Having lived at 29 Lincoln Road (the house in front on the proposed traffic table near the Old Town Hall), I can say with experience of the location—with a master bedroom on the front of the house—that I pity the residents whose homes are nearby.
All day and all night, they will hear Thunk-Thunk… Thunk-Thunk with each car that passes by as they hit the traffic table. That would drive me nuts. Are the neighbors aware of this potential downside? As an alternative: How many hours per week do the Lincoln police sit parked in the Old Town Hall parking lot and enforce the speed limit on Lincoln Road? I imagine, with some consistent enforcement, that if that spot developed a reputation as a speed trap, the issue would largely be resolved. The cost of a moving violation and points against insurance seems like a good deterrent. Has a concerted effort—with an actual plan—been put in place to enlist Lincoln’s public safety team to address this issue? And if yes, I’m curious, what was it and what were the results? Best, Carolyn > Message: 13 > Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2025 21:48:21 -0500 > From: Diana Smith <[email protected]> > To: ?Sarah Postlethwait <[email protected]> > Cc: Margaret Olson <[email protected]>, Lincoln Talk > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Roadway Decisions-Policy Framework. > Question > Message-ID: > <cajiljvqoktko4ojdwu_tu1qb+nwdv42u4gc1cefaoyfihmi...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > You don't need to be a traffic engineer to figure out that traffic tables > are a bad idea. (See Sarah Postlethwaite's letter.). Everyone I have talked > to about the issue agrees that Lincoln should not be committing to traffic > tables/ speed tables. > Diana Smith > > ?On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 9:26?PM ??Sarah Postlethwait?? <[email protected]> > wrote:? > >> Who is funding the proposed traffic table scheduled for installation this >> spring? >> It is extremely difficult for residents to track decisions being made >> across multiple boards, each operating on separate 5?10 year planning >> timelines. I believe many residents will be genuinely surprised when a >> traffic table appears, as this is not something the community has asked for >> or supported. >> If residents are consistently requesting sidewalks next to roadways, why >> are limited funds- even grant funds- being allocated to traffic tables and >> bike lanes instead of addressing those clearly stated priorities? >> Sarah Postlethwait >> On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 5:21?PM Margaret Olson <[email protected]> >> wrote: >>> The survey was part of a continuous feedback process. We have the bicycle >>> and pedestrian master plan, developed over several years with multiple >>> neighborhood and public outreach meetings, we present at state of the town, >>> and we send out surveys. We obviously can?t update a master plan very often >>> but we can ?check in? with the town through these lighter mechanisms to >>> make sure there have been no major changes. >>>> On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 4:09?PM Sara Mattes <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> 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]> 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]> >>>>> 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]> 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]. >>>>>> 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. > > -- > Diana Smith > PO Box 6294 > Lincoln MA 01773 > Cell: 617 803 8022 > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/attachments/20251213/4bddf2da/attachment-0001.htm> > > ------------------------- -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. 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