Pittsfield Traffic Commission OKs Safety MeasuresBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Monday, October 16, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Traffic Commission on Thursday approved a number of speed and collision-reducing measures to increase safety.
One of which was a petition to look into speeding, the speed limit, and signage on Cloverdale Street.
Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said that people have sped down the rural road, even before it was repaved, and a person's dog was struck. Residents are not asking for the road to be changed but would like a speed limit sign.
The statutory speed limit is 30 MPH and City Engineer Tyler Shedd said that they could post a digital sign that warns people to slow down when they are above it.
He reported that there is evidence that speed feedback signs only get people to be within 5 MPH of the limit but Kavey commented that it is better than 10 MPH.
"I think they're a more economical solution to changing the road," Shedd said. "They run per sign about $1,500 for the simplest ones."
Sgt. Marc Maddalena likes the idea of having a permanent digital sign on that street. One of the department's rotating signs, which there are six of, is there now.
The commission also supported a petition from Shedd to look into changes at the intersection of Fenn Street, North Street, and Depot Street.
"Because of the misalignment with Fenn and Depot Street with Fenn Street being south on the alignment of North Street from Depot, both thru and the right turn lane need to make a right motion," he explained.
"And they don't always do so in perfect unison."
He said that you don't have to watch the intersection for long to see a person who is trying to go straight on Depot Street almost hit someone who is trying to make a right turn.
The proposal is to combine the thru and right lane on Fenn Street and add five additional parking spots with the leftover space. It was pointed out that employees who work in the area could utilize the 30-minute spots for short meetings.
It does not include a left lane though the curb could be changed in the future to accommodate a lefthand turn if needed.
Maddalena reported that there were five collisions at the intersection in 2021, two in 2022, and four in 2023. A majority were sideswipes.
The commission also approved a petition to add two stop signs to the intersection of Barlett Avenue and Taconic Street.
"On Bartlett and Taconic it's the only intersection in that area for some reason that is not a four-way stop," Kavey said. "And cars seem to just run into each other there."
A petition from Councilor At Large Karen Kalinowsky requesting to have the crosswalks on West Street across from Dorothy Amos Park painted and solar lights with a push button crossing signal installed was tabled due to ongoing efforts in the corridor.
Shedd reported that the crosswalk has already been painted and there have been a series of public meetings to pave a path forward in addressing pedestrian safety on West St.
In January, resident Shaloon Milord was struck and killed while crossing in front of the park, and on Thursday, worker Shane Cassavant was struck and killed in a construction zone further down the street.
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