In a recent meeting of the Northampton Transportation and Parking Commission, concerns about traffic safety on Day Avenue took center stage. Residents voiced their frustrations over the narrow street, which has become a hotspot for accidents involving parked cars.

One resident shared alarming statistics from a survey conducted among Day Avenue households, revealing that eight families reported a total of 22 incidents of their vehicles being struck while parked. The damage varied significantly, with some cars suffering minor dents while others were totaled. The resident noted that the situation is likely to worsen with an upcoming development project at 39 Day Avenue, which will increase the number of housing units from one to nine. This change is expected to add more vehicles to an already congested street, exacerbating the risk of accidents.

While the current speed limit of 30 mph was discussed, residents expressed skepticism about its effectiveness, suggesting that a reduction to 25 mph would have minimal impact on speeding drivers. Instead, they proposed the installation of speed bumps or tables as a more effective solution to slow down traffic. However, they acknowledged that these measures alone would not resolve the underlying issue of the street's narrowness, which forces vehicles to navigate precariously around parked cars.

The commission also considered the possibility of converting Day Avenue into a one-way street to alleviate some of the congestion and improve safety. As discussions continue, residents remain hopeful that their concerns will lead to actionable changes that enhance safety on their street.