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Date: 2/16/2022
NORTHAMPTON – The Department of Public Works (DPW) is working with various entities within the city to find different ways through which traffic issues around Northampton Public Schools can be mitigated.
During a meeting on Feb. 10, DPW Director Donna LaScaleia met with the School Committee to discuss short- and long-term strategies for improving traffic safety after months of concern throughout the district.
Back in October, 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 a 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. The crossing guard was medically evaluated on scene, according to a statement sent out by NHS Principal Lori Vaillancourt.
According to LaScaleia, the DPW has been working with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Superintendent John Provost, Police Chief Jody Kasper, and the Northampton Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to understand the traffic issues around the high school, and to implement as much action as they can. The PTO specifically sent out a survey to residents to hear their thoughts and concerns regarding the issue.
While there are certain constraints to what they can do, like changing speed limits due to an extremely tedious process, LaScaleia said that the city does have the ability to “clear the road” of parking using signage as a short-term solution, which is something that can be done through special order of the chief of police. The city experimented with this mitigation plan by implementing an emergency use at the Woodlawn intersection to remove cars from the side of the roadway to open up crosswalk sight lines in the crowded intersection. This type of short-term strategy was discussed back in the fall, as well.
“We were able to immediately implement that action after the bicycle fatality at that intersection,” said LaScaleia, adding that those signs are still in place. “That was something we could do very quickly.”
The City Council also passed an ordinance brought forth by the Transportation and Parking Commission that removed a U-turn at the intersection of Elm and North Elm streets to prevent crashes.
As part of the next step, the DPW has put in a request for a traffic study around the entire high school area. According to LaScaleia, the city gave specific instructions to their consultant, and used results from a survey sent out by the PTO as a backbone of what the city is asking for. The city is asking the roadway consultants working on the study to provide a “detail analysis” of traffic counts and turning movements of cars at the main intersection of Elm and North Elm, as well as where Woodlawn meets Elm.
“We’re specifically asking them to look and tell us if a signalized intersection is warranted there … if a roundabout may geometrically fit in there somehow,” said LaScaleia, adding that the study would also uncover any potential modifications to Woodlawn Avenue, including a possible student drop-off zone on Route 9, or any other scenarios. “We have to present every possibility that we can think of,” said LaScaleia. “The engineering study is really a first step in assessing a longer-term solution to the area.” A report could be ready by the end of the school year, according to LaScaleia.
During the meeting, Vaillancourt noted that there has been an increase in pedestrian traffic during this point in the pandemic due to less students who are ride sharing. Additionally, the high school’s start time coincides with a change in shifts at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, which also causes an increase in congestion.
“It’s clear that we need to shift some of our drop off and pickup patterns,” said Vaillancourt. Currently, student drivers are parking at the lower lot at the school, while people dropping off students are exiting in the same entrance of the bus loop. “It’s definitely not working, and we need to figure out a new system,” said Vaillancourt, adding that she is working with a team currently to develop solutions to this problem.
A brief update from the Northampton PTO on their Facebook page explained that a core group of parents are meeting with representatives from Friends of Northampton Trails, Mass Bikes, and the NHS Student Union to share updates about recent interventions, including an elimination of some parking spaces and ban of the U-turn at the crosswalk, an addition of a crossing guard, new signs and consideration of more parking bans. Additionally, the PTO has been working with the Northampton Transportation and Parking Commission to implement short-term changes while planning for longer-term traffic management solutions.
“The NHS PTO is committed to working with the city and community partners until the safety of pedestrians, bikers, students, staff, neighbors, and the community, is improved in the vicinity of the high school,” read the post.
“It sounds like there’s a real opportunity for us as a School Committee and as a district to think about the work we can do, given that the DPW is doing all they can on their end,” said School Committee member Dina Levi. “I hope we as a district can do all that we can to be able to support the work that the PTO and DPW are doing.”
“I really appreciate the engagement of so many within the high school community who have reached out to me with phone calls or emails,” said LaScaleia. “Even when I’ve been on sight watching traffic flow, just folks coming up and sharing their thoughts.”