Colorful teddy bears and a plastic butterfly brighten a memorial at an intersection in Andover’s Elm Square, honoring Sidney Mae Olson, the 5-year-old woman who misplaced her life in May when she was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer.
Sidney and a member of the family had been traversing the Elm Street crosswalk on their technique to artwork class, whereas the stroll signal confirmed it was nonetheless protected to cross.
The city made a set of adjustments to the intersection instantly after the May 9 tragedy, together with relocation of the cease line and rising pedestrian cross time. But way more intensive adjustments are on the best way after a highway security audit, compiled by the city and state, was launched final week.
“Sid was a couple feet away from being here right now,” Sidney’s father Eric Olson informed the Herald. “Had the stop line been where it is today, she’d probably be here. Had the lights been where they are now, she’d probably be here. We are happy that this is carrying us forward, but we recognize, too, that this is a small step in a long journey.”
The highway security audit recognized 88 potential security enhancements to the intersection. Short-term enhancements are anticipated to take lower than a 12 months, mid-term 1 to three years and long-term greater than 3 years.
Perhaps crucial and rapid change, Olson stated, is unique pedestrian phasing, that means visitors is stopped in all instructions when the stroll indicators are on. At the time of the tragedy, autos had been allowed to show throughout a crosswalk whereas a stroll signal was exhibiting.
Olson stated he hopes immediate-term priorities, which the city anticipates being executed throughout the subsequent three to 6 weeks, are in place by the point the college 12 months begins.
The Andover Select Board on Tuesday might be voting on a number of enhancements advisable within the audit and whether or not to undertake a Vision Zero decision, focusing the city on ending crash-related fatalities and accidents on its streets, whereas rising protected, wholesome and equitable mobility for all.
The board may even resolve whether or not to rescind the regulatory pace restrict on a few dozen streets and impose a brand new pace restrict of 25 mph.
Eric Olson stated he’s hopeful these measures might be accepted, particularly the dedication to Vision Zero, a decision that some cities and cities already observe within the Bay State
Crashes are up 30% over the previous 10 years in Andover, based on information from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The Merrimack Valley city has seen its inhabitants soar by nearly 50% within the final 20 years to roughly 37,000.
Statewide, pedestrian fatalities exceeded 100 final 12 months, up 35% from 2021, MassDOT figures present.
“We are hopeful that this will be a platform for something bigger across the state,” Olson stated of the city’s highway security measures up for vote. “The statistics on pedestrian fatalities are going the wrong way. We think there are many, many opportunities like this.”
One situation disregarded of the highway security audit is what Olson stated he believes is the first issue within the crash that claimed his daughter’s life: permitting giant vehicles to drive round city when households are out within the neighborhood.
“That doesn’t mean no trucks ever,” Olson stated. “It just means smaller trucks when you’ve got families going to school or going to art class or going out to eat.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”