Short of installing a rotary, I think the best way to manage traffic is to have all traffic flowing into this intersection from Belmont Center (2 lanes - exclusively either right turn or left turn) YIELD to traffic coming from Common and Concord. Paint a big YIELD sign on the railroad bridge and light it up at night (OK, maybe that's too extreme).

Plus, there has to be an easier way to get across Leonard Street coming from Channing and continuing onto Concord (toward the Town Hall) - maybe a "Yield to Crossing Traffic" sign on both sides of Leonard Street - to allow cars to cross this madhouse area. Police should stay away from trying to control traffic in this entire area (it always happens for a few days after a new Selectman is elected :) ) and just give tickets to people who violate the traffic rules (signs, etc.).

One last thing - since Belmont is known as a cut through town, how about installing EZ PASS tolls under the railroad bridge (just like the new tolls coming to the turnpike) and charge all out of town people who cross under the bridge during each rush hour a dollar for our road repair? This would be easy to install and easy to manage - also easy to eliminate all cars garaged in Belmont! It could also help eliminate the crazy traffic - because only the out-of-town drivers are crazy!

I can't believe this intersection has no signage whatsoever. It is extremely dangerous, especially for people who have never driven through it before. It seems that the people on Concord/Common should have the right of way since the people coming from Leonard are essentially hitting a T intersection. So that's how I drive it. But every single day someone comes out of Leonard without yielding and the horn-blowing ensues.

Chris - what the Belmont Police told you are the rules for a 4-way stop intersection. This is not a 4-way stop intersection. If you are coming up to that intersection from Leonard Street it's nearly impossible to see who got there first. Unless you yield as you come into it. The problem is that no one yields (because there is no sign) aside from those that know the intersection and are fearing for their lives. And if I am driving down Concord St for the first time in my life, how would I even know to slow down to see who got their first? There is no signage warning you to do so. It's unbelievable.