By Linda Pollitz
When Paul Simon wrote The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy), he probably never imagined that the lyrics would have applied to Bedford’s Town Meeting on Monday, March 27. During the meeting, residents were asked to consider Article 16 allowing speed limits to be lowered to 25 mph in thickly settled areas or business districts.
Another element of a recently adopted Massachusetts statute, General Laws Chapter 90 Section 17C and Section 18B, that was proposed for acceptance would authorize the Selectmen to establish “Safety Zones” where the speed limit would be 20 mph. Such Safety Zones are typically set around parks, playgrounds, senior housing centers, and daycare facilities. It would also include the high school which is currently not included in the designated school zones. Safety Zones must be a quarter mile long at minimum and could be longer. Drivers who travel on South Road as it passes through the Bedford VA grounds are familiar with such a speed limit change, as the one-mile section that traverses the VA grounds is slow enough for drivers to make the morning last and kick down the cobblestones!
On behalf of the Selectmen, Margot Fleischman pointed out that speed is especially important for pedestrians as the risk of injury and death increases dramatically as speed goes up. At 20 mph, a pedestrian has a 90 percent chance of escaping injury or death. Increase the speed to 30mph, though, and the risk of injury or death when a pedestrian is hit goes up to 50 percent. Thus it should come as no surprise that reducing vehicle speed is one of the most effective ways to protect vulnerable users.
Allowing municipalities to reduce the speedway to 25mph still enables neighborhoods to have efficient movement of traffic and still address issues of speed and safety in their communities. Importantly, by accepting the Article, the Town would not automatically lower the speed limit, but give the Selectmen the authority to do so.
Finance Committee could not reach consensus on the article, ending with a 4|4 vote. They asked for a plan for the implementation of this article.
Support of the measure was presented on behalf of the Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Committee, and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. The Transportation Advisory Committee noted they often hear from residents in “cut through neighborhoods” pleading for help and requesting that the speed limit be reduced. Passage of this Article would give the Selectmen the ability to address some of these concerns.
The motion passed with a voice vote.
Loading ...
