Winchester Selectmen Address Traffic Concerns

Traffic and parking is becoming an increasing problem around Winchester. The town is currently to see if would help alleviate some of the congestion in the town center.

But the recently took action on other parts of town to try and relieve some parking issues.

Hemingway Street and Main Street

The Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) recommended to the board, bumping out the south side of the curb line and adding a stop condition to the south side of Hemingway Street with a “Do Not Enter” sign.

According to the report, two-way traffic would remain on the north side of Hemingway. The report stated that this would “reduce the overall pedestrian crosswalk length across the road, which has been the main expressed by residents.”

The board approved the design change, which would be constructed in FY ’13, by a vote of 3-1. Selectman Jim Johnson voted in the negative.

“The road’s not wide enough to have a two-way road and parking,” he said. “It’s not wide enough for three cars.”

According to Town Engineer, Beth Rudolph, the TAC only addresses issues brought about from residents, and the length of the crosswalk, the speed of traffic and people making u-turns were the main concerns. She said the TAC was not asked to look at parking.

“If we have a situation we should look at all of it,” Johnson said.

Acting Department of Public Works Director, Jay Gill, said that they could try this out for a temporary basis and if it doesn’t work, the board could always elect to change it.

Everett Avenue and the Boat Club

The TAC had recommended that existing signage along Everett Avenue – “No Parking – May 1 to October 1” – between Cambridge Street and Edgewater Place be kept in place. According to TAC, “the signage had been placed last summer to address vehicular and pedestrian safety concerns in this area.”

The expressed safety concerns for parents dropping off their kids for the boat club.

The TAC recommended and the board unanimously approved relocating the seasonal no parking signs to the north side of Everett Avenue, between the end of the island and Sheffield West.

Crosswalk at Main Street

Alice Lombardo on behalf of the Wedgewood Place Condominium at 666 Main Street requested a crosswalk in front of the building. According to Lombardo, residents need to travel quite a distance either up or down Main Street to cross the roadway.

According to the TAC, the nearest crosswalk is 780-feet north, at the intersection of Main, Lake and Skillings. The TAC recommended, and the board unanimously approved a crosswalk be installed from 654 Main Street to the sidewalk between 643 and 661 Main Street.