BOSTON – Pedestrian and traffic safety has long been a priority of Boston City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty. For several years, they have been working closely with neighbors, their fellow South Boston elected officials, and the Boston Transportation Department to identify key areas and hotspot locations that need infrastructure improvements. The Councilors continue 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.
Through the advocacy of neighbors in the area, the South Boston elected officials, the City of Boston Transportation Department (BTD) has recently installed a blinking LED pedestrian sign on the intersection of L Street and East Third Street, which will help bring attention to pedestrians crossing L St. This is one of the many signs of positive steps that are being taken forward to address this public safety concern in the midst of the city’s efforts to catch up and keep pace with the development and population growth of the last 20 years.
This blinking PED pedestrian crossing sign follows a number of traffic-calming infrastructure improvements that have taken place in the last several years due to the collaboration of neighbors, South Boston elected officials, and the BTD. These include an all way stop sign located at East First St, Pappas Way & West First St, 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 it is critical that we fully utilize infrastructure improvements on our high-traffic roads to increase safety, including installing all-way stop signs, raised crosswalks, speed bumps, and pedestrian islands with rapid flash beacons,” said Councilor Flynn. “We must ensure that our seniors and persons with disabilities, families, children, and neighbors are able to walk safely through Boston’s streets. Thank you to my neighbors, the South Boston elected officials, and the Boston Transportation Department for their partnership. Let’s continue working together.”
“Each neighborhood deserves to have safe streets that all residents–whether pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles–need to be able to navigate safely and comfortably, said Councilor Flaherty. “It’s critical that our pedestrian safety measures and transportation mitigation strategies keep pace with our changing City.”
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and [email protected] or Councilor Flaherty’s office at 617-635-4205 and [email protected].
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
Good to know that as me and the kids are crossing FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC to get to the park and get mowed down by a pickup truck cutting through Southie headed for East Bridgewater that the blinking lights from this very sign will illuminate the crash scene for the EMT’s. Summer Street/L Street should be reduced to two lanes from 1st Street up to Broadway
Thank you for looking out for our community.
There is a four way stop at G and east Eighth which is continually ignored every day ! Especially during rush hour .