Selectmen delay work on roundabout

Selectmen will wait until a meeting is held between a third party engineer and a resident who disputes the traffic study conducted by a firm for the DPW on the proposed Pleasant Street roundabout plan before deciding the ultimate fate of the project.

Matt Osborne of 953 Pleasant Street has reviewed the traffic study conducted by Gillon Associates for the DPW and said the report is flawed in many respects. For instance, whereas selectmen and DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta concluded from the report that considerable speeding is occurring at the Bolivar-Pleasant Street intersection, Osborne said the actual average speed is between 32 and 35 miles per hour with only a few instances of vehicles traveling above 40 miles per hour. Osborne also said the report had no research on pedestrians and no accident history.

“The survey methodology was poor and I don’t think the right data was used,” he said.

Following a highly charged meeting on August 12, selectmen contacted Gary McNaughton of McMahon & Associates and asked him to look at the Pleasant Street plan and offer his independent assessment. McMahon & Associates helped the town offer comments to the Westwood Station traffic plans and the state transportation plans for slip ramps off Rte. 95.

Selectmen Chairman Victor Del Vecchio told the 40 residents who packed Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting that McNaughton has offered six amendments to the plan — but did not “undermine the original assessment.”

Selectmen are hoping that the meeting between Osborne and McNaughton will produce a document of agreed-upon amendments that could then be presented to the full board. The DPW will not conduct further work on the intersection for another week. But from the comments offered by selectmen Tuesday night, it is apparent that the board is in favor of the DPW plan with perhaps some minor modifications.

Selectmen John Connolly and Avril Elkort both said that they would side with safety factors and go forward with the roundabout. Selectmen Bob Burr and Sal Salvatori, who were absent from the August 12 meeting, said they reviewed the tape of the meeting and heard many comments from constituents; however, both said that they have yet to hear anything that would change their minds. Connolly and Salvatori have lived either on or near Pleasant Street and said they have seen firsthand the results of accidents and speeding in the neighborhood.

Del Vecchio allowed many residents to speak at Tuesday night’s meeting, and while many spoke in opposition to the roundabout, there were others who offered their support, including an older man who said he was fearful every time he ventured out from Lincolnshire Drive and applauded the selectmen for their actions.

In a letter addressed to the selectmen, Pleasant Street resident Jack Julio cited reports from the Federal Highway Administration that concludes that rotaries improve safety, reduce congestion, and cut down on pollution. “There have been many concerns voiced about the project,” Julio wrote. “I am afraid each and every one are misconceptions and not supported by published studies on the effectiveness of rotaries.”

Selectmen also said they have received other letters and communications of support for the roundabout plan.

More than one selectmen said they appreciate the passion and the comments offered by residents and said their final decision will be based on what is best for the community at large. Del Vecchio said selectmen considered a traffic light as an alternative but felt the roundabout was the best solution to improve the intersection.

See this week’s Canton Citizen for more news from Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, including updates on the Hudson Road trash site, the Shepard Pond dam, and Recreation Department fee changes.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 28 2014. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.