Each week, Abington News is asking the four residents running for the Select Board a question to help voters better understand them as candidates. Election Day is Saturday, Sept. 21.
This week’s question was:
Traffic remains a constant issue in town, including the amount of cut-through traffic on our local roadways, the speed at which they drive, and the number of dangerous intersections in Abington. What strategies would you support to improve traffic in Abington? And do you support the 25 mph speed limit on Hancock Street?
(Responses are provided in the order they were received)
ABIGAIL GENDREAU
I would love to see some lights put up at the more dangerous intersections in town. The cut through traffic and speed of drivers is certainly dangerous. This does lead to problems for the residents on these streets and needs to be addressed. With regards to the new speed limit on Hancock Street. It is good to see that action is being taken against this. However, I can see raising that speed limit to 30 MPH. The new limit of 25 is a little low for that area.
WILLIAM CORMIER
As a former resident of Orange st and now living in the Green st. Neighborhood, I have seen and become well versed on the issue of motorist speeding on cut through streets and dangerous intersections. I’ve witnessed many accidents at Washington and Orange st when I was a resident of Orange st and now see them often at Brockton Ave and Green st. frequently. Recently we had a home at Martin st and Brockton Ave struck. So the problem is very concerning to me not only as a candidate but a resident as well.
Sometimes the solutions are an easy fix, like changing the traffic light cycle as was done at Washington and Orange st. However most of the time it isn’t a simple fix like like the proposed Round about at Chestnut and Hancock st. I have also attended selectmen meetings hearing the concerns of Presidential Dr resident Paul Molicca voicing concerns of speeding vehicles and requesting speed bumps in his neighborhood. I am not sure the answer is traffic calming devices such as speed bumps on cut through streets. The current cost of asphalt is $110 a ton and that would certainly take a bite out of an already under funded DPW budget. I agree with the current BOS that increased traffic enforcement and signage in these areas can and will most likely help.
Now let’s discuss a few of the most dangerous intersections in Abington. In studies that have been done Randolph and Chestnut has been rated the MOST dangerous in town. The state has already agreed to fund the 4 million dollar project and will be putting traffic lights up starting in fiscal year 2027. Which is being funded by the TIP Program. Improvements will include traffic signals, realignment of intersecting roads and accommodations for bicycles.
The second most dangerous intersection is Chestnut and Hancock. As many are aware the state is funding a 5 million dollar project at this location and will include a round about similar to Chestnut and North Quincy st. Although many aren’t in favor of the round about this location did not meet the states warrants for a traffic light. The project should be beginning within the next two years and also funded by the Transportation Improvement Plan program (TIP).
As we look at other problem areas in town such as the intersection of Shaw, Adams and Washington st. I know that a grant was applied for and denied recently but I have been made aware that DPW Director Stone has applied for under the Bottleneck Reduction Grant. Summer and Plymouth street, Birch and Plymouth are two more problematic locations. If elected I vow to work diligently with both our Police and DPW to find solutions that are affordable, effective and sustainable for these areas. It’s also important to continue to look for both federal and state funding through grants for these areas. Let us not become complacent with our railroad crossings, this is another area of concern to me and I will continue to advocate for the safety and proper functioning of all railroad crossings.
MATTHEW LYNCH
A combination of speed traps and strategically placed speedbumps could do a lot to discourage speeding down the residential roads that are commonly used as cut-throughs. For example, Orange Street, a short side road, far too often seems more like a drag strip as some people blast through going upwards of 50mph. The road is short enough that a speed bump somewhere in the middle would be enough of a disruption to not only force drivers to slow down, but possibly stop speeders from using this road as a cut-through all together. On the other hand, Hancock Street is a long road, so speed bumps would be ineffective. An automated speed trap would be more appropriate for longer roads like this. Unfortunately, a 25 mph speed limit will do nothing except get ignored. If someone wishes to speed, a speed limit sign will do little to deter them without enforcement. An automated speed ticketing system in high traffic areas where speeding is frequent would discourage speeders and bring an additional revenue stream to the town.
AMANDA ZOMPETTI
Oof! Starting off with a doozy of a question. Traffic is as Massachusetts as Dunks or the Sox. How can we make improvements for our community?
My first thought: I love the rotary on Chestnut st and North Quincy St. I am hopeful that the planned rotary on Chestnut st and Hancock st, with the lowering of the grade on the Hancock St hill will make a vast improvement for that whole area. But the biggest problem is that those streets, plus others in town, are major cut-through points. How do we stop that?
I don’t think we can. The use of map apps like Waze or Google Maps always try to find the shortest route, which pushes folks onto these side streets. And once you learn an area, you usually find the quickest shortcut yourself. I do think we can make the streets less prone to speeding, with time and effort.
The speed limit on Hancock st, while I wish the Board did some outreach to the neighborhood before setting it, makes some sense. Traffic was speeding on the road, and something needed to be done.
I think we are beyond just setting speed limits though. A wide open straight road lends itself to speeding, and comfort, by that road’s daily drivers. While we cannot install speed humps willy-nilly (snow plows + speed humps = more work for our DPW team), I think there are some traffic reduction options out there we can look into. Mass.gov has a great jumping off point for learning about traffic calming measures.
I believe making pedestrian walkways more prominent, by building bump out curb cuts will help highlight our many walkways, and maybe some of those in our smaller cut through spots would benefit from pedestrian walkway humps. Adding the middle yellow line and side white lines to roads to make them appear as narrow as they are has been proven to help reduce speeding. Median Islands help support the slow down of traffic on some of the bigger wide open roads (and they can provide greenery!)
While this is not a solution to be solved in one year, there is potential out there. There are plenty of state and federal grants for speed reduction measures and traffic congestion reduction. I see Abington streets as benefitting from some of the above measures I suggested, and I hope we see a change soon!
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