Tufts

Packard Ave. & Powderhouse Blvd. WTF

I can’t embed this video but you should watch this: Council Request before you read any further.

Screen in the way. In 1950, after kids were killed, Somerville put in stop signs.

I happen to live right on the corner of this lovely intersection, which, in 2011, saw 7 accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. The most recent of these accidents was a hit and run (read the article HERE) that happened just this year, and several of my housemates have seen these incidents happen.

Furthermore, in late September, Somerville allocated $15,000 to paint local roads and add pedestrian signs on Somerville’s busiest roads (think Broadway, Somervile Ave., College Ave., etc). project to paint more than 9,000 linear feet of local roads and have added new pedestrian signage at various locations in the city. For some godforsaken reason, they clearly missed out on adding a light or better pedestrian signage at this particular intersection.

To quote The Somerville News’ interview with Mayor Curtatone,

“It doesn’t matter where you go in Somerville, our community is teeming with foot traffic,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Well marked intersections make it easier for foot traffic and vehicle traffic to coexist. It’s especially important to provide added safety for children and the elderly.”

Good one. Apparently there isn’t enough traffic volume according to DOT (State Department of Transportation). It’s at the entrance of a University campus, near a school, and along one of the busier roads that lead to Broadway, Davis Square, and into Boston.