Commission to talk about Northampton High School safety issues in January

Date: 1/3/2023

NORTHAMPTON – The Transportation and Parking Commission plans to talk about safety issues surrounding the Northampton High School during their next meeting on Jan. 17, according to DPW Director Donna LaScaleia.

Background

For the past year, the Northampton Transportation and Parking Commission and various entities throughout the city have been working together to find different ways through which traffic issues around Northampton Public Schools can be mitigated.

Back in October 2021, Reminder Publishing reported on a meeting conducted by the Transportation and Parking Commission during which LaScaleia, school officials, and members of the public joined to disperse ideas on the matter since Northampton High School (NHS) administrators noted a high level of car activity during pick up and drop off times. Days prior to that meeting, a fatal cyclist crash occurred at the intersection of Elm Street and Woodlawn due to a distracted driver.

Additionally, at the end of January, one of the crossing guards at NHS was struck by a vehicle in an apparent hit-and-run incident. During a meeting in February, LaScaleia met with the School Committee to discuss short- and long-term strategies for improving traffic safety after months of concern throughout the district.

In another incident last month, a 15-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle while using the crosswalk outside of the school. The driver who struck the boy was looking at their rearview mirror because they believed that the vehicle behind them was tailgating. When the driver struck the boy, the car behind them rear-ended the driver’s vehicle.

Since then

During a Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee meeting, Director of Planning and Sustainability Carolyn Misch said the city is currently exploring the possibility of lighting the crosswalk outside the school. They are also in the process of finishing an engineering city.

“I think the city is considering putting a pedestrian-cycle light on the high school side of the crosswalk,” said Misch. “I know it’s been a topic of conversation.”

The subcommittee eventually voted to recommend that the Transportation and Parking look at temporary measures to address safety issues at the high school while the city embarks on long-term permanent solutions to the issue.