If you’re traveling along L Street this week, you may notice some changes. The City of Boston will be “daylighting” intersections along L. What does daylighting mean? It’s marking the street near crosswalk and restricting parking 20’ from intersection. This helps improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians. This will happen at every intersection without a traffic light.
Eventually bump outs will be constructed at the intersection with lights.
To learn more about neighborhood slow street tools, visit here!
Image show an example of what daylighting looks like.
For several years its been the law that you can’t park 20 feet from an intersection. See law below:
DON’T PARK ON SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS, OR BLOCK INTERSECTIONS
You can’t park vehicles — including motorcycles — on any part of the sidewalk or crosswalk on a Boston street. You can’t park a car within 20 feet of an intersection, unless it’s at a metered parking spot.
This is a small step in the right direction, but still not enough. This will help pedestrians to see if they can safely cross the street, but does not REQUIRE cars to stop at each and every intersection. I really don’t understand the City’s aversion to stop signs and traffic lights. I understand cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians at a cross-walk, but the reality is that stopping at a cross-walk is little more than a suggestion for passing cars. In the absence of a stop sign or traffic light, there’s nothing a pedestrian can do short of risking life and limb to make a moving car stop so they can cross the street. The day our elected officials recognize this fact will be the day that they receive my support in the next election.
Very good points – totally agree. As a pedestrian you have to negotiate the right to walk into the crosswalk via eye contact with the driver–which due to cell phones diverting their attention or them simply staring straight ahead so they don’t have to acknowledge you are there. The risk of any enforcement is very low so pedestrians are stuck with hoping someone with good manners comes along AND then someone with similar manners is coming they other way at the exact same time. The game is too stacked in favor of the motorist. That has to change.
ANYTHING that will make the streets of South Boston and the CUT THRU use safer I’m all for….everyone is in such a rush to go nowwhere and certainly not paying attention or if they are its just all about them….and where they are going…I was coming home last night along Day Blvd. the beach area was still pretty crowded and I seen 2 different people try to cross with baby carriages and they were not allowed to cross until after about 2-3 cars then finally someone stopped to let them cross IN THE crosswalk….(this was at 2 different crosswalks on Day Blvd mind you) and I was looking at this picture and I personally I don’t own a car but it looks to me like they are also taking some of the parking spaces on the corners – I’m dying to see/hear how well this goes over people…..
We all have some behavioral changes coming- commuters, resident drivers and pedestrians.. It’s time.. and the city has to pay for the safety tools and measures. to get this to work..
Why not STOP SIGNS at EVERY intersection…MARINE ROAD, EAST 7th, EAST 6th, EAST 4TH,..like they do on every lettered street that runs parallel to “L”. strert..ALso speed HUMPS.( different from speed bumps) on every other intersection…l think about installing ELECTRONIC TICKETING on DAY BLVD..to permanently end the speeding on this road..” L” STRERT IS not part of the southeast X-WAY..it is a neighborhood street!!
This may be the only solution that works, provided the police enforce it. They could make a lot of money were stop signs placed at every intersection on L St. alone, so perhaps they will do it. Money seems to be the only thing that motivates the current administration.
At the pro-Safe Streets march today (Thursday, Aug 8), at least 4 people were ticketed committing violations when there were police officers all over the place. This shows how very little folks driving are paying attention. We can do better than this.
Didn’t Commissioner Evans say that this disaster might have been avoided if it wasn’t street sweeping day & there were cars that could have acted as a barrier between the sidewalk & the street? How is this supposed to slow cars down? The only thing this is doing is removing valuable parking spots and making it easier for cars to see the people that they aren’t going to let cross the street
Its a subject nobody touches on here because I think way too many do it ourselves but there needs to be a culture change around using and/or looking at cell phones while driving. It has to stop. It’s against the law but never enforced. Pedestrians sad to say are equally as brutal with paying attention–any given day you can watch people with a phone against their ear crossing against the signal oblivious to the cars approaching who have the right of way and are most likely distracted themselves……shocked there are not more accidents than there are.
Amazing to see people complaining about losing parking spots to protect pedestrians here. Nevermind these parking spots were never legal in the first place. This is not just about cut-through traffic, it’s also about Southie changing its mindset. You cannot simultaneously have safe streets, uncongested streets, and ample parking. You have to pick one. I know what I pick. Tell your elected officials, especially Ed Flynn who needs coaching on this stuff.
This is something everyone should know before the meeting at the tynan on Thursday.
5 years ago William McDermott was struck & killed crossing the street at L & the boulevard. This spurred our elected officials into action. They appropriated $25 million for some very specific improvements to the crosswalks & streets of south boston. They had a plan of action that included immediate changes (0-3 years) as well as long term changes (3-10 years). It was both state run & city streets included in this plan…
They got the money 4 years ago…
WHERES THE MONEY??
WHAT DID THEY SPEND IT ON?
We know they didn’t implement any of the changes they said they would. So why now after this tragedy are they trying to appropriate more money for these changes??? THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER AND THEY CHOSE TO SPEND THE MONEY ELSEWHERE!!!!
We should all be outraged at this and we should demand answers!! Where did they spend the money earmarked to make our neighborhood streets safer?
Someone did not do their job & b/c of that people have been hurt & killed.
We demand better for our neighborhood, to say this is unacceptable is a gross understatement.
WE NEED TO BE HEARD!
WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO MAKE SOMETHING ELSE A PRIORITY! WE ARE THE PRIORITY!!
Jenn Menjin….VERY WELL SAID!!!!! So if the politicians are reading any of this, “WHERE’S THE MONEY?????”
