Where there’s a will, there’s a Waze
Cut-through traffic that has riled neighbors of Kelwyn Manor and Mary Street for years has a surprise coming in September.
Selectmen voted, 4-0, Monday, Aug. 22, to begin a six-month pilot program establishing do-not-enter signs at key intersections along Lake Street.
Former Selectman Jack Hurd, who lives in the neighborhood and helped work out the traffic plan, says cut-throughs have continued for more than a decade and are increasing.
Many are apparently guided by Waze, a traffic-rerouting app used to avoid backups on Lake Street. Hurd and Officer Corey Rateau estimated 250 cars cutting through on Kelwyn Manor. On Mary a morning count was 350, ballooning to as many as 700 in the afternoon rush.
What the changes are
Rateau said he expected do-not-enter signs to be more effective than those saying no right turn.
In 27 years on the board, Selectman Kevin Greeley said, “This has to be my 10th time discussing changes on Lake.” He asked what effect the plan would have on residents.
Rateau basically said he expected that the changes to have little impact on how home owners make their way through these neighborhoods.
Two residents praised the proposals.
Rateau said he expected Waze to pick up the changes and keep Lake Street motorist from cutting through. The Waze website says: “In addition to the local communities of drivers using the app, Waze is also home to an active community of online map editors who ensure that the data in their areas is as up-to-date as possible.”
An Aug. 18 from Town Manager Adam W. Chapdelaine to the selectmen titled “Pilot Signage Program to Address Traffic Concerns on Mary Street and Kelwyn Manor” says:
“As the board is aware, residents of both Kelwyn Manor and Mary Street have expressed serious concern about the volume and speed of traffic utilizing neighborhood streets as means of avoiding congestion on Lake Street. After meeting with residents, and town staff from the Police Department and DPW (Engineering & Highway), we have agreed that these concerns are well founded, and are potentially exacerbated by apps such as Waze, that direct drivers onto neighborhood streets.”
Under the recommended six-month pilot sign program, which the board approved, police are to conduct volume counts during the week of Sept. 5. Then these signs will erected Sept. 12 and continue through Feb. 28:
o Wilson Avenue: Do Not Enter, 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.;
o Littlejohn Street: Do Not Enter, 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.; and
o Homestead Road: Do Not Enter, 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
Police plan to conduct volume counts during pilot period as well as enforcement as resources permit.
The memo says: “We are proposing these measures as a pilot program so that we can both gauge the effectiveness of the recommendations, and also to provide an opportunity to monitor any potential unintended consequences that may result from the program. In addition to the measures listed above, APD staff will be contacting the company responsible for the Waze app to discuss our concerns and investigate any solutions that might be possible.”
Other votes
In other transportation-related matters business, the board approved recommendations from the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) , 4-0:
— For a crosswalk on Warren Street at Wyman Street and Beacon Street, after Scott Smith, TAC Working Group lead, said all criteria were met;
— To establish a sign that says “No Parking from 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM” at 14-16 Mill St. TAC Chair Howard Muise said the change would ease rush-hour jams on Mill up to Mass. Ave.
The board also approved these requests:
— To remove a red maple tree at 58 Richfield Road brought by Cynthia Johnston, who provided photos showing the root damage the town-planted tree has caused over the years;
— For parking-restriction waivers on Tufts and Foster streets for the 2016-2017 school year from Deanne Benson, head of Lesley School;
— Signs and timing for posting them for the Running with Friends 5K, to be held Sept. 11;
— One-day beer-and-wine license for Sept. 10 at Town Hall Auditorium for a private wedding;
— One-day beer-and-wine license for the third annual Moonlight Beach Party set for Sept. 17 at Arlington Reservoir Beach; and
— One-day beer-and-wine license for the Arlington Historical Society’s wine reception set for Sept. 30 at the Smith Museum.
This news summary was published Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016.
