Tonight the DCR held the second in a series of public meetings about an upcoming reconfiguration of the intersection of Lynn Fells Parkway and Melrose/Crystal Street. We had previously submitted public comment to DCR, which you can read here, about what we wished to see at this complex and unsafe intersection. Tonight we are sharing the four design options which were presented at the meeting, for your review. Some quick notes:
- Concepts 1-3 have a new traffic signal at the intersection. City of Melrose staff, including DPW Director Proakis-Ellis, were on-hand. This signal would include a priority pedestrian phrase, which pedestrians can activate with a button (similar to the crossing closer to the Knoll). Any traffic signal here would be fully coordinated with the City of Melrose traffic signals so that cyclists and drivers going through the intersection are not hitting “multiple reds.”
- Design Option 2 closes off the southern Crystal/Melrose intersection.
- Design concept 1 features a larger “mixed-used path” intended for both pedestrians and cyclists on the northern part of LFP, along the Shell/Dunkin.
- There was a strong public preference at the meeting for option 2; pedestrian conflicts can be dramatically reduced, creating for much safer conditions, by eliminating that intersection, as well as in options which reduce the number of Dunkin’ entrances from 2 to 1. DCR thought Dunkin’ would prefer to retain the curb cut “farther away” from the intersection.
- Design options 2 and 4 add the most new vehicular volume to the intersection of Lynn Fells and Main Street; DCR notes that if a traffic signal is installed at the intersection in question, those volumes can be much more safely managed than current volumes are, where traffic backs up through the LFP/Crystal/Melrose intersection.
- Multiple comments were made about the potential for adding a “left turn phase” at the intersection of Main Street and Lynn Fells going northbound, in coordination with the city of Melrose.
The deadline for submitting public comments is May 19th — you can submit a comment to the DCR using this form.
What do you think? Share your comments below, or if you’re interested in joining in our advocacy, drop us a link and help us bring safer streets for everyone to Melrose! The deadline for submitting
Design Option 1
Design Option 2
Design Option 3
Design Option 4
I think option 2 is innovative and forward thinking, to an extent. Option 3 almost provides a facility which address a the need for a safe facility for people biking. But remember this is next to two schools, students bike here every day. I also think that the biggest problems at this intersection is not being addressed, and that is the road skew, and short block at a sharp grade. I did a quick MS Paint job (see facebook post) on a possible solution to take another driveway out of this intersection, remove the skew, and create far more green space. I do believe that there is also opportunity for a more substantial bike facility. A shared use facility is appropriate in areas where we do not expect high volumes of people walking and biking to exist at a high frequency, there is expectation here for both. This is a good start, I think we can do better.