The creation of the new Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) is reaching its final steps, and will soon have an influence on creating safer roads and sidewalks for both drivers and pedestrians in town.
At Town Meeting in May, Article 49 was passed, allowing for the creation of a TSAC with the purpose being “to implement the Marblehead Complete Streets Policy and evaluate public safety issues involving traffic, roads, and other transportation, infrastructure in the town,” according to the article in the 2023 Town Meeting Warrant.
The article also states that the makeup of the committee will include three residents who are not employees of the town, as well as additional members from town departments “responsible for public safety issues” who are appointed by the Select Board.
According to Select Board Chair Erin Noonan, there have been many interested parties who have submitted applications to be selected for the committee. Noonan said there were plans to go through the applications as early as this past week, however the board was not able to meet in full. Noonan said the applications will soon be discussed at an upcoming meeting.
Marblehead resident Dan Albert was the primary sponsor of Article 49 and has spent years studying and advocating for traffic safety. The town previously had a similar committee, but it was disbanded.
After years of advocating for safer changes to the traffic system in town, Albert said that he had to take action.
“I finally got so frustrated I’m like ‘OK, we have to go to Town Meeting and do this,’” Albert said. “We really shouldn’t be doing traffic this way.”
So to Town Meeting he went, and with the support of its residents, the town yet again has a committee dedicated to “making sure everyone feels safe using the streets,” Albert said.
He said that it’s important to be able to have drivers and pedestrians safely coexist in town, which he said can be accomplished through education.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to educate people about what’s possible and about how to do it, and how to do it is not the way we learned when we were children,” Albert said.
Among his reasons for wanting to establish a TSAC were to reduce the administrative burden, and to make sure that state and local funding is being used properly.
But most importantly, he wants Marblehead’s children to be safe. Albert said he has talked to multiple parents who have had some close calls, including a drive reportedly whipping around the corner of Rock Cliff Road, nearly striking two small children.
Albert said that after living in and around larger towns and cities, he realized that Marblehead’s traffic safety was outdated. He said that with all these advancements other communities have made, it’s time for Marblehead to catch up.
“It’s not even that “Oh I want to change it to make it for the future.’ The future is already here,” Albert said.
Another area of focus for Albert and others has been the intersection near Glover Elementary School, known as Bailey Square, where he said many cars block the sidewalk when coming down from Maple Street, trying to make a right turn on red.
Albert said many parents move to this neighborhood because of the close proximity to the school, making it even more important for him to help make it as safe as possible.
One parent who lives on the corner of Maple Street and Tedesco Street now has a sign that reads “DRIVE LIKE YOUR KIDS LIVE HERE,” which was put up after there was another close call with one of his children.
Albert said that although there are guidelines for pedestrian safety such as waiting for the crosswalk light to appear, or not walking across the middle of the road, many don’t follow those guidelines, but that doesn’t mean that they should be in danger.
“People have grown up with ‘cross at the crosswalk, wait for the light.’ That’s what we’re taught as children and so forth,” he said. “But the reality is it doesn’t make people safer.”
Despite the committee not having formed yet, Albert and others who were involved with Article 49 have already gotten to work on a number of other projects since Town Meeting.
In collaboration with the Marblehead Disabilities Commission, they have advocated for stricter enforcement from the Police Department on sidewalk parking, which can force mobility device users onto streets, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
There are now construction signs throughout town that warn drivers against parking on sidewalks, saying they will be subject to fines.
Albert and others involved with the TSAC have proposed the closure of Rock Cliff Road for a three-month period, during which they will evaluate the impacts on safety and traffic flows on the street.
“We are especially keen to conduct this experiment because of traffic changes around the new Hobbs Playground, which is adjacent to Rock Cliff,” Albert said in an email sent to the Weekly News.
In addition, they are also lobbying for bicycle accommodation at Vine Street, Village Street, and Pleasant Street, as well as making sure the Rail Trail, particularly near the Salem border, is fixed, usable, and safe.