Schools

Newton South NewTurf

Given the problems with the South field, some application of artificial turf is likely to be necessary and appropriate. Following a complete drainage study and plan, the most appropriate solution should be implemented.

Zervas

While my daughter was a student at the Zervas School and I was a new alderman, I started the School Traffic Safety Committee (STS) because of the dangerous drop off and pick up issues on Beethoven Ave. Children were running between parked cars, parents were double parking and everyone wanted access to the front of the school. Of course, the front of the school could only hold a small portion of the number of cars coming into the neighborhood. The School Safety Officer from the Police Department and I also realized that this was happening two times a day at EVERY school in the city.

With the Chief of Police, the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools, we approached the Board of Aldermen Public Safety and Transportation Committee about creating the STS to work on traffic issues around the schools with all the necessary players at the table; Parks and Rec. Dept., Public Works, School Dept., Police, Fire, etc.

We developed a tool to organize the traffic called Blue Zones. The first Blue Zone was implemented at the Lincoln Eliot School in Newton Corner and the second was at Zervas. The process was all inclusive of the parents, PTO's, school principals and the whole STS Committee. The process took several months, included ordinances that needed to be passed by the Board of Aldermen, and we would look at the neighborhood holistically.

At Zervas School there has always been a core group of parents who would vigilantly volunteer to keep the Blue Zone moving. Because it is only a tool, it is only as good as those who use it. Across from the school, there is No Parking from 8a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days. This is to facilitate the drop off and pick up zone. As you can imagine, the traffic influx is difficult on the families who live across from the school.

This past year, the Zervas PTO filed an item on behalf of the popular weekend soccer program, to create No Parking in front of the residents' homes on weekends. The Traffic Council did not support this proposal. The Traffic Council believes that the parents have access to the Zervas School parking lot and other available parking a little farther away. Of course we are concerned about public safety first, but traffic petitions are usually filed by the residents of the street where the parking restriction will become law.

Further up Beethoven, there is No Parking on the resident side of the street across from the park on weekends. Should the residents down by the school feel that a parking restriction should be looked at, I would suggest that on weekends there should be no parking in front of the school so that the parking restrictions do not shift from one side of the street to the other on the same day. Therefore, effectively all of Beethoven would have No Parking on the east side on Saturdays and Sundays during the playing season.

Angier

As with Zervas, I have spent a great deal of time working on issues at Angier. Angier School has not adopted a Blue Zone. But I worked with three Angier principals helping to augment the staff parking in the back of the school and change various traffic patterns in the front. It took several years for the double yellow lines on Beacon St to be moved away from the school side, making more room for drop off. When it finally was moved over, it seemed to lead people into the triangle instead around the curve, and it took at least two more painting seasons to correct the curve. I am satisfied that it is finally right! Whew. If nothing else, I have stick-to-it-tiveness.

Beacon Street is a major road through Newton. Speed and pedestrian safety continue to be a problem. I have requested police speed enforcement and spoken with Ken Temkin, the transportation manager at the school department about lawbreakers over the past year. We have brought the Angier School zone up to State code. More signage is not recommended by the State.

The Waban Square crossing guard post is very difficult to fill because of the complexity and dangerousness of the location. One police officer has recommended that one of the crosswalks be removed. I believe that is a proposal to be considered.

I helped to develop the crosswalk policy over the past few years with Officer Dawn Hough Fleming and Candace Havens the former Traffic Council Chair. It may seem counterintuitive, but excessive crosswalks and unprotected ones on high speed roads are not safe. A crosswalk indicates that public safety is served to cross at a particular point. While safe crossing can occur anywhere using caution, a crosswalk sends a message especially to our children that this is a safe place.

Countryside

I worked on traffic and parking issues at Countryside School as well. A Blue Zone was developed and a bus cutout. A stop sign was installed on Walnut St. The school parking lot was improved to maximize staff parking, and teachers were also accommodated on Dedham St. No Parking on Dedham St was added from the corner of Walnut.

When Dedham St was being rebuilt, I made certain the design included a traffic island to separate the lanes of traffic turning left onto Dedham St. northbound.