Since my last post about this dangerous intersection, the city has addressed some of those concerns and the city council has voted to keep the changes with a few additions. Basically the recommendations of Sean Roche have been followed. A few days ago In the afternoon, I watched traffic flowing nicely with several bikers and pedestrians crossing safely. Unfortunately I also saw pedestrians crossing Lowell unsafely both at the bottom of the hill over the pike and in the middle of the bridge.
FlexStake bright yellow traffic posts are extending the curb cuts at all corners except the right side corner on Austin Street going west requiring cars to slow down making turns. Cars making left turns onto Austn Street from Lowell going south are made to slow because Austin is more narrow. I actually heard two drivers turning left onto Austin complaining that they had to slow down too much, much to my delight. These flexible posts are much better than painted lines.
A large, tall pedestrian crossing sign is facing traffic on Lowell coming over the bridge going south and a smaller one is at crosswalk facing traffic on Lowell going north. Yellow bumper like strips, “truncated domes,” are on the sidewalks at the end of crosswalks. They are tactile paving used as guidance for the visually impaired.
Thank you Newton.
This is great to see. This has been a dangerous intersection in our Newtonville community for far too long. Hopefully we can do something about Lowell & Washington next.
Just went through there today and was happy to see this.
This is a dangerous intersection and I’m happy to see the city address it, but the the current solution needs a bit of tweaking. The sight lines as you turn left from Austin St. onto Lowell is the main problem drivers need to concentrate on for a safe crossing, and the sidewalk sign in the middle of Lowell is an added distraction. I either come close to hitting it or look away from the oncoming traffic on Lowell to avoid it. Obviously, pedestrian safety is of the highest concern, but perhaps there’s a better way to warn drivers. I also question whether this is a safe enough intersection to encourage pedestrian crossing without some kind of warning to take extra precautions. Those pedestrian signs are usually on straightaway streets and not at a major (and dangerous) intersections.
Are cyclists supposed to go around the yellow poles, or inside them?
Having ridden along roads with these, you can only go around them. Actually, it’s a bit of a design flaw, in my opinion.
On Waltham Street, I’ve approached the poles several times with cars coming up behind me. In theory, the cars are supposed to stay behind me (and some do) but often cars are in a hurry and will just drive right up next to me on the reduced space, leaving me with little room and nowhere to go.
This appears to be a temporary intervention. It looks like the permanent fix will be curb extensions covering the areas delineated by the flexposts. Hopefully the city can clarify that here.
Congrats and thanks to the Traffic Folks in DPW and Planning who have been both, very pro-active, and when needed, reactive on addressing street issues such as Lowell and Austin.
The current set-up of yellow sticks is used to test, build habits, and research alternatives, but as you must know, before the snow flies they will be removed/replaced (with changes in infrastructure as needed). The knowledge gained will go a long way in making the streets safer for everyone.
I have found our new traffic director, Jason Sobel to be a creative problem solver. The gentleman who lives closest to that intersection has been sending pictures to me and Jason (and his predecessors over the years) regarding how dangerous this intersection is. About 2 months ago I met with Jason at that intersection and at the one at Lowell and Commonwealth. He immediately came up with a short-term ( a crosswalk stanchion) and a long-term solution that was really cool – but much more expensive than the solution he has trialed out there now. Thanks to the bike users who have highlighted a problem with the current solution and I’ll copy and paste them into an email to him right now. It seems to me that this trial is really helping.