To: Zervas Building Committee, David Fleishman, Superintendent, Newton Public Schools, Newton School Committee, and Newton City Council
Petition to Halt Widening of Beethoven Avenue
We, the undersigned NEIGHBORS OF ZERVAS SCHOOL, are concerned about the proposal before the Zervas Building Committee. The current plan includes widening the road in front of the school and the creation of a dedicated right-turn lane at Beethoven Avenue and Beacon Street. We feel strongly that there is time to study this plan and determine the best and most prudent course going forward.
Why is this important?
We, the undersigned NEIGHBORS OF ZERVAS SCHOOL, are concerned about the proposal before the Zervas Building Committee. The current plan includes widening the road in front of the school and the creation of a dedicated right turn lane at Beethoven Avenue and Beacon Street. These changes will fundamentally impact the safety of our neighborhood streets, particularly outside of arrival and dismissal times. The estimated cost for these changes is currently about $400,000. This is a questionable expenditure, given that the achievement of the desired outcome--reducing congestion--is uncertain. From our viewpoint, the committee has not sufficiently considered other options (or at least this thinking has not been shared with the public). We do not understand the need to rush this decision. Given that enrollment will be slowly increasing and that there have already been some changes implemented that will help with congestion when the new Zervas opens (e.g. bus driveway on Beacon St. and a new traffic signal with working detection loops), we feel strongly that there is time to study this and determine the best and most prudent course going forward.
Some things to consider:
1. The City of Newton recently launched a transportation strategy planning process called Newton-in-Motion (http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/73884 ) with a goal of creating a “more equitable, economically, and environmentally sustainable multimodal transportation system”. The proposed street changes on Beethoven go directly against this strategy.
2. Widening Beethoven in front of Zervas brings cars 10 feet closer to the front door, bringing moving vehicles and emissions closer to kids. This also takes away from space that could be allocated to trees, grass, a slightly wider sidewalk.
3. A wider intersection at Beethoven and Beacon St. will increase the time needed for pedestrians to cross. Not only does this increase the risk of a child being hit by a car, it could add to congestion on Beethoven as the longer it takes to cross the street the less time vehicles on Beethoven will have a green light.
4. Wider roads increase vehicle speeds. Faster vehicle speeds increase the number and severity of crashes. We should be working to ensure the streets near schools are as safe as possible. http://nacto.org/docs/usdg/narrow_residential_streets_daisa.pdf
5. More vehicles and faster moving vehicles will make our neighborhood streets less safe and will likely decrease the number of people willing to walk, especially people with young children, further increasing the number of cars coming to the school.
6. A right turn lane on Beethoven could increase crashes with pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles traveling east along Beacon St as sightlines are poor (obstructed by a fence) and cars may be less likely to come to a complete stop in a right turn lane or at a minimum will have to stop on the proposed crosswalk to see oncoming vehicular traffic.
7. The bumped in blue zone/drop-off area is being suggested as a way to stop caregivers from parking in the blue zone. We believe a wider Beethoven will increase the likelihood that caregivers will park and even double park as they will be able to do so without hindering through traffic.
What do we suggest instead?
The committee should study ideas to address congestion while enhancing neighborhood safety and walkability. If the $400,000 estimated for the curb changes was instead spent on traffic calming, wider sidewalks and safer crosswalks, the resulting safer street would encourage caregivers to walk or drop off further away. Safe passage from a short distance away would allow drop-off cars without entering the immediate school neighborhood. It may also increase the number of students walking from home. These investments could significantly improve the livability of our neighborhood. Changes could include safer crossings adjacent to Richardson Field on both Beethoven and Allen, bump outs on Allen at Beacon St., and improvements for the life course trail at the back of Zervas. The city should also be studying traffic flow in the whole neighborhood, as changes to Beethoven will impact other streets, especially Allen, Puritan and Evelyn.
Sign below if you agree that Beethoven redesign needs more study.
Some things to consider:
1. The City of Newton recently launched a transportation strategy planning process called Newton-in-Motion (http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/73884 ) with a goal of creating a “more equitable, economically, and environmentally sustainable multimodal transportation system”. The proposed street changes on Beethoven go directly against this strategy.
2. Widening Beethoven in front of Zervas brings cars 10 feet closer to the front door, bringing moving vehicles and emissions closer to kids. This also takes away from space that could be allocated to trees, grass, a slightly wider sidewalk.
3. A wider intersection at Beethoven and Beacon St. will increase the time needed for pedestrians to cross. Not only does this increase the risk of a child being hit by a car, it could add to congestion on Beethoven as the longer it takes to cross the street the less time vehicles on Beethoven will have a green light.
4. Wider roads increase vehicle speeds. Faster vehicle speeds increase the number and severity of crashes. We should be working to ensure the streets near schools are as safe as possible. http://nacto.org/docs/usdg/narrow_residential_streets_daisa.pdf
5. More vehicles and faster moving vehicles will make our neighborhood streets less safe and will likely decrease the number of people willing to walk, especially people with young children, further increasing the number of cars coming to the school.
6. A right turn lane on Beethoven could increase crashes with pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles traveling east along Beacon St as sightlines are poor (obstructed by a fence) and cars may be less likely to come to a complete stop in a right turn lane or at a minimum will have to stop on the proposed crosswalk to see oncoming vehicular traffic.
7. The bumped in blue zone/drop-off area is being suggested as a way to stop caregivers from parking in the blue zone. We believe a wider Beethoven will increase the likelihood that caregivers will park and even double park as they will be able to do so without hindering through traffic.
What do we suggest instead?
The committee should study ideas to address congestion while enhancing neighborhood safety and walkability. If the $400,000 estimated for the curb changes was instead spent on traffic calming, wider sidewalks and safer crosswalks, the resulting safer street would encourage caregivers to walk or drop off further away. Safe passage from a short distance away would allow drop-off cars without entering the immediate school neighborhood. It may also increase the number of students walking from home. These investments could significantly improve the livability of our neighborhood. Changes could include safer crossings adjacent to Richardson Field on both Beethoven and Allen, bump outs on Allen at Beacon St., and improvements for the life course trail at the back of Zervas. The city should also be studying traffic flow in the whole neighborhood, as changes to Beethoven will impact other streets, especially Allen, Puritan and Evelyn.
Sign below if you agree that Beethoven redesign needs more study.