This has been a perennial problem, and the signage has not alleviated it at all. I appreciate the signs warning drivers about the fine, and I appreciate the police officers who patrol crosswalks at peak commuting hours, but these things are not sufficient. Natick Police need to start writing some tickets to offenders.

I agree that this is an issue. I take the commuter rail so I cross these crosswalks daily. People drive very fast through the Town Center and rarely stop for people in crosswalks. This could be a good source of income for the town as well. I rarely see Natick PD pulling people over for any traffic violations in the Town Center area (and I even see them making illegal lefts off of Pond St).

This should also be enforced at the Pond St crosswalk. I personally have had to jump out of the way of vehicles there before.

Would someone mind telling me what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of pedestrians? This evening there was a police officer at this intersection with lights flashing on his cruiser and it really had no impact on vehicles yielding (or even slowing down). I mentioned how that is par for the course, and he said, "We're working on it." I asked how many tickets have been written and got the answer I expected--NONE. This is one of those "it's only illegal if you get caught" issues. It's time you actually catch people. I literally punched and kicked a car that did not stop at Lake & N Main tonight and the driver did not even bother to see what hit him. That intersection has a stop sign that he ignored. If I get hit by a car will you do something? What does it take for police to enforce public safety issues? Between 6 and 9 am you could probably collect $2000 in fines.

I would like to see the speed reduce though the center of town. From the North side of the Main Street bridge all the way down through to Cottage Street. I think the speed should be reduced to 20 or 25 miles an hour.

I will also say that the pedestrians are just as bad as the drivers. The pedestrians don’t stop and wait at the entrance to the crosswalk they just go straight off the sidewalk into the crosswalk expecting cars to slam on their brakes for them. People should stop at the entrance to the crosswalk and wait for the cars to yield to them.

Those three crossings are a disaster. You need to slow down speeds of traffic prior to getting to the crossings. 20 MPH village speed limit.

I wish the town would install the flashing crosswalk signals at all the major crosswalks downtown. As it is now you take your life in your hands every time you cross the street.

In case you haven't figured it out by now the town doesn't care.

I think the flashing lights make the roads in the town center feel more like a highway than a pedestrian friendly zone. They don't encourage drivers to generally observe caution. It is like telling them to keep the speed up, unless the lights are flashing. They seem to convey the wrong message.

You need to bring all these issues and suggestions to the Safety Committee. They look at all concerns and issues that are brought to their attention. The chair of the committee is Police Chief Hicks. Please reach out to him with all your concerns and suggestions. His email is hicks@natickpolice.com other contact infor can be found on the Town's website: http://www.natickma.gov/184/Police-Department.

I have personally visited the police on several occasions, and even called the PD and left a voicemail to discuss these issues. I have had to literally dive out of the way of a car before, yet reporting this to the police has yielded nothing. I was told a car would sit there around rush hour to watch out for this issue at Pond Street, but that hasn't happened. I have covered myself in reflective materials just to try to be safe, but at least a few times a week it is a problem.

Someone FROM THE TOWN needs to bring these concerns to the PD. Even the PD doesn't follow the laws correctly at Pond and Main. I've seen countless police vehicles make illegal left turns into right hand lands at that intersection, which only increases the danger of the intersection. We, as citizens, have reported this and nothing has been done. Does someone need to be struck by a vehicle and injured before something happens?

This is so bad we are considering leaving Natick as it is very clear that this issue is of no concern whatsoever.

Also, please stop closing issues that are not rectified. Passing the buck is not "closing" this issue

I'm sorry your frustrated but this forum is a place you can report concerns to the appropriate dept so that issues can be looked into and address as seen fit. If the ticket is assign "other" then I will direct you to the correct place to get your issue addressed which is why I referred you to the Safety Committee and gave you the contact for that committee...the Natick Police Chief. By looking at your concerns again, this is THE best person to point you too. In all your comments it does not look like you have talk with him yet so I will again point you to that direction. There is nothing more I can do for you, I'm sorry but I'm just trying to get you some help. You can always go directly to the Town Administrator.

First, since I don't only use this platform to discuss issues with the town, do not assume that my comments here in any way represent what I have tried to do to deal with this.

I have left voicemails to the Chief and never heard anything back (in fact, NPD has also pointed me to someone ELSE that they claim is responsible for this). I have called the police after a person almost hit me then came back to threaten me for crossing a street. I walked down to the police station with my elbows and knees scraped open from dodging a car at Pond and Main.

At this point, I request that the Chief be directed to the host of comments on this site regarding this issue. I HAVE tried to contact the correct people, and have gotten nowhere. I have a record I have kept of all of these things since, on more than one occasion, I was nearly struck by a vehicle.

Forward this whole chain (and every single other) to the Chief of NPD. Or, if you prefer, I can (AGAIN) report all of this to him as well as send a link to every. single. issue. that has been posted on here and summarily ignored.

Frankly I am appalled with how little the town cares about the safety of its citizens when they are only trying to get to the commuter rail to work.

And again, please stop closing issues that are not rectified. Passing the buck is not "closing" this issue.

I would be glad to keep the ticket open but please understand that the way the software works is I'm the only one that can see this ticket on the Town's end. Which is why I refer people to the different depts to help with there concerns. Again, I understand your frustrated so I will keep the ticket open.

THanks for working on this, Joe.

Okay, I will then send a link to every single one of these issues to the Chief, and continue to do so as more issues are opened. Since calling has yielded nothing, I'll start submitting things in a way that can demonstrate just how ignored this issue is.

A couple of observations....

For the webmaster, if this is handled by someone else, why didn't you say that in October when the issue was opened?

The mobile sign in front of the police station warns of upcoming sidewalks and a $200 fine, but the one in front of Stone's does not. There is a saying that it is only illegal if you get caught. Since the police have no intention of catching anyone, this is not a credible threat.

Thank you. I will pass this information on to the Police dept.

Joe, I know how you feel about dodging cars while crossing the street in the crosswalk on Pond Street. I had to literally jump out of the way of a speeding commercial van that had no intention of stopping. If we have to go to the NPD to get all of this to stop I'll pass. The Natick Police Station used to be a welcoming place but I don't find that to be the case anymore. I was done there in December to report an incident of someone almost running me over as I was crossing the street and the vibe I was welcomed with was one of hostility. So much for Protect and Serve.

I emailed the Chief of Police last week and haven't heard a thing. I've even linked these issues and have heard nothing.

I've personally walked down to the NPD station with cut knees and elbows after dodging a car and, despite having the license plate of the vehicle, was told nothing could be done.

I'm currently using a spare phone to record my walks to/from the commuter rail station.

As part of inquiry maintenance, we are clearing up and closing dated requests that have likely been addressed. If the issue reported is still outstanding, please submit a new request. Thank you for using the system to report inquiries and issues.

The cross walks on Main Street continue to be hazardous. Drivers are more focused on the traffic light at 135 than a pedestrian in the crosswalk. There should be an initiative to introduce traffic calming measures north of the RR bridge.

As part of inquiry maintenance, we are clearing up and closing dated requests that have likely been addressed. If the issue reported is still outstanding, please submit a new request. Thank you for using the system to report inquiries and issues.

Jeremy Marsette, submit a new request so it can be ignored again?