Selectmen back call for safety

Selectmen did not form a pedestrian and bike safety commission last night, but they supported the effort by resident Dave Atkins to make Westwood more walkable and safer to bike.
The board directed Town Administrator Michael Jaillet to look into how Atkins' proposed group could be combined with two existing traffic safety task forces.
Selectmen Chairman Patrick Ahearn noted that his board voted in 1999 to establish a traffic safety task force, and said the Downey School also has a task force working to expand Westwood's sidewalks so children will have another safe alternative for getting to school besides buses and car rides from parents.
But the traffic safety task force has not been active, according to Jaillet.
Atkins proposed establishing the pedestrian and bike safety commission after a walkable community workshop he organized in early November identified many related issues - pegging problematic crosswalks in the Islington area, and highlighting how difficult and dangerous it can be for walkers and bicyclists to get from one side of town to the other.
About 20 people took part in the workshop.
``We reached the conclusion that we needed some structure in town to address these issues'' in a broad way that would go beyond spot requests, said Atkins, the editor of Westwood Blog, a popular Web site about community issues.
Atkins told selectmen he wanted both town officers and residents to be involved, and that the commission would first identify problem intersections around town, as the workshop already did for Islington.
In a draft mission statement Atkins wrote, he proposed that the commission include nine members - five residents and one member each from the Planning, Conservation, Engineering and Police departments. The commission would work to improve pedestrian and bike safety through four approaches: Engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement.
``I think what you've done in terms of generating thought process and interest is terrific, and I think it's a great time to start reinvigorating whatever was done in the past in terms of traffic and safety,'' said Selectman Nancy Hyde. ``I support this wholeheartedly and I think we should go forward and coordinate and leverage off what's already in place, albeit a little dormant, and start getting this going again.'
After board members asked Jaillet about integrating the committees, Atkins pointed out there was a difference between his aim - making a walkable Westwood - and the traffic issues the other committees deal with.
Hyde said walkability and biking around town cannot be separated from traffic issues, advocating ``some kind of umbrella entity'' for the town.
``I think there just needs to be a little bit of brainstorming to figure out the best structure that works for the town, but I think Dave is giving us an awful lot of good information to work with,'' she said.
Though Atkins said he was not aware of any action by the traffic safety task force, Ahearn said out of courtesy he wanted to check in with its members before moving ahead - adding that the task force could be a ``great resource'' for staffing Atkins' committee.
Ultimately, Jaillet told Atkins they would convene a meeting of the various parties involved before the selectmen's next meeting on Jan. 10, and ``have a general discussion and see what we can come up with for a proposal.''
Afterward, Atkins indicated he was pleased with the selectmen's support.
``I think there's a lot of interest in improving walkability in town,'' he said. ``The next step is to just get everybody engaged, and get the people who are on the committees engaged.''
Daily News staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.