August 16, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Following the recent establishment of a 25 mph speed limit in a large portion of the Downtown Hingham Business District to enhance safety, Town Engineer JR Frey recommended the same restriction also be implemented in more than a dozen neighborhoods around town. Signs with the new speed limit will be posted in the affected areas.
These changes stem from a 2022 Town Meeting-approved warrant article associated with concerns about downtown traffic safety expressed by residents and businesses over a long period of time and the realization that other parts of town are also experiencing traffic safety issues.
“This is the first cut. We tried to be thorough, but there are only so many hours in the day,” Frey told the Select Board Tuesday night. “We will continue to add streets upon the Traffic Committee’s recommendation.”
Following a lengthy presentation and discussion, the Select Board approved the additional speed limit changes in the Bradley Woods, Liberty Pole, Planters Field Lane/Wompatuck Road, Crow Point, and Bradley Hill Road neighborhoods as well as from Green Street to Burditt Avenue, the World’s End and Canterbury Street area, upper Gardner Street from the Rockland line to Whiting and Derby streets at the five-way intersection, the southern end of downtown Hingham, and parts of Hingham Centre, among others.
Many of the speed limit changes are in response to concerns expressed by neighbors, with more to come. Private and state-controlled roads and collector streets such as Fottler Road are not eligible for speed limit reductions, according to Frey.
He also said the intersection of Middle and Main streets is being studied to address serious safety and traffic concerns in that area. Select Board member William Ramsey noted that the High/French/Ward Street intersection is also extremely dangerous. Further safety measures are also under consideration to make the downtown area safer.
This is a good start but there are other ways to control traffic, notably with the use of rises crosswalks, speed tables and traffic islands. These methods are used throughout Europe and in many US communities, including towns with weather conditions similar to Hingham such as Freeport, ME and Rhinebeck, NY. It has been proven, that these methods of slowing traffic have not affected public safety response time or snow removal efficiency. The Town of Hingham needs to do much more to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable users of public roadways, traffic calming is a much needed step in this direction.