>>> warning light. This was funded by a Complete Streets grant. Attached is a >>>> picture for those of you who do not often drive along 117. >>>> >>>> The crosswalk by town hall has new, hopefully more visible signs. It will >>>> be upgraded to a speed table in the spring, once the water main patches >>>> have settled. The speed table will give drivers, pedestrians, and Public >>>> Safety experience with this new traffic calming measure. We will then >>>> consider whether speed tables are well suited to other crosswalks in town. >>>> A "speed table" is a traffic calming device consisting of a long, flat >>>> topped speed hump that allows vehicles to maintain speeds of around 20-30 >>>> mph while still slowing traffic for safer pedestrian crossings. Attached >>>> is an image of a speed hump from the Federal Highway Division. >>>> >>>> And, as most of you probably know, the second half of the water main >>>> project on Lincoln Road will begin in the spring/summer. >>>> >>>> The 2A repaving by Mass DOT will not be put out to bid until 2029. At >>>> least some of the 2A crosswalks and pedestrian protections that the Town >>>> advocated for remain as part of the plan. >>>> >>>> MassDOT has informed us that the Route 126 bridge project will start this >>>> coming summer and is projected to finish in the summer of 2031. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Margaret Olson >>>> >>>> Chair, Transportation Coalition >>>> >>>> >> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>>> <mailto:[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] >>> <mailto:[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. >>> >>
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