Traffic Calming hits the Traffic Commission: Voice your support!

If you ask any elected official in Melrose to name the number one complaint they receive from residents, they’ll probably all give you the same answer: speeding and unsafe driving. Despite this, there is no formal body residents have historically been able to petition to comprehensively address unsafe streets in their neighborhood. Residents can seek relief via the Traffic Commission, but there’s a catch: the Commission’s scope is limited, generally only holding hearings on “rules and regulations” (e.g. parking restrictions, or banning right turns on red) and “signs, signals, and markings” (e.g. new stop signs).

This week, though, something unusual is happening: the Traffic Commission is hearing a resident request for traffic calming on Franklin Street. This is the first time since 2017 that a similar request has made it to the agenda. That makes this a rare opportunity to have your voice heard on the subject of traffic calming and slower vehicle speeds. Even if you don’t think that the specific resident request (which is for speed bumps) is the right solution for that area (we don't either), if you care about encouraging safer streets through traffic calming, we encourage you to tell the city that you support infrastructure that will slow vehicle speeds on Franklin Street.

Why is the commission taking up this unusual request? We aren’t certain. The traffic commission does not have purview over street engineering decisions. The last time they substantially discussed traffic calming was in 2018, in part of a discussion about replacing the signals at Warwick & Perkins. At that time, DPW floated an alternative design which would have eliminated the signals in favor of a raised intersection with a four-way stop sign. That idea ultimately fell through because there was “not a consensus” in the neighborhood. This time around, there is no scheduled roadwork in the vicinity, though this block is locally notorious for unsafe driving: the “Welcome to Melrose Highlands” sign at the corner of Franklin & Vinton had to be moved recently after drivers kept destroying it, and the city’s most recent traffic fatality occurred on this block.

The resident request is for “speed bumps,” and the request is only for the eastbound lane, i.e. heading into Melrose Highlands. We think that both the “inbound” and “outbound” lanes should be slowed. We also think that while traditional speed bumps are not right for this high volume location, something like a speed hump or a speed table would be appropriate, including in the form of raised mid-block crosswalk. These can be made to accommodate emergency vehicle and MBTA access, and can even be trialed using temporary materials. Numerous other cities and towns are pursuing formal traffic calming programs of their own using elements such as these.

Would you like to encourage the city to take a more proactive approach to traffic calming in our neighborhoods? Do you think it’s important that a formal process be put in place for residents to be able to petition the city for neighborhood traffic calming improvements? We do too! If you’re in support of traffic calming at the Melrose Highlands, please write the clerk of the traffic commission by 5PM on Wednesday 6/16 and say that you support traffic calming in the Melrose Highlands. Residents can also attend the meeting by following instructions on the city website.

A strong show of support at this hearing makes it more likely that the city will see the need take the need for traffic calming more seriously —which will be a win for everybody, particularly for our most vulnerable road users. If the city chooses to conduct a traffic calming pilot here — using temporary, movable materials — we believe that it would set a great model moving forward, giving residents a new way to help make their neighborhoods safer and more people-friendly. Take five minutes now and write the city to show your support!