The Milton Bicycle Advisory Committee is campaigning to make the intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway / Brush Hill Road / Milton Street safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. If you've traveled through this intersection, you no doubt know how hazardous it is. It was originally designed nearly a century ago, when cars were much slower, highway safety standards didn't exist, and there were few - if any - regulations for pedestrian safety. Note that there are no crosswalks, despite the fact that the area is a very popular location for youth sports. This problem has been made even worse because the ball fields at Houghton's Pond and Kelly Field have been closed for repairs. In the short term, the Milton Traffic Commission recommends that all visitors to the ball fields park at the Milton Healthcare parking lot if at all possible. Between January 1st and September 20th, there had been 34 reported accidents at the location - with more occurring every week. In August, a woman was knocked off her bicycle while trying to navigate the intersection, and a child was struck while crossing Brush Hill Road. Both were taken to local hospitals to treat their injuries, which thankfully were not life-threatening. The Massachusetts DCR (Department of Recreation and Conservation) maintains the Parkway, while Brush Hill Road and Milton Street are maintained by the Milton Department of Public Works. These two departments will need to work together to improve the intersection. The DCR has commissioned a traffic study to evaluate the intersection. We encourage all local residents to contact your representatives and ask them to support the DCR and Milton DPW to expedite this traffic study and redesign the intersection to be safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Some points to consider:
You can reach your local representatives at these addresses: State Senator Brian Joyce District: Milton (and other South Shore towns) State House Room 413-A Boston, MA 02133 Phone: (617) 722-1643 Email: Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us State Representative Walter Timilty District: Milton precincts 2 and 4 through 10 (and parts of Randolph) State House Room 167 Boston, MA 02133 Phone: (617) 722-2810 Email: Rep.WalterTimilty@hou.state.ma.us State Senator Marian Walsh (Majority Whip) District: Hyde Park / Readville (also West Roxbury, Dedham, Norwood and Westwood) State House Room 405 Boston, MA 02133 Phone: (617) 722-1348 Email: Marian.Walsh@state.ma.us State Representative Angelo Scaccia District: Milton precinct 11 & Readville State House Room 33 Boston, MA 02133 Phone: (617) 722-2060 Fax: (617) 722-2849 Email: Rep.AngeloScaccia@hou.state.ma.us Department of Conservation and Recreation - Commissioner Rick Sullivan 251 Causeway St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114 Phone: (617) 626-1250 Fax: (617) 626-1351 Milton Board of Selectmen Marion McEttrick, John Shields and Robert Sweeney Town Office Building 525 Canton Avenue Milton, MA 02186 Boston Mayor Thomas Menino 1 City Hall Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02201-2013 Telephone: (617) 635-4500 Fax: (617) 635-2851 Email: mayor@cityofboston.gov Recently reported accidents: Oct. 8, 2010 - Motor Vehicle Accident on Milton Street At 9:56 p.m. Friday, Boston Police reported a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Milton Street and Brush Hill Road. Fire and Fallon were notified to respond. Blue Hills towing was notified for the removal of one vehicle. Oct. 5, 2010 - Three-Injury Crash At 6:38 p.m. Tuesday, a caller reported a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway and Brush Hill Road. Fire, Fallon and State Police were notified. Fallon transported one minor and two adults to Milton Hospital. Sept. 21, 2010 - Police Log: Multiple Injuries in Brush Hill Road Crash At 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, a 911 caller reported a motor vehicle accident with multiple injuries at the intersection of Brush Hill Road and Milton Street. Fallon and Fire were notified to respond. Because the accident was on a DCR road, State Police were notified. Fallon transported one party to Milton Hospital. A second Fallon transported two additional parties to Milton Hospital. Aug 30, 2010 - Police Log: Youth Hit by Car At 7:42 p.m. Monday, multiple callers reported a youth struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway and Brush Hill Road. Fallons transported the youth to Children's Hospital. July 23, 2010 - Police Log: Friday Night Chase Ends With Crash in Boston At 3:41 a.m. Friday, an officer reported a vehicle was refusing to stop. The officer followed the vehicle into Boston until it crashed at the intersection of Truman Parkway and Neponset Valley Parkway. The suspect, a Hispanic male wearing khaki pants and a white t-shirt, fled on foot into the wooded area. Boston Police and State Police were notified. The State Police concluded the search with the K9 unit with negative results. |
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