I am disgusted with what goes on from the politicians, they have no shame. I said when this happened what could be done to make our streets safer and to slow the “out of towners” on Day Boulevard and “L” Street. I suggested speed bumps on “L” Street and POSTED signs that give the MPH for coming up “L” I think it should be 20 MPH NOT 25…and there is only 1 sign as you turn onto “L” from Day Blvd.. and that says 20 MPH…no where up “L” was there any more speed signs until this week and they have it posted as 25 MPH…WHICH IS TOO FAST! This is a “thickly settled” town and every street should be 20 MPH as the max if not 15 MPH… There are way to many problem streets and NOT ENOUGH POLICE to pull these clowns over! I will now get off my “soap box” for now!
PS…This is a copy I sent to Jeff Dietrich.
Mr Dietrich,
I can’t make the meeting but I do have a few suggestions…Rather than those yellow pedestrian markers ( that someone likes to run down at night) in the middle of the cross walks…use the flashing markers on the sidewalk, pedestrians press the button, it starts flashing a warning to the drivers that people are going to cross…I think that would help pedestrians and alert drivers of someone crossing…
And while I am at it, why has the cross walk lines NOT been painted infront of what was the Womens Bath house near “K” Street….There are 2 cross walks infront of the Mens “L” and 1 infront of what was the Boys bath House at “M” Street. Although it is not a part of Day Boulevard the cross walk at St Monica’s is VERY tough on pedestrians. I came around the rotary and saw a group crossing, I stopped BUT cars behind me swerved around me and kept going and lucky for the pedestrians they didn’t get hit! Drivers also run the STOP sign at the intersection at Old Colony and Preble Street. Maybe a LARGER STOP sign would get their attention Or a Traffic light, which would slow them down and allow rotary traffic (which has the right of way) a chance to get through during “rush hour” Thank you for taking time to read this..
With Regards,
Maryann Harty
Traffic lights would be a better idea, especially pedestrian lights, at every intersection.
My dog was hit by a car yesterday on L street. Came home all bloodied and bruised. We need to put a stop to this!! All those derelict yuppie drivers need to slow down and stop smoking their electronic marijuana joints while driving!
Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry that your dog was hit by a car! Here’s hoping that the dog is okay, and that he has a full and speedy recovery. This kind of speeding and dereliction of responsibilities while driving occur everywhere, not just in Southie. We’ve had the problem out where I live, as well. One of my neighbors lost a dog altogether in a very similar manner. A speeding automobile driver ran over him.
Again, here’s hoping your dog recovers, Jennifer. Keep us all posted.
I agree with most things said here. I am not going to focus blame on any one group (yuppies or out of towners), but focus on getting something done. I have a 5 & 6 year old and the traffic behaviors scare the hell out of me. Anybody ever try and cross Emerson & Broadway (before Stapleton’s) when cars are flying down Broadway and taking that right like it is an extension of Broadway and not an actual right turn over a crosswalk??????? At the end of the day, the local politicians do not feel like this impacts them. the same politicians run and always win, so there is no real motivation. They need to have it made clear that they work for us and this needs to be addressed. The point made about the money allocated for these changes is one I am very curious to learn more about. The politicians need to be held accountable or voted out and if they keep getting voted in with no action, then shame on them and us.
Unsafe drivers come in all shapes sizes and zip codes. Let’s not start using the term Yuppie in any of this. It’s unproductive and detrimental to the cause. Let’s stay focused on the issue. Once the politicians start hearing people yapping about yuppies it sorta gives them license to dismiss you as an ignorant ‘disgruntled local’ and they are not always entirely wrong. This issue transends that whole friction point and if anything should be a rallying point that we can all get behind as one, South Boston Citizens #bornandraised #letsstayfocused #yuppiesarenottheenemyhere
Speed HUMPS on Emerson street!!
Here’s a thought – why not have more police enforcing the laws?? They are out there now but we know it will stop. Taking parking spots IS not going to solve the problem. Adding the flashing lights is a positive step as well.
Be very careful with trying to be cozy with politicians , they love this kind of histeria . Next you will see automatic ticketing meters on streets and where will the money go ….yes the city for them to spend on stupid projects . The city put up these stupid signs in the middle of roads which sometimes are leaning to one side and then you hit your mirror on them …it’s crazy . What are those poles they put at the intersections going to look like when snow comes in winter , the ploughing will take them in 5 minutes . When snow is not removed at major intersections in winter and cross walks are not open for pedestrians to walk safely …. where are the city of local politicians then ? Don’t get sucked into this thing , I feel so bad for the family of this little boy and the other families of other victims . But put up stop signs and each intersection and you know pedestrians need to watch too as do cyclists , people on phones cross without looking and then if you say anything they get angry or cross where there is a safe place . Cyclists have free reign , up one ways , run red lights , you name it they do it . Now mopeds are another problem . I’m a motorcycle rider and many mopeds are not even registered or no inspection sticker . The rule with mopeds is …. any moped of engine 50cc needs to be registered and inspected with up to date sticker on back , anything over that needs and number plate and motorcycle license like a regular motorcycle . They are crazy too on the streets , what do we do when we get hit with one of these mopedsthay are not insured or not even registered , a guy living next to me was getting on his moped lately and I informed him his Florida plate and sticker were out of date 2014 was the date on his sticker . .. he wasn’t very happy with me . . They sometimes wear no helmets or not dot approved . If you don’t believe me keep watching these guys . I’m all for freedom but this will be a problem , we need a license for our dogs but not a machine that can get to 50 mph in the city … makes no since to me