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Traffic Committee

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Committees: Traffic Committee

Traffic Committee

The Traffic Committee is an advisory committee and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for implementation.  It considers all aspects of traffic and safety issues which are brought to the Committee's attention from citizens as well as Town Departments.  For many years it consisted of representatives of the Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Parking Clerk, Planning Board, and Light Department.  In 1997, the committee was reorganized to include three citizen representatives, appointed for three year terms, plus the Police Chief (Chairman), Fire Chief, Town Planner and DPW Superintendent.

The Traffic Committee exists to assist Hingham residents and business owners with ways to alleviate traffic concerns in all areas of the Town. The Traffic Committee does not have the power to implement changes but rather recommends proposals to the Board of Selectmen.

Should a resident or merchant have a topic to bring before the Traffic Committee, they should make a written request to the Board of Selectmen, cc: Chief Michael Peraino, Hingham Police Department. Questions regarding traffic issues can by addressed by Sgt. Steven Dearth, Traffic Sergeant, Hingham Police Department, 781-749-1212.

2011 Report

The Traffic Committee exists to assist Hingham residents and business owners with ways to alleviate traffic concerns in all areas of the Town. The Traffic Committee does not have the power to implement changes but rather recommends proposals to the Board of Selectmen.

The issue of South Elementary School overflow parking on Independence Lane was raised by Independence Lane residents as well as other residents from Liberty Pole. The situation resulted in safety issues for school children as well as a safety hazard created by vehicles blocking access of fire trucks in the event of an emergency. After multiple meetings (and including the input of the School Department/Traffic Study Subcommittee), it was determined that signage was necessary as a traffic measure to improve the situation and enable the Police Department to provide enforcement. The Traffic Committee recommended to the Board of Selectmen that "No Parking Anytime" signs be posted at the triangle at Independence Lane and Liberty Pole Road and within 20 feet of the intersection (as required by Town parking regulations). Also recommended was that "School Zone" signs be posted on Liberty Pole Road between Main Street and the exit of South School and on Liberty Pole Road near the intersection of Independence Lane. Lastly, it was recommended that "No Parking Anytime" signs be posted on the odd numbered side of Independence Road from the end of the 20 feet area of the triangle to the north side of the driveway of 7 Independence Lane. These recommendations were made by the Traffic Committee and approved by the Board of Selectmen and have been implemented as such.

A request was brought to the Traffic Committee by Michael Fitzpatick, Development Manager at Samuels & Associates and Paul Wahlberg of Alma Nove and Wahlbergers for three (3) parking spaces to be designated as 15 minute parking along with the need for additional handicap parking on Shipyard Drive. The three spaces to be converted from two hour parking limit to 15 minute parking are adjacent to Wahlburgers (which was under construction at the time) and are in the vicinity of other restaurants whose patrons would also benefit from this change. The three spaces designated as 15 minute parking would be available for all customers of the Launch and not specific to any one tenant. The Traffic Committee made the recommendation to the Board of Selectmen who gave their approval. The 15 minute parking has been implemented and the additional handicap parking space adjacent to Hingham Beerworks is slated for construction and completion in the Spring of 2012.

A Downer Avenue resident brought forth the issue of the MBTA bus stop adjacent to his property asking that it be moved due to the fact that other stops are located nearby and that riders cut across his lawn leaving litter in their wake. The Traffic Committee recommended to the Board of Selectmen that the bus stop remain at its current location but that they contact the MBTA to request that bus drivers stop at the designated stop (even if it means blocking the intersection) by the crosswalk and ascertain how this works. It has been observed that the bus does not stop at the proper stop but further away to avoid blocking the intersection.

A Road Safety Audit for Cushing Street was conducted in June by the Mass. Department of Transportation at the request of the Traffic Committee. This stems from a request from a Cushing Street resident for the installation of a guard rail in the vicinity of 399 Cushing Street. According to the draft report, the most pressing recommendation was for improved lighting in the vicinity of 406 Cushing Street. The installation of two street lights was approved by the Board of Selectmen. Another suggestion was to install pavement markings and delineators (such as fog lines), trim vegetation and overgrowth as well as improve signage. The final report will be presented at a future meeting.

Sgt. Dearth conducted a review of crashes at the Derby/Whiting and Gardner Street intersection and found that it was the second highest in crashes in all of Hingham with 12 crashes, three injuries and five vehicles towed. Six of the crashes involved vehicles making a left turn from Derby Street onto Gardner Street. This was due to the fact that the delayed green signal does not have left turn arrow. Without the arrow, drivers are not expecting the oncoming traffic to advance which resulted in crashes. A solution would be to have a red/green arrow as well as a dedicated turn lane. Sgt. Dearth forwarded the study as well as the suggestions for improvement to Mass Highway for their review.

Should a resident or merchant have a topic to bring before the Traffic Committee, they should make a written request to the Board of Selectmen, cc: Chief Michael Peraino, Hingham Police Department. Questions regarding traffic issues can be addressed to Sgt. Steven Dearth, Traffic Sergeant, Hingham Police Department, 781-804-2205.

Chief Michael J. Peraino, Chairman (Rep. by Sgt. Steven Dearth)
Paul Healey, Planning Board
James Costello
Chief Mark Duff (Rep. by Lt. John Haley)
Scott Peterson, Esq.
Dan Zivkovich
Harry Sylvester, Dept. of Public Works