BOS approves Dedham St. traffic-calming measures

The Board of Selectmen plan to spend nearly $500,000 for traffic-calming measures on Dedham Street and are also urging residents to contact the governor and state highway officials in an attempt to preserve funding for the Canton Interchange Project and related Dedham Street corridor improvements.

Following a public hearing two weeks ago and after consultation with McMahon Transportation Engineers and the Canton DPW, selectmen on Tuesday agreed to the following improvements:

* Sidewalk installation along the easterly side of Dedham Street from Kirby Drive to the existing sidewalk at Maplecroft Road, estimated at $450,000

* Pedestrian crossing at Maplecroft with pedestrian activated lighted warning signs, estimated at $15,000

* Speed radar signs installed in conjunction with 25-mile-per-hour speed limit signs, estimated at $10,500

* Pedestrian activated lighted school crossing signs at school crosswalks, estimated at $15,000

* Additional street signage — “Courtesy to Side Street Traffic,” estimated at nearly $1,000

In addition, selectmen are willing to spend for more school crossing guards after a review by the police chief and School Department, and selectmen will ask Police Chief Ken Berkowitz to increase speed limit enforcement on Dedham Street.

Selectmen are also considering establishing a “blue-ribbon” panel to study town-wide traffic issues and to begin to examine a possible truck exclusion and the potential impacts it would have on other local roadways.

All of this comes as precursors to the state spending an estimated $150 million on improvements to the I-95/I-93 interchange and at least $50 million on improvements to the Dedham Street corridor, including the addition of a new I-95 exit ramp, road and bridge widening, and signalization at Shawmut Road.

According to Selectmen Chairman Victor Del Vecchio, a state transportation meeting was planned for today, April 30, to discuss spending priorities under new Governor Charlie Baker.

Del Vecchio and his BOS colleagues are urging residents to write to the governor and the state Highway Division to express strong support for maintaining the funding commitment of former Governor Deval Patrick with respect to the Dedham Street improvements. All of these improvements were negotiated by selectmen Del Vecchio and Bob Burr over a period of several years.

“I think the letters are very important to tell the current administration that prior commitments should not be ignored and to reinforce the decisions made,” said Del Vecchio …

See this week’s Canton Citizen for additional highlights from the April 21 selectmen’s meeting. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 30 2015. Filed under News, Schools, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.