East Bridgewater Reduces Speed Limit on Summit Drive Following Residents' Concerns
Select Board approves 25 mph limit, plans for radar monitoring while also reviewing MBTA Communities zoning requirements
EAST BRIDGEWATER - April 28 - The East Bridgewater Select Board votes to reduce the speed limit on Summit Drive to 25 miles per hour after residents express concerns about safety, particularly for children in the neighborhood.
During Monday's meeting, three Summit Drive residents presented their case for a lower speed limit, citing the narrow width of the street, lack of sidewalks, and the presence of approximately 19 young children who live or visit the area.
"We're here because of our grandchildren, not for us," says Rich Ferioli of Summit Drive, who conducted research on stopping distances at various speeds. "At 30 miles an hour, the stopping distance on a dry road with a 2 percent incline, which is on our street, is 107 feet. At 25 miles an hour, it's 84 feet."
Ferioli explains that Summit Drive is narrower than the average East Bridgewater street at just 20 feet wide, compared to the town average of 24 feet. The street has no sidewalks, leaving pedestrians vulnerable.
Jack Darlington of Summit Drive notes increased traffic concerns. "There's a lot of traffic on that street these days with package delivery people. There's another seven houses down the end of the street that they put in a few years back."
The residents initially hoped for a 20 mph limit but learned through Massachusetts Department of Transportation research that speed limit signs alone typically produce only temporary reductions in speed.
"According to the Department of Transportation, it only works for a while until the novelty wears off, and then people go back to their old speed again," Ferioli says.
The residents also requested consideration of speed humps, similar to those installed on Scotland Street in West Bridgewater, as a more effective solution.
Town Administrator Charlie Seelig notes that the Department of Public Works has historically opposed speed humps due to concerns about maintenance costs and the potential for numerous similar requests throughout town.
"One of the reasons we've talked about signs going up and everybody wants a sign is the same challenge for him once we put a speed hump in any particular road is he'll get a hundred requests," Seelig explains.
Chair David Sheedy acknowledges the limitations of signage without enforcement. "Signs don't work, it's that simple. Enforcement works if there's signs there, but again, you have to be there at the right time."
Despite these challenges, the board unanimously approves reducing the speed limit to 25 mph and directs the DPW to install appropriate signage, including a radar sign that displays drivers' speeds.
The Traffic Safety Committee had previously recommended this approach, along with requesting police monitoring of the area.
Vice Chair Peter Spagone expresses support for the residents' request. "I think it adds a lot more to what we're trying to do as a board. I agree these thickly settled areas should probably have a limited speed limit of 25 for sure."
In other business, the board receives a detailed presentation from Jason Desrosier, Senior Planner for Housing and Public Engagement with the Old Colony Planning Council, regarding the town's compliance with the MBTA Communities law.
The law requires 177 municipalities in eastern Massachusetts to zone for multi-family housing at a density of 15 units per acre. For East Bridgewater, this means creating a zoning district of at least 50 acres that could theoretically accommodate up to 750 residential units.
Desrosier emphasizes that the law only requires zoning changes, not actual construction. "The MBTA community zoning bylaw does not require any development to happen, just zone for multi-family housing. The town does not have to produce units, it just has to zone to allow housing production."
The proposed zoning district includes 11 parcels south of the Whitman-East Bridgewater town line, with Route 18 to the east and Winter Street to the west. Two parcels are town-owned, three are part of an already-approved 40B development, three belong to NSTAR Electric Company, one is owned by Hornstra Farms, and two are privately owned.
Desrosier notes that much of the land is categorized as wetlands, creating natural constraints on development. "You can't build either in the wetlands or in the buffer areas. That takes up a significant part of the overall zone that's being proposed."
Failure to adopt the zoning changes could result in the loss of eligibility for 13 state grants and potential litigation from the Attorney General's office. In recent years, East Bridgewater has received over $800,000 in grants that could be at risk, including funds for sidewalks, police staffing, and infrastructure projects.
The Planning Board will hold a hearing on the proposed zoning changes on May 5, with the matter going before Town Meeting on May 12.
In other actions, the Select Board:
- Appoints Susan Prendergast as Council on Aging Director
- Approves the transfer of a liquor license from Old Standish Grill to BJB Restaurants, which plans to open Town Tavern and Tap at 175 North Bedford Street
- Recognizes police and fire department personnel for their rescue of an injured tree worker
- Approves several administrative items including meeting minutes and committee appointments
The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for May 5.