A final call on bump-outs
Published on October 16th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - The oft-debated future of the Franklin Street bump-outs appear to be a secure one after last week’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen. After decrying the protruding pieces of sidewalk for several weeks, the Selectmen have adopted a wait-and-see approach after both DPW Director Bob Grover and Public Safety Officer Larry Rotondi both condoned the much maligned bump-outs.
“I was against them too before I was educated about their safety features, and the role they will take in aiding the parking situation on Franklin Street,” said Rotondi.
Both Grover and Rotondi explained that the hazard potential for the bump-outs will be lessened by the addition of white lines on both sides of Franklin Street.
The west-bound side of Franklin Street will run a line 8.5 feet from the curb to denote areas available for parking. The east-bound side will have a 1.5 foot striped line from the curbing.
“The whole project stems from an overwhelming request from the town for more parking,” said Grover. “The upgrade in design and safety were all part of the funding we received for the project. It was something that was just part of the package.”
According to Rotondi, the Jehovah’s Witnesses Stoneham Congregation on Franklin Street have been continuously requesting more parking on Franklin Street.
Rotondi and Grover both also agreed that, post street work on Franklin Street, the new configuration of the street would be too wide without the bump-outs. The street is 36 feet wide without the bump-outs and marked lines, and narrows down to 26 feet with both features.
According to Grover, Franklin Street could be turned into a wide raceway, similar to William Street, with cars free to speed up and down the roadway.
“We all know there’s impatient drivers out there who’ll try to pass slower drivers on a wide street,” said Rotondi. ‘These bump-outs will deter people from doing that.”
Stoneham Selectmen Cosmo Ciccarello and Mary Pecoraro both have travelled down Franklin Street for many years, and were concerned about potential safety concerns.
“All I know is that when I pull my car onto Franklin Street from Stevens Street, I end up in the middle of the street,” said Ciccarello. “I don’t how a truck could possibly make a turn like that.”
Concerned Stoneham residents also spoke about the potential tragedies that could be inherent in the roadway’s new design.
“I think the town is being irresponsible by taking a wait-and-see approach to these bump-outs,” said outspoken citizen John DeGeorge. “Are they going to wait until there’s a fatality because of these bump-outs.”
DeGeorge believes that the bump-outs are an accident waiting to happen for drivers unfamiliar with the area, or commuters on Franklin Street during snowy conditions.
Rotondi didn’t agree with DeGeorge’s concerns about the curb extensions.
“I drove a plow for an awful long time in this town, and I think that careful drivers will not get into accidents because of the bump-outs on Franklin Street.”
Selectmen Charles Smith urged the Selectmen to heed the experience of Grover and Rotondi, and wait until we view results of the finished project.
“Let’s wait until we get the white lines down, and see how the final project performs,” said Smith. “I feel like we’re not even giving this design a chance.”
According to Grover, removal of the bump-outs would not be a major cost to the town, but he didn’t think it was necessary.
The Selectmen were also concerned about the presence of lighting along Franklin Street. The widening of the street has caused the light poles to be pushed farther away from the street. Both Pecoraro and Ciccarello noticed that Franklin Street was considerably darker than it had been prior to the road-work.
Grover agreed to undertake a study of the lighting on Franklin Street, and to factor in cost, efficiency and safety in developing a plan. Grover mentioned constructing longer arms to allow light to reach the street, or placing higher wattage bulbs in the lamp-posts.
Rotondi also mentioned alternating longer arms on the light poles to keep both the sidewalk and street well-lit.
“Having the sidewalk really makes it a safer and more desirable place for people to walk,” said Rotondi. “Franklin Street could be a nice place for people to walk at night, and better sidewalk lighting also helps us (Stoneham Police) do our job.”
What is it, three miles around the lake in Wakefield,” added Rotondi. “We could have a nice two mile walk up and down Franklin Street.”
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