WalkMedford digest - and upcoming meeting December 12 at 7 pm

[Ellery Klein, WalkMedford]

Hello WalkMedford! 

We also haven't had public meetings in some time. We're hoping to reinvigorate our efforts by reinstituting our monthly meetings and planning the work for the future of safe streets in Medford together.  

 

1) WalkMedford meetings restart!

Join us on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 7 PM 

Tentatively at Medford Public Library Meeting Room 5 (request has been made; cannot confirm until December) 

If someone can't make it in person and would like to request a Zoom option, email me at safewal...@gmail.com 

Agenda includes:

• come meet fellow residents concerned about safer streets and transportation choices in Medford
  
• briefly recap WalkMedford's work since it began almost ten years ago- what have we accomplished so far? What are we continuing to work on?
  
• discuss a name change for this group and our goals. Does "WalkMedford" convey enough for the future?
  
• Do you have an idea for something that needs fixing on our streets, transit system or bike infrastructure? Come share it. What projects or goals should we focus on moving forward, as we seek safe streets and transportation for all in Medford?
  
• push for a 25 mph citywide limit on DCR and MassDOT streets and parkways - another ask of city council and mayor to finally request these changes as we are allowed due to the Jan 2023 Vulnerable Road Users Act 
  
• Walk audit at Auburn St. held November 20th with our traffic engineer and the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission and next steps on fixing this dangerous DCR-run intersection 
  

Other news:

2) Walk audit of Route 16 and Auburn St. 

Join us for a walk audit of the Auburn St. and Route 16 intersection (near Whole Foods) November 20th at 11 AM, with Medford's traffic engineer Todd Blake, Ellery Klein of WalkMedford and Emily O'Brien of the Medford Bicycle Advisory Commission. 

Since our Route 16 walk in May 2023, the guard rail at this location has been smashed into and replaced, repeatedly. It's clear that the status quo is highly dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers - and as the recent death of John Corcoran sadly demonstrates, we can't wait until someone else dies to make the necessary changes for safety. 

We'll walk around the location and the paths up to Boston St, document the issues as well as brainstorm what changes we want to ask the city, our state delegation and DCR for. 

If you can't make the audit, let us know what you think of the Auburn/Rte 16 intersection here with this form.

3) Action item: Last chance to comment in support of the NHTSA proposal for safer vehicles: 

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has put out a comment period for a proposal to require trucks and SUVs pass a safety test that would prove that their cars don't pose an undue hazard to pedestrians, especially children. 

While the incoming administration previously proved very hostile to any safety measures or curbs on the US auto industry, while this request for comment stands, it is still worth taking the time to request that our regulatory bodies require that our automakers consider safety of those outside the vehicles, not just inside them. 

We encourage you to take five minutes today to comment in support of these changes and to ask that cyclists be included in the tests as well. 

4) What will the incoming Trump administration mean for transportation priorities?   Analyst David Zipper talks with former USDOT exec, and current director of Transportation for America, here: 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-12/what-trump-s-win-means-for-us-transportation-priorities

Local municipalities will still have control over their own streets, which means if we have the vision and the will here in Medford, and in Massachusetts, we can continue the work for safe streets for all with robust choices in transportation options and a stronger community. Let's get to work together! 

Best,

Ellery Klein

Chair, WalkMedford 

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WalkMedford

Instagram: @walkmedford 

[Laurel Siegel]

The City Council agenda for next Tuesday 12/3 includes a motion to set the speed limit on state roads at 25 mph, addressing one of Ellery's points below.  See page 30 of the attached agenda for the meeting.

Laurel