January 17, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
Traffic calming efforts — which have already had a significant impact — are continuing in the Hingham Downtown Business District, Town Engineer J.R. Frey told the Select Board Monday night.
“These efforts encompass all of the tools available at our disposal to effect a change in driver behavior and generally improve safety for all users of the right-of-way, including informational signage, changes to the roadway cross section, and direct engagement by law enforcement to educate the public and enforce the law,” Frey said. “These cumulative and ongoing efforts have resulted in a substantial reduction in speed through the downtown corridor.”
Moving forward, the town will continue to evaluate additional measures to improve pedestrian and intersection safety in downtown Hingham.
In October 2021, the town conducted a speed study on North Street traffic traveling between Thaxter and Lincoln streets. At that time, the average speed of vehicles traveling on North Street entering the downtown area was 29 mph, and the 85th percentile speed was 32 mph, according to Frey.
Since that study, the town has:
- assigned a 25 mph speed limit to North Street from the 3A intersection to 200 North St.;
- signed the corridor as 25 mph;
- installed speed feedback signage at both ends of the corridor;
- restriped North Street from Thaxter to Lincoln — “where the right-of-way is wider and less constrained by physical
- restrictions, i.e. granite curbing” — to better define appropriate vehicle travel paths and provide space for a future sidewalk, according to Frey; and
- directly engaged the public in education and enforcement of the new speed limit.
Reduction in average speed
The direct result of these efforts is a reduction in the average speed of vehicles from 29 to 24 mph and a reduction in the 85th percentile speed from 32 to 28 mph.
“This demonstrates a substantial reduction in the speed of vehicles entering the downtown corridor and confirms that our efforts are having the desired effect,” Frey said. “Also, the data we’ve collected from several of our speed feedback signs which were installed in 2021 on Union and High streets suggest that this signage provides a persistent effect over time to reduce motorist speeds.”
Other improvements proposed
Conceptual plans for improvements at the Lincoln Street and North Street intersection are currently under review.
“The concepts provide significant new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian accommodations and also improve vehicle safety through improved sight lines and better defined transitions between the roads,” Frey explained.
A high-traffic crosswalk connecting the post office with the commercial properties across North Street is under consideration that may feature a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon crosswalk signal “to increase driver awareness and compliance with their obligation to stop for pedestrians,” he said.
The Traffic Committee will consider this potential change and is expected to make a recommendation within the next few weeks, which Frey will present to the Select Board.
“This installation was previously proposed as part of a MassDOT Shared Streets Project but was abandoned due to time constraints and the complexity of construction at that location,” according to Frey.
In the meantime, the Traffic Committee has reviewed the current downtown data and supports maintaining the current signage and enforcement efforts while continuing to collect data.
“The police department has also committed to a regular schedule of education and enforcement efforts over the next several months to reinforce the changes [that have already been made],” Frey said.
The 25 MPH zone should extend to Beal Street from 200 North Street. I lived on North Street for many years and now on Burtons Lane. The stop sign on North heading west at Richdales is like the starting line of a drag race with engines racing at all hours. Plenty of families with children living down this end of North Street as well who would benefit from some reduced speed efforts as it serves as a cut through to Weymouth.
I agree.
The 25mph zone should be extended to Beal Street. Drivers treat the westward-facing stop sign at North and Thaxter like the starting line of the Grand Prix. I lived just through that intersection for 6 years and now on Burtons Lane where you need to be very careful pulling onto North per speeding cars. There are families with children here too who could benefit from some reduction in speed.
Appreciate Carol’s thorough update on the downtown speed reduction steps.
As someone who walks and drives in the downtown area most days, I am very happy with the changes. I personally feel like 20 mph would be a more appropriate speed limit.
I am dumbfounded by this article. 32 in a 25? Really? Any neighborhood in Downtown Boston would double over in laughter over the absurdity of 7mph.
Come over to Cushing Street and clock the races that occur from Derby to/from Ward. It’s 30mph but, you all treat it as the Hingham Expressway at 50.
Seriously, now that you’ve solved the treacherous debacle in Downtown Hingham maybe you can move on to other Hingham speedways.
Fix the roads first. The amount of potholes, reapplied tar and several planes of road surface to drive on cause our cars and bodies to get worn down. It’s ridiculous.