Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/26/2022
CHICOPEE – Neighbors of Litwin Elementary School aired grievances with ongoing safety issues impacting nearby streets, such as Moreau Drive, Olko Circle, Olko Court, Post Road and Angela Drive, during a Public Safety Committee meeting on Oct. 21. The meeting featured leaders from the Police Department, School Department and DPW alongside members of the City Council.
David Rossi, a 57-year resident on Moreau Drive, presented a petition with 120 signatures as a part of his extensive presentation to the committee. Rossi cited a number of eye-witness accounts and videos recorded via cameras from his residence that showcased motorists speeding, not stopping for school buses during student pick-up/drop-off, ignoring a nearby four-way stop sign, and failing to allow students the right-of-way to cross the street.
The neighboring streets of Litwin Elementary School endure hundreds of motorists daily Monday through Friday. On election day, the streets experience three times their normal traffic, according to Rossi.
“This is only about the safety of our school children tonight ... our school children need safety improvements,” said Rossi.
Rossi cycled through three videos that showcased driving infractions. One video shows a car speeding past a school bus while its stop sign was activated for student pick-up.
“We see this time and time again … [the driver] obviously didn’t have any regard for the safety of these students,” said Rossi.
Rossi shared that he and his neighbors have notified WestComm Police Dispatch and the Chicopee Police Traffic Bureau over the past three years regarding their concerns. He also said he initially gathered his neighborhood petition and presented it during a May 21, 2021, committee meeting.
As a part of his presentation, Rossi suggested a series of solutions compiled by the neighborhoods. The list called for an increased Police Department presence during peak volume hours of 7:30 through 9:30 a.m. and 2 through 4 p.m., an expansion of the current school zone that reduces the impacted streets’ speed limits to 20 mph, the repainting of existing traffic markings and stop lines, increased advocacy against speeding and the installation of speed tables on Moreau Drive, Olko Circle and Angela Drive.
“Most kids have it tough enough today, our Chicopee kids need this and Chicopee needs this,” said Rossi.
Chicopee Police Capt. Holly Cote shared a report compiled on driving activity in the neighborhood. The report found that 16 percent of the 4,542 motorists passing by committed enforceable speeding infractions over 5 mph the speed limit. An additional 2 percent of motorists drove 10 mph over the neighborhoods’ speed limit of 25 mph.
The survey featured data recorded in July. Cote, who oversees the traffic and patrol divisions, shared that the department will gather additional data on the neighborhoods during the school year. She also noted that speeding has become a central issue across the city in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Unfortunately for all of us, speed has become the biggest problem for us in the city … Everybody is speeding and driving very erratically in the city,” said Cote.
Cote stressed that with the department’s ongoing effort to employ a full complement of officers, the traffic and patrol divisions will be better equipped to increase the distribution of tickets.
Transportation Director Ann Kos suggested a recently introduced pilot program concept that would incorporate additional cameras on school buses. The perpetrators caught via camera would be issued a warning letter from the School and Police departments.
“We can address what we see,” she said.
Sunshine Village Executive Director Gina Kos was also present at the meeting. Sunshine Village’s Chicopee location on 75 Litwin Ln. supports adults with disabilities through different programing. Amidst accusations from neighbors that transportation drivers and parents entering Sunshine Village are a part of the safety problem, Gina Kos advocated for her organization to be a part of the solution.
“I agree with everything you’ve said Mr. Rossi, and I would welcome all of these ideas,” said Gina Kos.
The possible addition of speed tables became a common talking point. In Rossi’s report, he and his neighbors concluded that speed tables are a safe, cost-effective remedy.
“Many Litwin School neighbors and I believe this to be a solid safety solution,” said Rossi via his report.
Ward 6 City Councilor David Dobosz and Ward 6 School Committee member Samuel Shumsky, who oversee the neighborhoods as a part of their designated delegation, expressed their support for the inclusion of speed tables.
“Obviously, we need to do more ... the only way we are going to solve this is by adding speed tables,” said Dobosz.
“Speed tables are the solution to a problem like this, you need to physically stop people from speeding,” said Shumsky.
Since the safety concerns were reiterated during a July School Committee meeting, Shumsky continues to work with Mayor John Vieau and City Councilors At-Large Frank Laflamme, Gerry Roy, James Tillotson and Robert Zygarowski to develop an impactful answer to the safety issues.
“I remember I couldn’t walk to school because how dangerous the roads were ... people fly down these streets,” said Shumsky in his reflection on growing up in the Litwin Elementary School area.
DPW Director Elizabette Batista expressed mixed sentiments on the speed table idea. She said they can be an effective impediment, but they must be implemented with consideration of location and visibility. Batista stressed that the DPW can not place a speed table in a way that could potentially injure a driver speeding through it, such as having a table on a hill.
“This may be a solution, [but] it’s not a solution everywhere,” said Batista.
Batista assured the public that they are actively working on solutions.
“The DPW is working on coming up with some solutions ... this is a clear problem,” said Batista.
During the meeting’s waning minutes, Tillotson said a variety of solutions will be needed to address these concerns.
“This has been an issue now for a long time, it’s time to start doing something to correct it … I think we are going to have to issue a multitude of options here to solve this problem,” said Tillotson.
The Public Safety Committee concluded by calling for a follow-up meeting to occur three to four months from now.
After the meeting, Reminder Publishing spoke to Olko Circle resident George Cooke about his thoughts on the ongoing progress. Cooke explained that safety problems began in the Litwin Elementary School neighborhoods after the city made Dobek Avenue, Boivin Terrace and Murphy Court into one-way streets – turning streets like Olko Circle into popularly-used shortcuts.
“The city created this problem a long time ago … If I knew [about the safety issues], I would’ve never bought the house I bought,” said Cooke.
Cooke implored for a greater police presence and the inclusion of speed tables in the neighborhoods.
“I think that’s going to be part of the solution,” said Cooke.