THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 1, 2024 Page 5 Making the Square Safer The town follows through on a selectman riley’s recommendation to install new fl ashing pedestrian crossing lights in Cliftondale By Mark E. Vogler C orinne Riley wasn’t yet on the Board of Selectmen when she recommended to State Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) several years ago that he should go after funding for fl ashing pedestrian signs she had seen in a neighboring community. Wong credited Riley – his former campaign manager – with suggesting “a great idea” to him after he obtained a $50,000 state grant to buy pedestrian crosswalk signs in Saugus more than three years ago. “When I saw them in Melrose, that was the fi rst time I ever saw them, and I thought we needed to get those here,” Riley told The Saugus Advocate in an April 2021 interview, shortly after Wong had announced that he had sought and received a grant that could probably buy enough solar-powered electric signs that could be installed at 10 intersections, a pair at each intersection. Riley had hoped that a few of the flashing pedestrian crossing lights would be installed in Cliftondale. Since the town’s receipt of the grant three years ago, fl ashing pedestrian lights have been installed at intersections where the Northern Strand Community Trail passes through town as well as at other locations that have been targeted as priorities for correcting dangerous traffi c conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in the community. Town Manager Scott Crabtree recently announced the installation of two new sets of fl ashing pedestrian crossing lights at high-volume crosswalks in Cliftondale Square. “The illuminated fl ashing lights and signage are designed to capture the attention of drivers as they approach crosswalks,” Town Manager Crabtree said in a press release issued by his offi ce. “Having these lighting systems in place improves safety for pedestrians and motorists alike,” Crabtree said. The solar-powered systems feature a button that pedestrians can push to activate fl ashing warning lights as they cross the street. Bright yellow pedestrian signs and diagonal arrow signs accompany the fl ashing lights to alert motorists traveling in both directions about the crosswalks. The pedestrian crossing lights are located on Jackson Street just before the entrance to the Cliftondale Rotary, with the other system extending from Banana Splitz across Lincoln Avenue to the Mobil gas station. The lighting systems are funded through a state grant. Riley, who has continued to advocate for the improvements since being elected to the Board of Selectmen five years ago, said she believes the pedestrian crossing lights represent a proactive approach to reduce the chances of accidents involving pedestrians. “I’m glad the town has taken this important step to make it easier for pedestrians to safely navigate the rotary area,” Riley said. “The addition of these flashing pedestrian crossing lights definitely benefits public safety in Cliftondale Square.” The Police Department has worked with the town in identifying locations where the fl ashing pedestrian crossing lights could be installed. Cliftondale Square was one of three locations that Wong had suggested to selectmen for placing the crosswalk lights. “When I fi rst worked with Representative Wong on getting the More Choices. More Savings. LOCK IT IN WHILE YOU CAN. YOU PICK. 12, 18 OR 24-MONTH CD. 4.25% Member FDIC | Member DIF APY* *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. There’s Every Bank, Then There’s Pedestrian crossing lights recently installed by the town in Cliftondale Square, extending from Banana Splitz across Lincoln Avenue to the Mobil gas station (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) crosswalk fl ashing lights in Cliftondale Square, I knew that it was going to be a safety measure that we’d be able to take to protect pedestrians crossing the street,” Riley said in an interview this week. “I was very pleased recently to see additional sets of lights in other trouble spots where people try to cross. Because of additional traffi c using Cliftondale as a cut-through, it defi nitely isn’t as safe as it could be, especially with the big construction trucks and 18 wheelers that go through our town,” Riley said. “But because it’s a public road, it’s very difficult for the town to stop trucks from using our streets. Enforcement of speed limits and yielding to pedestrians will be a great help as well, and it’s not just for cars and trucks, but for electric bikes and scooters too. I hope that residents and other motorists will also do their part, by focusing on the road rather than smartphones while driving,” she said. Riley suggested that more needs to be done to make the streets of Cliftondale safer for everybody. “An additional step I would like to see is the addition of a few traffi c cameras around Cliftondale. I think that cameras would provide peace of mind to residents and business owners in Cliftondale,” Riley said. “Public safety is the top priority for the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager, and we’ll continue to explore all areas to improve public safety to protect the residents of Saugus.” SQUARE SAFER | SEE PAGE 22
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