Safe Streets grant moves forward; Local Traffic Authority approves short-term demonstration projects on Mill Plain and Sturges

The committee heard an update on the federal Safe Streets for All planning grant and on recently approved demonstration traffic-calming projects for Mill Plain Road, Sturges and South Benson.

A committee member said the town removed some language about equity considerations at the federal government’s request and resubmitted the grant agreement; the member said the town expects the grant agreement to be signed shortly and that once the agreement is signed the town will be able to award a vetted consultant to prepare a safety action plan.

Separately, the town’s Local Traffic Authority approved several short-term demonstration projects at intersections along Sturges and Mill Plain Road — including raised intersections and curb bump-outs — and authorized temporary bollards and other pilot treatments for one to six months to allow community observation and feedback before deciding on permanent measures. The committee was told the demonstrations will allow the town to “see what's going on and give feedback as they kinda move forward to traffic calming solutions.”

Committee members were briefed that these demonstration projects are intended as temporary tests, with changes possible if pilots show different outcomes; no formal committee vote on the grant or demonstration projects was taken at this meeting, as these updates came from staff and the Local Traffic Authority.