BOS to work with state on safety issues at Flagg and Rte 9; Deerfoot sidewalk and Flagg speed humps to be considered by Town

Above: A redesigned intersection and crosswalk at Flagg and Deerfoot roads was one recommendation for improving pedestrian safety (image cropped from SAM video)

Earlier this week, the Board of Selectmen heard a presentation on safety issues and solutions for Deerfoot and Flagg Roads. Officials will consider recommendations and talk to the state about safety issues and possible solutions at Flagg, Route 9 and 495.

Consulting engineer Jason Degray supported residents’ concerns about pedestrian safety on the roadway. And he understood that future plans at Park Central have exacerbated worries. But he didn’t believe the increased traffic volume was an issue. Instead, he framed it as an existing and ongoing issue.

As part of his study, DeGray looked at collected data, traffic studies and projections, and resident feedback. He told the board that the roadways to pose a hazard to pedestrians given the speeds.

Answering why it wasn’t like the many other windy tree-lined roads in town, DeGray described it as cut-through high speed road. He said “it gives me some pause that this is not a typical roadway condition in Southborough.”

DeGray called adding a sidewalk on the west side of Deerfoot Road from Main Street to Flagg Road, with an improved crosswalk at Trottier, a no brainer with minimal impact to abutters.

He also recommended a forced stop from Flagg to Deerfoot, making Deerfoot the clear throughpath and beefing up pedestrian accomodations at the intersection. As for pedestrians on Flagg, he dismissed sidewalks as:

doing some pretty significant damage to the abutting context of the land use. The old growth trees, stone walls, these would all be heavily impacted under any scenario that we try to attempt to get a sidewalk in place.

Earlier this year, a resident committee (working with Public Works Superintendent Karen Galligan) determined sidewalk priorities for the Town. That section of Deerfoot was only number 17 on the list.  Flagg Road was tied with two others in 9th place.

DeGray said slowing traffic on Flagg would make more sense. To do that he recommended installing a 5 speed hump array coming from Route 9. He explained that to be effective humps would be 500 feet or less apart so that drivers don’t just speed back up. 

The engineer said drivers take time coming off of a highway to adapt to new context. He wanted the frequent speed humps to “hit them early and really drive the point home.” But he warned that the Town better be sure they want it. And he acknowledged that maintenance and first responders may not like it. Fire Chief Joseph Mauro told the board that he would have to look at it. He noted that his department is concerned about safety of the roads. But he also needs to consider that humps increase response time for ambulances, etc.

The safety study was commissioned for the Town at the request of the Zoning Board of Appeals. The ZBA Chair Leo Bartolini told selectmen that he asked the presentation be made to them since it has “no connection” to the 40B project at Park Central.

Park Central developer William Depietri agreed to pay for the study and to do any safety work on the road requested by selectmen. The agreement was made during 40B hearings, but Bartolini claimed Depietri was doing it “as a developer of the town”.

Selectman Paul Cimino disagreed with the characterization. He later remarked, “there is no sugar coating or hiding the fact that this is all interrelated.”

Planning Board Chair Don Morris called on selectmen to work with the state to look at issues related to Park Central access to Route 9. Representative Carolyn Dykema committed to help them work with the state on issues around the safety at Flagg Road, Route 9 and 495.

Cimino said that he and Dykema would be at the table when Public Works Superintendent Karen Galligan talks to the state. He followed that “everything should be on the table”, including possibility of Park Central construction being delayed until a solution is resolved.

DeGray told selectmen they should pay attention to MEPA process. (The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act requires looking at safety for the That is going to be their key moment for Town’s interest to be represented at the state level. The state will have to respond to the Town’s comments.

Kolenda asked Police Chief Ken Paulhus to immediately look into what he can do to curb speeding. Chief Paulhus blamed manpower with a lot of roads with similar issues and required response to calls, including the busy turnpike. He said he would “try to put some people over there”. He also promised to use a sign to collect more data over the next 1-2 months.

Residents were concerned about increased volume from Park Central making the roadway unsafe. Between safety concerns and the desire to protect road character, some hoped officials could put a halt on the project. (You can read more about their comments in Southborough Wicked Local.)

DeGray told residents that the increased volume projected isn’t sufficient to deny a 40B project on safety grounds.

Some were skeptical of the projections in quantity and patterns. DeGray responded the traffic studies have been through the wringer. He said that that any engineer is going to side with the methodology showing most drivers will turn out of Park Central towards Route 9. And they aren’t going to get different results than the projected 2 more cars per minute during peak hours.

Selectmen treated the Tuesday night presentation as something to be considered. There was no vote to implement any of the suggested measures.

Updated (6/29/16 11:00 am): I included the link to the study in a previous post, but not this one. If you are looking for the full report, click here.