BOSTON — A hearing to discuss ways to make Boston streets safer, with a focus on a speed limit of 20 mph was held Tuesday morning at Boston City Hall.
In January 2017, Boston lowered its default speed limit on most streets from 30 to 25 mph, which required a change in state law. Lowering the speed limit to 20 mph could also require a change in state law, depending on how the City Council proposes and scales its proposal.
"We want raised crosswalks, we want speed bumps and I don't know why we are still sitting here still talking about this," said Councilor Frank Baker.
City Councilors Ed Flynn and Frank Baker cited improved safety and eliminating pedestrian crashes in calling for the hearing. This summer, a 3-year-old boy was killed while on the sidewalk in South Boston when a chain-reaction crash sent a van careening onto the curb, hitting the child's stroller.
One change the city made after that tragedy in South Boston was installing poles so cars can no longer park near the intersections, giving drivers a better view of the crosswalks.
Flynn says the lower speed limit would come with aggressive enforcement.
"There's been a lot of changes in my neighborhood, in the city as well but there's still a lot of work we have to do," said Flynn.
To do a full city-wide change would require state involvement again, but the city is looking at creating safety zones which would not need state approval.
>> Officials looking to improve safety along L Street following fatal crash
Related stories:
- Community calls for safer streets after toddler's death in South Boston
- South Boston residents meet with city on pedestrian safety
- Pedestrian taken to hospital after being struck in Boston
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
