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Date: 8/15/2023
AMHERST — A unanimous vote at the Aug. 7 Town Council meeting has pushed review of an updated policy governing town streetlights into the fall.
Following public comment on the matter, council members picked up discussion covering concerns of reducing lighting and reducing safety at the same time.
The Amherst Streetlights Policy, first brought before the council in 2022 will be subject to additional scrutiny by the Transportation Advisory Committee, Town Services and Outreach Committee as well as the Governance, Organization and Legislation and Finance Committee. Those reviews would be expected to be complete by October or November. A review by the Finance Committee prior to a vote was also proposed.
Issues raised in the initial proposal sponsored by Councilors Mandi Jo Hanneke and Ana Devlin Gauthier addressed lighting zones based upon street usage by pedestrians and cyclists as well vehicular traffic in addition to concerns of light pollution in vulnerable areas in town.
Councilor Anika Lopes noted the differing priorities in the first proposal that was in two parts addressing both primary issues while looking at the in-town lifestyle as well as the appreciation for the night sky.
“There are many different elements that are being brought up for safety concerns,” she said. “With this pause it really does give us a chance to look at walkability in its entirety and holistically.”
Council comments also addressed locations like intersections and bus stops and the potential to make some streets darker.
The dangers presented by annual new residents was noted by Councilor Jennifer Taub who lives on a major connector street to the University of Massachusetts and agreed that more time was needed for input by the traffic and safety experts as well as education for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Students are new residents every year and we don’t have a lot of time to educate people,” she said. “I see cyclists who probably don’t know or don’t heed what they do know, bicycling down Lincoln Avenue, Sunset Avenue or Amity Street at night, without lights on the bike, in dark jackets and it’s quite terrifying because as a driver you don’t see them until you’re very close.”
Councilor Dorothy Pam mirrored Taub’s comments, suggesting the town get a head start on an education program for bike and pedestrian safety, prior to any permanent policy changes.
The council passed the motion to postpone a vote on the proposal until Nov. 20 following review by the other committees.