Exploring solutions for traffic congestion

By David McCarthy

Traffic. That one word elicits a myriad of passionate reactions from Canton residents. Earlier this month McMahon Associates delivered to the Master Plan Steering Committee a recap of the focus areas they were charged with studying. Those areas included Randolph, Pleasant, Dedham and Chapman streets where each road intersects Washington Street and then Washington Street between Neponset and Church streets. I think we could all agree they are some, not all, of the most congested areas of the town during peak travel.

Long lines are a familiar sight during peak times on Washington St. (Michelle Stark photo)

Some of the solutions and ones I really liked included signal timing optimization of all the light signals on Washington Street, and better striping of intersections, including adding “Do Not Block the Box” striping. These are simple steps and could be done now. Effectiveness would require some intermittent enforcement to prove successful.

Additional suggestions included relocating the stop line at Church Street to reduce the overall size of the intersection, and eliminating the Exclusive Pedestrian Phase at all signals to a walk signal that allows cars to turn when no one is walking versus a full four-way walk signal.

Another idea mentioned in the report was eliminating the no left turn onto Washington from Pleasant — this might work with proper signal optimization. The consultants also suggested widening the intersection to create a left-turn-only lane on Pleasant to move traffic more swiftly onto Washington Street. That’s a much bigger and more controversial project and yet it might work.

The consultants also suggested eliminating even more parking spaces in the center during peak travel times to allow for four full lanes of traffic between Neponset and Church. Call me crazy, but are we trying to kill the business district or improve it? Even better, you will really be taking your life in your hands walking in the center or egressing a car that is legally parked as the lanes merge from four to two lanes.

Other ideas discussed at the meeting that I believe are worthy of considering included making Neponset at Washington two-way traffic and making Wall Street a one-way street with traffic only allowed to enter Wall from Washington.

Did you know in the last two completed Master Plans it was recommended the town create an east-west road? Washington and Route 138 are both north-south roads with Randolph and Pleasant (kind of but not really) being the only east-west roads in town. Do we want another east-west travel road? Will an east-west road help traffic and enhance the quality of life for residents or make Canton more of a cut-through town?

If we move traffic more swiftly along Washington northbound, won’t cars only end up backed up at Washington and 138? Why isn’t Washington from Ponkapoag Golf Course to the 93 exits striped with two lanes northbound and one lane southbound? These are questions I have heard from attending forums throughout the town.

Does the $300 school bus fee charged to families create unnecessary traffic? Just how many round trips are because parents chose not to pay for the school bus fare?

Here is what I know from my personal and professional experience: Traffic is a quality of life issue and economic development issue, and that means traffic must be addressed sooner rather than later. Just this week MassINC released a poll where 66 percent of respondents said “urgent action” is needed and 68 percent called reducing traffic congestion an urgent priority. For a town to create a climate for businesses wanting to relocate here, it requires local and state leaders to take action to improve traffic flow.

For more information about the Canton Master Plan update, go to www.cantonmasterplan.com.

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