Possible Stoplights, Crosswalks Into Driveways and More Discussed In NMCOG Town Center Presentation

NMCOG Study

8:20 p.m. - The Northern Middlesex Council of Government's Beverly Woods goes over the methodology of the study done to look at parking and traffic in the town center as well as looking at an overview of public input sessions.

8:26 p.m. - Crash rates in the town center are lower than state average.

8:27 p.m. - There is a reciprocal agreement between the First Parish Church United and the J.V. Fletcher Library on parking and there are no handicapped spaces at the Frost School, which is unusual. 

Woods says that every intersection has at least one time of day when traffic is unacceptable. 

8:30 p.m. - Woods says a roundabout would not work westbound during the afternoon. A multi-stop control would cause issues westbound during the morning. A traffic signal would be the only solution. 

8:34 p.m. - Woods discusses potential changes at Graniteville Road, and a proposed new parking lot behind the library. The new parking lot would not be on wetlands areas.

She also recommends overflow parking on Fisher Way across to a football field. However, some improvements would be needed as the lot would be 4/10ths of a mile from the Town Common. 

8:36 p.m. - Other items that need to be discussed, Woods says, is whether public safety needs 63 reserved spaces on each shift and whether the Farmers' Market be held on weekends. 

8:41 p.m. - Woods goes over recommendations for pedestrian and bicycle improvements and recommends another public hearing for more feedback.

8:45 p.m. - Selectman Andrea Peraner-Sweet says it is important to hold another public forum, considering it the last step of the report.

Calls the report a ground work on how to move forward, but is very opposed to a traffic light in the center.

8:46 p.m. - Selectmen Scott Hazelton thanks Woods, particularly over pedestrian issues from his earlier role on the Pedestrian Safety Committee. Selectman Val Wormell is glad members of Department of Public Works and Water Department are in attendance for projects coming three to five years surrounding this issue. 

8:48 p.m. - Gunar Zagars of the Pedestrian Safety Committee questions whether people wait at the intersection of Boston Road and Main Street for ten minutes and wait at the entrance to the library for twelve minutes.

Woods says it's an approximation given the tools NMCOG has, noting that the traffic is so bad that it is impacting the equipment. 

Westford DPW Commission Chip Barrett applauds Woods for her work, saying he has carried money in his capital plan for some of these recommendations. 

8:52 p.m. - David Ewing of the Pedestrian Safety Committee continues an earlier part of the presentation about crosswalks that lead into driveways such as the Abbot School and in front of Town Hall.