Bad news for walkers on Beaver Meadow Road. Town says traffic calming measures are not feasible

Town staff has concluded that most traffic calming measures for Beaver Meadow Road are not feasible at this time. That news is in the Town Manager’s report in the packet for the June 14, 2021 Selectboard meeting, beginning at page 30. It is likely a disappointment for residents along that stretch of Beaver Meadow Road, who have lobbied for a sidewalk since 2019. The earliest a sidewalk could probably be in place, by my guesstimate, is late 2023, assuming voters back the project at Town Meeting 2022.

Among the ideas considered: “paving widths, throttled travel lanes, caution signs, speed bumps, speed cart, and line striping.” FWIW, I have follow-up questions about the speed humps, fog lines, and speed cart. See below.

TM Report

Below is the excerpt from the Town Manager’s report related to traffic calming.

Beaver Meadow Road: TM has discussed some possible traffic calming measures in the interim of additional Town decision-making concerning the results of the scoping study for consideration of a new sidewalk on Beaver Meadow Road linking Moore Lane with the existing sidewalk near Huntley St. With the DPW Director, Planning & Zoning Director, and, to a degree, with the interim Police Chief, the TM has discussed at least: paving widths, throttled travel lanes, caution signs, speed bumps, speed cart, and line striping.

i. Since the area of study does not have a sidewalk in place, the potential for liability precludes trying to create “space” on the paved section of the roadway to try to accommodate non-vehicular/pedestrian use. As such, this rules out throttled travel lanes.
ii. Also, widening roadways with larger shoulders is known in many cases to actually lead to increased speeds, so this rules out adding additional paved shoulders.
iii. Despite speed humps existing in another location in Town, mostly due to potential liability issues, staff does not support installation of speed bumps.
iv. Because Beaver Meadow Road is a Class 2 Highway, the state stripes the center lines (but not any fog lines). The state contracts this service. It will get done when the state contractor is in the area, and usually with little to no notice.
v. It remains unclear whether fog lines will be painted. Based on a formal bidding process for this year’s town-wide striping, one bid was received. It exceeds the FYE 2022 budgeted amount and, to compound matters, it did not include the individual markings (stop bars, parking spaces, crosswalks, etc.) since the firm has no room to fit that into their schedule.
vi. It was agreed that some caution signage can be ordered and installed (e.g., “Pedestrians Ahead”, “Share the Road”, etc.)
vii. Also, it was agreed that a speed cart managed by the NPD and related directed patrols would also help. However, at present, though recommended by NPD, the budget currently does not include such expenditure. Additional authorization from the Selectboard and/or application for grant funding (if a source exists) would be necessary.

FWIW. Further inquiry?

I don’t know if Beaver Meadow Road residents were in the loop regarding these decisions. However, I have some questions that might be worthy of further inquiry. Maybe, they have been asked and answered before.

What is the liability issue on speed humps? Norwich has speed humps on another road in Town. Have there been damage claims? Also, if an ordinance is in place and signs warn motorists, why is a municipality liable? The 2020 Traffic Calming Manual for Burlington, VT supports the use of speed humps. The manual also notes several disadvantages but liability to third-parties is not one of them.

Has the Town considered painting fog lines just on a few roads? The Town Manager’s report above mentions that town-wide stripping was a budget buster. Fair enough. However, is there value to bidding out a smaller project? Plus, what are the takeaways from the failed bid process? Do we need to budget more? Will crosswalks go unpainted this year?

Is the Town Manager or Selectboard willing to push for the purchase of a speed monitor sign? The Police Department recommended a speed cart, such as the one at the base of Union Village Road before it becomes Main Street, for Beaver Meadow Road. Does the Selectboard or Town Manager actively support that proposal? Can money be “found” in the budget for it?

A fixed radar feedback speed sign costs between $2000 – $4000, according to my Google search. A portable cart/trailer costs around $10,000, according to another search. Since the amount budgeted for road stripping is not going to be used this year, can it be allocated to a speed cart?

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