Councilor Flynn Pedestrian Safety Update: All Way Stop on First Street

See Press Release Below:

BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has long set pedestrian and traffic safety as his top priority, and has been working with neighbors, his fellow South Boston elected officials and the Boston Transportation Department to identify key areas and hotspot locations that need infrastructure improvements. Councilor Flynn continues to advocate that speeding vehicles are a Public Health Emergency that requires a combination of infrastructure improvements, slower speed limits in our residential neighborhoods, and strict enforcement.

There is much work to be done for the city’s infrastructure to catch up and keep pace with the development and population growth of the last 20 years, but there are signs of positive steps now being taken to address this public safety issue. One of the most notoriously dangerous intersections in South Boston has been at East First St, Pappas Way & West First St. Through the advocacy of neighbors in the area, Councilor Flynn and the South Boston elected officials, the City of Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and Public Works Departments have recently installed an all-way stop sign at this intersection, which will help bring traffic calming and improve pedestrian safety.

This all-way stop on First St & Pappas Way follows a number of traffic-calming infrastructure improvements that have taken place the last several years due to collaboration of neighbors, the South Boston elected officials and BTD. These include a pedestrian island and stop signs located in the middle of the road at East Broadway & Farragut Road, blinking LED pedestrian crossing signs at several locations (outside Stop & Shop and Walgreen’s on East Broadway, F St & West Broadway outside the South Boston Community Health Center and Loco, St. Peter Academy & Senior Housing on West 4th St), speed feedback signs positioned on high traffic roads (L St, Farragut Road, Dorchester St outside Casper’s Funeral Home, Old Colony Ave across from Ironworkers Local 7, Preble St, East First St across from My Diner, East Broadway across from the South Boston Municipal Court), and loading zones on Broadway to deter double parking from delivery trucks.

“Pedestrian safety is a Public Health Emergency and we, as a city, must fully embrace infrastructure improvements to our high traffic roads; including all way stop signs, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, pedestrian islands and rapid flash beacons. We cannot prioritize commuter trips over the safety of our seniors and persons with disabilities, families, children and neighbors,” said Councilor Flynn. “Thank you to my neighbors, the South Boston electeds, Boston Transportation Department, and Public Works Department. Let’s continue to work together on Vision Zero – no serious or fatal crashes in Boston.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and  [email protected].

Recently there was a traffic/pedestrian safety meeting about the N + Broadway intersection. You can read about it here.