Traffic Commission Approves Speed Mitigation Measures on Edgebrook Road

FRAMINGHAM - The Framingham Traffic Commission voted to approve speed mitigation measures along Edgebrook Road during their meeting on Tuesday, November 26.

The group’s decision is the latest development in a situation that has spanned months. Back in May, residents along Edgebrook Road cited concerns to the commission related to safety. Those in the area said that speeding along the throughway off of Edgell Road and Brook Street has left children, elderly citizens, and attendees of the Assembléia de Deus Colheita church at risk. In turn, homeowners and local leaders like District 3 City Councilor Adam Steiner called on the Traffic Commission to take action on a petition that was filed with the city.

“It is not a majority: every single neighbor on the street signed the petition for this to be done,” Edgebrook Road resident Ted Geller told the Traffic Commission during last Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’s been an ongoing problem.”

Since the application for traffic calming measures on Edgebrook Road was submitted, the Framingham Police Department and Department of Public Works have been tracking vehicle volume and speed in the area. In turn, Acting Director of Transportation Engineering for the city and the Traffic Commission’s DPW representative Matthew Hayes outlined a report on November 26 that recommended laying out traffic calming measures. Those steps, which were ultimately approved by the group, will likely include the installation of speed bumps.

Hayes mentioned that the budget for the project is $50,000, through a source of municipal money that has not been utilized during the current fiscal year. His recommendation featured up to $15,000 for design and engineering work. Hayes noted that any measures to mitigate traffic on Edgebrook Road would be installed in the spring at the earliest.

The creation of sidewalks was mentioned as another potential strategy to increase safety along Edgebrook Road during the most recent Traffic Commission meeting. Framingham DPW Director Bob Lewis explained that the city has a finite amount of general capital money to maintain and build sidewalks.

“Sidewalks is [sic] a really, really hot topic, and we have limited funds to maintain the ones that we have,” Lewis continued.

“But we would entertain a petition to put a sidewalk in neighborhoods such as Edgebrook.”

The Traffic Commission meeting came days before the Framingham Police Department reported that an 81-year-old died by Edgell Road and Frost Street—about a mile away from Edgebrook Road—the morning of Monday, December 2.

Authorities advised that day that the operator of the vehicle involved in the incident did stay on the scene, while no charges have been filed as of the time of publication. The fatality is still under investigation by local, county, and state officials.

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