After confusion, more changes likely

Officials plan to further alter traffic pattern to address emerging problems

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Residents are still getting used to the recently altered traffic pattern through the city’s downtown business district, and after reviewing the results of the first day, city officials are considering more changes. A meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission was held Tuesday and members discussed changes that could be implemented to the current layout that would limit some of the problems they have been seeing. Among the suggested alterations were possibly opening Main Street and City Hall Avenue to two-way traffic. Deputy Chief Rock Barrieau, who spent the majority of the day directing traffic, said drivers have been ignoring three new stop signs. The signs are located on Parker, Main and Central streets, and although the Police Department has stationed officers at the middle of the intersection, many residents are still driving past them. “The stop signs that we have there, they couldn’t be any clearer,” said Deputy Chief Barrieau. “People are doing an outstanding job of stopping on Parker Street, no one is stopping on Central Street, and few people are stopping on Main Street.” Dane Arnold, director of the Department of Public Works, said he understands that the plan is new to residents but local drivers need to follow the rules. “My observation is that people just aren’t paying attention to the signs,” said Mr. Arnold. “I think in theory this intersection would work if people would just obey the rules of the road.” Deputy Chief Barrieau said the downtown paving project, which allowed for the testing of the new layout, is not making the transition any easier. “These are not the best conditions right now to be doing the test,” said Deputy Chief Barrieau. “We have grinding crews, paving crews, (National Grid) crews all up and down the whole area here which are impeding the natural flow of traffic and are in the way.” Although the original proposal called for a traffic light, members at the meeting wondered whether using stop signs at the intersection would be a safer alternative. “In a perfect world if people obeyed the stop signs it actually makes it safer for pedestrians,” said Mr. Arnold. “If you have stop signs before your crosswalks its going to make it a lot safer than a light.” Although stop signs would slow down traffic, Robert Hubbard — Director of Planning and Development — said there may be too many cars for that option. “With the volume of traffic that goes through that intersection I don’t think a three-way stop is going to work,” said Mr. Hubbard. “You just look at any heavily used intersection, that is why they use traffic signals, because it makes traffic flow better than stop signs.” Fire Capt. Robert Newton said the new changes have been well-accepted by firefighters, who had previously had to drive out of their way to get back to the station. “They feel the removal of the traffic islands offers a great deal more visibility and maneuverability in the area when they have to make a turn,” said Capt. Newton. “We haven’t had a call during the day when we had traffic like today, but in terms of the plan I haven’t heard any derogatory remarks at the station.” Members of the commission and Mayor Mark Hawke will meet with officials from the Highway Department today to discuss possible funding for the proposed traffic light and depending on their review of the situation more changes may be implemented. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 8/14/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 192)