State hit problematic pedestrian safety milestone in 2022Date: 8/1/2023 The safety of pedestrians and bicyclists along Massachusetts roadways headed in the wrong direction in 2022 as the state reached an unfortunate milestone.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation conducted an assessment on “vulnerable road users,” which revealed 101 pedestrians died in motor vehicle-related crashes last year, smashing the previous record of 83 in 2012. This did not include the 10 reported cyclist deaths in on-road incidents.
The 2022 figure represented a significant jump. According to the distributed assessment report, pedestrian deaths had dropped significantly in 2020 — when coronavirus pandemic restrictions were at their most stringent — and rose back to 76, a level comparable to most years between 2013 to 2019.
The data also illustrated that in addition to the fatalities, crashes resulting in serious injury for pedestrians also jumped from 250 in 2021 to 302 in 2022. That 2022 figure, however, was more in line with recent trends. From 2013 to 2019, the number of these incidents ranged from 290 to 346.
The 10 bicyclist deaths were a 100% increase over 2021, but did not represent a significant leap over recent averages. Since 2012 when there were 16 cyclist deaths, the state has experienced between 4 and 12 annually, though the track record had been better of late. 2022 represented the second time in five years that the number of cyclists killed exceeded five. From 2013 to 2017, six or more cyclists had died, and three times 10 or more died. With that said, cycling incidents that resulted in serious injury crept up to 124, matching previous recent highs in 2012 and 2014.
Reminder Publishing reviewed information available on MassDOT’s IMPACT dashboard for data on incidents involving local municipalities. MassDOT notes that there may be discrepancies in IMPACT data, which is updated based on reports by police departments. For example, IMPACT information only maps 99 pedestrian fatalities, compared to the number reported by the assessment report. Reminder Publishing reached out to MassDOT, but did not receive a response and was unable to identify the source of the discrepancy.
Chicopee was the site of five pedestrian fatalities, the most of any municipality in the 46 cities and towns making up Reminder Publishing’s Massachusetts coverage area. Two of those incidents occurred in a span of three days on Chicopee Street. A 68-year-old man was killed near 552 Chicopee St. on Nov. 27, followed by a 62-year-old man near 945 Chicopee St. on Nov. 30. Springfield Street was the site of two fatal incidents involving pedestrians in the same month involving a 34-year-old man near 482 Springfield St. on Oct. 8 and an 73-year-old woman was killed near 417 Springfield St. on Oct. 29. A 48-year-old man was also killed in an incident involving a dump truck on Granby Road in September.
A 63-year-old man was also killed while on his bike on Meadow Street in December.
The six total fatalities were among 27 pedestrian-related and 19 bicycle-related incidents in 2022. As of July 2023, Chicopee had seen 19 pedestrian-related crashes, including one fatal, according to IMPACT data. None of the 11 reported bicyclist-related crashes have resulted in death.
The issue of road safety has been one scrutinized by public officials, including in the budding race for mayor in Chicopee. Challenger and Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina López said the city was “neglecting traffic safety concerns,” alleging Mayor John Vieau failed to take immediate action to mitigate safety issues. She added, “Myself, and other councilors, have been met with resistance from the mayor on our proposals to increase pedestrian safety.”
Vieau, however, countered by saying that upgrades are currently being made including enhancing certain crosswalks and narrowing the crossing distance by putting in refuge islands and rectangular rapid flashing beacons. He added the Police Department’s traffic bureau was extremely active and had issued a new record in citations in 2022, with more than 6,000, though Reminder Publishing was unable to verify that number.
Reminder Publishing reached out to the Mayor’s Office for more information on safety and road improvement initiatives, but did not receive a response as of press time.
MassDOT data indicated Springfield had three deadly incidents involving pedestrians in 2022, however, Springfield Police Department spokesperson Ryan Walsh indicated there was a fourth not included in the state data. Per Walsh, in April, a 75-year-old woman was struck by a car and killed while walking on Interstate 291 near Exit 3. In June, a 46-year-old woman was killed on State Street near the intersection of State and Tilton streets. On Oct. 22, a 68-year-old man was killed near Liberty and Glover streets; this was not listed in the state’s data. On the afternoon of Dec. 14, a 62-year-old man was killed in the area of Dwight and Congress streets. Additionally, a 73-year-old man was killed on his bicycle in near Chestnut and Congress streets.
