dangerous intersection

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

So, there was Yet Another bad car accident on the corner of Powder House Blvd and Packard Ave yesterday. Including a baby in a carseat in the car that ended up on the lawn of 125 Powder House. This intersection, I believe, is too dangerous to have a blinky light any longer. People routinely cruise down Powder House at 45 mph or more and cannot stop for pedestrians or turning cars.

To whom does one write a letter about this? I really feel that a real, three light traffic light is finally called for there, at least so that one can push the button for a walk. Even a blinky light like they have on Rt. 16 so that you *can* push the button for a walk would be an improvement, but wouldn't solve the issue of people turning off or onto Packard, which people do pretty frequently.

Thoughts, dslj?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Does anyone know what the posted speed limit is on that section of Powderhouse? I went and drove the section between Curtis and Burnham this evening, admittedly after dark and trying to be careful driving, but I didn't see a single speed limit sign nearby. Also, Burnham street has a crosswalk sign protecting the crosswalk (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Powder+House+Blvd+and+Packard+Ave,+Somerville,+MA&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS258US258&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=uem-SaX3Ao-1tweS3oj4Cw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image), whereas there is no indicator for the intersection at Packard. It's a start.

[ron_newman]

By default, any city street has a 30 mph speed limit. WalkBoston has been trying to get this reduced to 25.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

The problem is the loose definition of "thickly settled". While a 25 mph default limit might make sense on narrow streets in Somerville, it's not appropriate for every road in the state where there are 6 houses in a half mile.