Description
Are we seriously putting the speed limit to 25 on Swampscott Rd? I think 40 is appropriate speed, but if you were going to lower it maybe 35 may have been more appropriate. Or are we trying to have a false sense of security now? Because that's all it is. What are you trying to accomplish by having it 25? Drunk drivers ate still going to knock poles over and go over the speed limit amongst other scenarios. And it is not a thickly settled. Government is not for telling us we need protection its for making sure things get done and things like this are not going to keep people safe. Personal responsibility!
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41 Comments
Mayor's Office (Verified Official)
Natasha (Registered User)
Nancy Gilberg (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Natasha (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Natasha (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
mycomment (Registered User)
Diane (Registered User)
Natasha (Registered User)
Franklin Park (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Natasha (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
mycomment (Registered User)
Nancy Gilberg (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
According to federal MUTCD regulations adopted by Massachusetts into law in 1966, a proper and legal speed limit should be based mostly on measurements of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic.
.
The First Street Intersection Study is not a legal speed study of Swampscott Road. It’s being used as an excuse to set the speed artificially low.
Please contact the city engineer David Knowlton and demand that the speed limit signs be brought into compliance with the law as soon as possible.
Thank you
mycomment (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
Thank you for your comments. The Traffic and Parking Department is working to return the speed limit signs to the the limits established through the speed study. Thank you.
04/12/2018 · Flag
I sabena (Registered User)
Js1234 (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
In 2016 Mass legislation enacted the law allowing municipalities to lower statutory (unposed) speed limits in thickly settled and business districts as part of the new Mass General Law Chapter 218, “An Act Modernizing Municipal Finance and Government.”
Therefore, the stated purpose of this law is to generate revenue for the municipalities. The intent is not safety; there is no pretense these acts were meant to address some safety issues.
Swampscott Road does not for two reasons:
1. It’s not “thickly settled” or a “business district” as defined by the law
2. It already had legally posted speed limits, whereas the new legislation applies only to unposed roads
It’s very easy for a municipality to unknowingly or otherwise misuse this new option. The state legislation provided no mechanism to ensure the new laws are actually followed by the towns and cities.
This is not about safety. By appropriating traffic laws originally based on sound scientific principles, the legislation is enabling municipalities to ticket people new ways to generate revenue.
Natasha (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
There is no law, rule, guideline or any other document that would make the Swampscott Road’s legal speed limits on file with MassDOT “no longer valid.”
Unfortunately, subjective opinions cannot be a part of any engineering scientific processes many of the laws are based on.
I sabena (Registered User)
You were asking the City for new speed studies. Their engineering knew a proper speed study would not give you the results you wanted.
So they opted to bend the rules to the detriment of other road users. All I’m saying is this “solution” is in the least ineffective, and most certainly illegal.
Js1234 (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
Please send a reminder to Mathew Smith, the Traffic and Parking Commissioner, to restore the previous legal speed limit signs as promised.
Thank you
Js1234 (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
From: MassDOT Highway Call Center Customer Service
Subject: RE: Speed Regulations
Municipalities that do not follow MassDOT’s procedures on Speed Zoning and erect regulatory speed limit signs without following federal and MassDOT guidelines are willingly subjecting themselves to unnecessary liabilities by erecting signage that may in fact be contrary to safety guidelines and may in fact contribute to creating unsafe situations by erecting signage that does not accurately reflect roadway usage.
They may also be jeopardizing future funding on highway projects. We receive Federal funding for projects on NHS roadways, and in Massachusetts, by law, (Chapter 85, Section 2 of the MGL) MassDOT AND Municipalities can only post traffic control devices (including speed limit signs) in accordance with the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is augmented by MassDOT’s Procedures for Speed Zoning. The FHWA does not look kindly on traffic control devices that do not conform with the Federal Manual if they are funding a project in a municipality that does not adhere to their guidelines.
MassDOT’s Highway Customer Service Center
166 Sturbridge Rd.
Charlton, MA 01507
Ph: 857-368-3500| Fax: 508-248-4581
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway
Js1234 (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
Thank you Js1234.
I've written to the Mayor's Office and the Salem Police Department; to the Traffic Commission and the City Engineer; to the Ward Councillor and the State Representatives. They all agreed the new signs are not in compliance. The Salem News printed my letter and published an article. MassDOT acknowledged Salem is in violation. And nothing is changing.
What will it take for Salem to follow the state law? A lawsuit?
クローズド Natasha (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
Reopened Js1234 (Registered User)
Natasha (Registered User)
I sabena (Registered User)
And a proper traffic study would take that into account. And a state regulation is the law for municipalities to follow.
Your argument is like saying "I want Salem to have only 3.8% sales tax. The 6.25% sales tax is no longer needed because the state budget is now different than it used to be."
Js1234 (Registered User)
By laws and you cannot make regulation without laws so they are the same. I am sorry but you are you are wrong.
クローズド Department of Public Services (Registered User)