The MassDOT assessment also identified high-risk segments and intersections. Long stretches of State, Main, Chestnut and Dwight streets and Sumner and Eastern avenues were identified as primary risk segments for pedestrians. A map of the downtown area was dotted with primary risk intersections for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the city was pursuing grant-funded road projects aimed at improving pedestrian and motorist safety. In the meantime, he and Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood noted the Police Department’s efforts to curb unsafe practices and increase awareness.
“The city of Springfield is advancing 15 intersection and 11 corridor projects across the city to enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety. The city will be using Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant funding to pay for these projects,” said Sarno. “In addition to these roadway and pedestrian crossing projects, the Springfield Police Department continues proactive measures to help raise awareness about driver and pedestrian safety, including the deployment of the ‘Check Your Speed’ board, which are strategically positioned throughout the city to remind drivers to be mindful of their speed. Furthermore, Springfield police officers continue to hold numerous public safety initiatives, including holding Police Sector meetings with local neighborhood councils and residents to share important public safety information and initiatives.”
Clapprood added, “The issue of pedestrian safety has become not just a local issue but a state and national one. Distracted drivers and drivers that do not obey the speed limit not only put themselves in danger but also pedestrians and other drivers. The Springfield Police Department is committed to working with all of our municipal departments, and state and community partners to enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety across the city through a number of projects and initiatives.
“From improving roadway and pedestrian infrastructure, to traffic enforcement, the Springfield Police Department continues our proactive measures and initiatives to help raise awareness and remind drivers to watch their speed with the deployment of our speed board throughout the city. The SPD Traffic Division continues to work in partnership with the State Police and our neighborhoods to monitor traffic flow at areas and locations of concern and issue traffic citations as needed. We also support and work to raise awareness on important public safety initiatives including Distracted Driving, Safety Tips for Bicyclists and Pedestrians during Daylight Savings Time, and Back to School Safety Notices for Students and Crossing Guards, just to name a few,” she concluded.
So far in 2023, there has been one fatality reported to MassDOT out of 39 pedestrian-related and 27 bicycle-related incidents. A 50-year-old male pedestrian was killed on the 1000 block of St. James Avenue on June 15.
In West Springfield, two pedestrian fatalities occurred, including the heavily publicized incident in which Neely Murray, a 25-year-old woman, was killed in December while walking her dog on Piper Road near Monastery Avenue. That incident caused residents and lawmakers to rally for increased safety measures to protect pedestrians.
West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt told Reminder Publishing a project near that intersection was currently out to bid. The scope of that project includes the extension of the sidewalk on the north side of Monastery Avenue, replacement and relocation of the existing crosswalk with a high-visibility crossing with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and the installation of rectangular rapid-flashing beacon signals on Piper Road. He also provided information on the Complete Streets prioritization plan adopted in 2017, which includes improvements to high-use crossings, including those on Piper Road, Monastery Avenue, Morton Street and Kings Highway.
Additionally, an 81-year-old man died in an incident near River Street and Memorial Avenue in October. According to West Springfield Public Information Officer Sgt. Joseph LaFrance, the man was bumped by a vehicle in the crosswalk when a motorist stopped, looked to the left, then moved forward as the man crossed in front of the car. The driver was cited for blocking a crosswalk and the man was transported to the hospital with a hip injury and he died 20 days later, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Reichelt indicated that as a state numbered route, Memorial Avenue is “being completely reconstructed as part of the state’s Complete Streets Project.”
Two pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in Holyoke as well — a 37-year-old woman near South and Jubinville streets in February and a 67-year-old woman near West Franklin and Beech streets in March. While there have been no pedestrian deaths in Holyoke in 2023, a 22-year-old man was killed in a bicycle-related incident near Cabot and Canal streets on Jan. 5.
A request for comment from the Mayor’s Office and Police Department was unanswered as of press time.
Other 2022 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities reported by MassDOT within Reminder Publishing’s coverage area included:
Amherst: 19-year-old woman near 345 Massachusetts Ave., Feb. 22, 2022
Brimfield: 62-year-old woman on Route 20 East, near mile marker 91.6, Aug. 26, 2022
East Longmeadow: 62-year-old male bicyclist near 102 N. Main St., Oct. 27, 2022
Easthampton: 60-year-old woman near 113 Northampton St., Aug. 2, 2022
Monson: 56-year-old woman near 2 High St., Oct. 20, 2022
Northampton: 75-year-old man near 72 King St., June 1, 2022
Southwick: 61-year-old man near 195 College Hwy., Sept. 18, 2022
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