Braintree Launches Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
Braintree, MA – Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan announced today that the Town of Braintree Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works and Braintree Police Department are launching a new traffic calming initiative called the “Braintree Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.” The program seeks to better serve residents living in busy neighborhoods by implementing traffic calming measures such as increased signage, speed cushions/humps, and raised crosswalks.
Using guidelines developed by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the City of Boston “Slow Streets” initiative, the program contains measures that will aim to reduce traffic congestion, allow for easier pedestrian movement, and limit the impact of vehicles on specific areas. “We have been active with the establishment of bicycle lanes, audible crosswalks, and speed humps in various neighborhoods which have made a difference,” said Sullivan. “This new strategic traffic calming program will take us to a higher level for improving access to our public ways and increasing public safety. This program, together with our current 100 Roads Program, Complete Streets Grant initiative, Sidewalk Scanning for ADA compliance, and increased investments in traffic enforcement —Braintree is becoming a model for the South Shore regarding pedestrian access and safety.”
The program is a co-productive effort between local neighborhoods and the Town of Braintree; to ensure long-term sustainability, neighbors within a particular residential zone must work together to gather support, select preferred traffic calming measures and submit an application. The Town will subsequently review applications and compile specific neighborhood data for review. Collected data will include vulnerable users within a zone (elderly and children), levels of community support (petitions and letters), crash history, speed enforcement data, as well as proximity to schools and public transportation. This combined qualitative and quantitative data will then determine which areas of Town are priorities for implementation beginning spring of 2019.
Applications are now available and will be due by Friday, October 5th to the Mayor’s Office. For more information about the program, offered traffic calming measures, the Towns review process, or application instructions, please visit: www.braintreema.gov/trafficcalming or contact the Mayor’s Office at 781-794-8100 or mayorsoffice@braintreema.gov.
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