How fast were the cars going? How did you measure?

How many traffic lights do you encounter on each of the 3 parallel routes from the overpass to Highland Ave. ? Of course, drivers are going to pick the route with the fewest. The installation of traffic lights on major roads all over the city was bound to push traffic onto side streets. Perhaps some creative use of one-way signs and turn restrictions might be cheaper than raised intersections. We also might look at ways to expedite traffic on the main roads with turn restrictions and smarter light cycles.

Salem has many serious issues. At the top of the list are homeless people and drugs. SPD will not sit on a side street to monitor traffic when they have people passed out downtown or overdosing on drugs. I fully understand your frustration as I have lived on a cut through street by the high school for over 30 years. I have tried for over 15 years to get the police to do the same thing your asking for but nothing gets done. I have talked directly to SPD and numerous councilors. I always get the same answers, they cant stop people from using public streets and they cant sit there and monitor speed limits.

Its October in Salem.

Mayor's Office assigned this issue to Salem Police

Agree with John. Homeless are draining police resources; cops spending too much time dealing with them and don't have time for other things. Salem's number one problem.

The issue which was raised concerned not having police sit there to monitor speeding, but suggesting that perhaps a speed sign, or better yet, planning be done, at some point, to address expediting traffic flow on the main routes in & out of Salem.
We are well aware there are problems the police deal with in Salem. And we certainly are fully aware regarding what Salem is like in October!
As for how did we measure? Just come on over & park on the street awhile & see the traffic flow & speeding cars. It doesn't take a micrometer, or a genius.
The street never used to be this busy, just 2 years ago.
This was not a request/comment from a wealthy resident of Federal St., lest it be mistaken as such.
For all of us on cut-through streets, the problem keeps getting worse. 'October' isn't the only reason. Poor traffic flow planning is.
Hopefully, it will not take someone being hit or killed, or a serious accident, to have this issue addressed for all of us who put up with cut-through street problems.

However,

Issue reopened.

It's a police matter so why are you looking here for help? Salem Police have a traffic unit consisting of 4 fulltime officers. They approve or disapprove of all traffic signage. They have a phone. 978-744-0171

Hey CB, I wonder if apps like waze are having an effect here--it gives people alternate routes to get out of traffic jams--I heard a news story that waze is causing a lot of heavy traffic in previously quiet residential neighborhoods in other cities. Maybe people are using waze when they see a traffic slowdown at the Lowell St exit, then they get an alternate route that takes them through the neigborhoods--and they wind up parking on residential streets as they go through.

Looked here because that's what ClickFix is for.
Issues are then referred to the appropriate dept by City Hall.
Thanks for the police phone #, but we already have it & have used it.

I see in todays news that Salem has hired a traffic director. Salem sure seems to have deep pockets when it comes to creating new positions in the administration. The last one was Jason Silva who was given a newly created position. For years the taxpayers have had money wasted on traffic studies that failed. To create a fulltime city position to try to figure a way to put 10 pounds of stuff into a 5 pound bucket is crazy. The same is true with the parking side of this new job as the news also has the story of losing the parking lots on New Derby and Bridge. I have an idea, stop putting up lights that don't even work properly.

noted