The Traffic Safety Advisory Committee discussed traffic safety requests, including intersection design and possible traffic calming measures in targeted residential streets on June 16.
The Committee started with a minor edit to the quarterly report, emphasizing a focus on the reduction of serious and fatal injury crashes, in alignment with the federal Vision Zero strategy.
Committee member David Kucharsky suggested a review of the list of traffic safety requests.
“An updated list focusing on the unresolved requests would be a good thing to have,” Kucharsky said.
Committee member Amy McHugh put forward the Complete Streets policy and its implementation in the community.
She said that one high-risk intersection, West Shore Drive & Village Street, “needs a close look at.”
McHugh added that it presents certain maintenance challenges that need to be addressed, including tight lanes, a sharp bend with mature trees and no formal infrastructure for users other than drivers.
McHugh said that trees could be taken down, but that they would try not to.
Intersection design for these high-risk intersections has already been attempted at other spots; spots that present beneficial inspiration for the one discussed, she said.
In response, Committee member Rick Smyers shared his concerns over funding: “Some of those intersection designs would be interesting, but it sounded like they would be very expensive.”
A cheaper way to bypass the costs of intersection design, he suggests, is to modify the detection systems in the area. Radar cameras and over-roadway traffic detectors could be the way to go.
The state is most interested in enforcement, Kucharsky said, which influences the grants and materials that the community can obtain.
For the moment, the Committee has two traffic data boxes, and would like to invest in a speed feedback mobile trailer and handheld radars; more mobile tools for safety enforcement in the community.
