Agenda Text
title
Lucy and Jason van Beever submitting comments re: #200639, a raised crosswalk at the West Somerville Neighborhood School.
body
Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
My husband Jason and I would like to write in support of installing a speed bump in front of the West Somerville Neighborhood School at the crosswalk, AND propose the installation of a speed bump behind the school. Every day we see cars and trucks speeding up and down Powder House Boulevard, and many ignore the School Zone signage. We also see this on Raymond Avenue when we pick up our children from Afterschool via the back entrance to WSNS. Since both of the streets are two-way, cars swerve to get around each other, and this further endangers pedestrians. Moreover, I have personally witnessed cars ignoring the crossing guards six times this school year.
The City of Somerville prides itself on being a great family city, and it cannot, in our opinion, continue to put its children at risk with the poor safety and traffic measures currently in place at schools. The Brown and Kennedy Schools are two other schools by which my husband and I drive daily when commuting to work, and these are also poorly demarcated. Imagine the tragedy and consequential negative publicity that Somerville would endure should, God forbid, a child (or resident) be injured or worse in a Somerville School Zone. Much attention has been focused on active shooter training, lockdowns and other school intrusion possibilities, but statistically, Somerville children are more at risk of getting hit by a car than becoming victims of the former. Our property taxes have significantly increased this year, so it sure would be nice to see your funds spent on such an important issue.
Cambridge has installed flashing lights and raised crosswalks or speed bumps at many of its schools. Jason and I urge you to consider installing speed bumps at WSNS (in front and behind the school) as well as by the Kennedy and Brown schools. We also strongly encourage you to install flashing pedestrian crossing lights, and doing everything else you can to protect these small and vulnerable residents of Somerville.
Thank you,
Lucy and Jason van Beever