Granite Park Association

Braintree Forum Article re: Granite Park Traffic 12/14/2006

Dec 14, 2006

Granite Park traffic changes approved
By Robert Aicardi
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - Updated: 11:54 AM EST





A sign encouraging drivers to use Brooks Drive instead of cutting through Granite Park.

A ?“yield?” sign at the corner of Addison Road and Davis Road.
Lowering the speed limit to 20 miles per hour and placing ?“warning-children?” signs in some areas.

These changes, suggested by local activists, are designed to improve traffic in the Granite Park neighborhood.

During its Dec. 4 meeting, after the board of selectmen discussed an update about Granite Park from the town?’s Traffic Advisory Safety Committee (TASC), which consists of representatives of the police department, the fire department, and the department of public works (DPW), the board voted 4-0 (Joseph Powers could not be present) in favor of these changes.

In a Nov. 24 memorandum to the selectmen, Town Engineer Robert Campbell summarized what happened at a TASC meeting three days earlier that he attended along with Police Chief Paul Frazier, Police Lt. Kevin Ware, DPW Director Thomas Whalen, Highway Superintendent Richard Grey, Assistant Highway Superintendent Stephen O?’Brien, and Assistant Town Engineer John Morse.

During this meeting, Robert Campbell (no relation to the town engineer), his wife Eileen, and John Batchelder spoke on behalf of the Granite Park Neighborhood Association.

The following five requests were submitted:
Allowing resident access only on Addison and Calvin Streets; Blossom, Brierwood, Burton, Davis, and Partridge Hill Roads; Eleanor Drive; and Fallon Circle.

Adding signage on West Street, including directly in front of the new apartment site, and posting traffic bound for 1-93 and the South Shore Plaza into Brooks Drive, as opposed to heading eastbound on West Street.

Allowing only residents to turn left onto Addison Street or Burton Road and right onto Partridge Hill Road or Davis Road from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

Adding ?“stop?” signs where Eleanor Drive meets Fallon Circle, Calvin Street meets Fallon Circle, and Davis Road meets Addison Street.

Restricting heavy commercial vehicles, except residents.
?“It was noted during discussions that access limitations depending upon residency are legally and practically impossible in some cases, including this one,?” Town Engineer Campbell wrote. ?“We reiterated that it is imperative that as many roads as possible be kept passable to commercial and non-commercial traffic to minimize the severity of traffic impacts overall, and we would have recommended the same at Fairfield and Holmes, had we been consulted.?”

TASC members ?“went over things that could be done,?” he recalled.

?“We could install a ?‘yield?’ sign where Eleanor Drive meets Fallon Circle and left or right turn arrow pictorial warning signs with supplemental 20 MPH speed plates where Davis Road meets Addison Street,?” Campbell wrote. ?“We can install ?‘children?’ warning signs at appropriate locations, and we can put out the ATRs initially at the intersection of Blossom and Davis Roads and on some of the other streets later when the threat of snow has passed.?”

He added, ?“It was noted that even where heavy commercial vehicle exclusions are not likely to be approved, neighbors are often able to achieve some relief on their own by contacting the companies and suggesting a reasonable alternate route. If no other party is responsible to erecting the ?‘to I-93?’ signs pointing into Brooks Drive, we will install them, along with the other signs mentioned, by utilizing traffic mitigation money held as part of the permitting processes for various locations.?”

As always, signs, markings, and manpower are subject to prioritization in the highway department, Campbell pointed out.

Finally, according to Campbell, there was a consensus that the timing for the Five Corners intersection signal may need to be adjusted.

?“There is a plan before MHD (Massachusetts Highway Department) to alter the sign just north of Five Corners, and we should be able to secure a review of the Five Corners signal phasing and timing as part of that permit,?” he wrote.

?“Following the meeting, Steve O?’Brien reported that he had talked to authorities at both Metro Equipment Corp. and Party by Design, and both indicated that they will instruct their drivers not to travel through the Granite Park neighborhood if it can be avoided,?” Campbell concluded.