In response to several vehicle and pedestrian incidents over recent years, our town’s leadership is considering the implementation of “safety zones” in the vicinity of town beaches. It is our understanding that the Select Board has asked the Traffic Advisory Committee and DPW to investigate the feasibility of installing such zones in 2025 (possibly in time for our beach season).
While this, on the surface, sounds like a good idea, it would have a significant impact on our neighborhoods. A “safety zone” in the Heights and Maravista areas would be:
• approximately 1 mile long
• 3000 feet from Great Pond Bridge to Elysian Ave.
• 2060 feet from Elysian Ave to Walden Ave.
Such a “safety zone” would have a YEAR-ROUND 20 mph speed limit.
This would NOT be like a “school zone” which is only enforced when school is in session, but it would be 24/7, 12 months of the year.
Neighbors should be made aware of this prior to it going into effect, as no doubt residents will bear the brunt of any enforcement action. Just as many of us are still getting used to the new stop sign at Maravista and Randolph.
It is expected this matter will be placed on the Select Board agenda in the relatively near future, at which time FHMNA members would have an opportunity to comment. We will email Select Board notification of the date when they post it, along with information about how to contact them.