A busy street corner will soon see a new ‘stop’ sign to help pedestrians.
Motorists approaching the corner of Otis and Edison avenues westbound, just outside St. Benedict’s Church and near its school, willnow have to make a full stop, said Councilman James Vacca.
After a number of attempts to convince appropriate city agencies that greater traffic controls at the intersection were needed, Vacca said he was able to advocate for the city Department of Transportation to install what he contends is a badly needed third ‘stop’ sign.
That sign should bring all traffic to a halt at the intersection, which has one way traffic on Otis Avenue and two-way traffic on Edison Avenue.
“Right now it is a location where you especially have to be careful,” said the councilman. “I think making everyone stop at this location makes absolute sense.”
Vacca said that he has been looking for something additional in the way of stop signs at the corner for several years.
“I have had this complaint for several years, we put it in (for consideration) constantly,” said Vacca of the his requests. “
The councilman said that the city Department of Transportation should have the new signs installed within a month, and Vacca indicated the change cannot come soon enough.
“Right now, even though there are stop signs on Edison Avenue, people there often assume that Otis Avenue is stopping, but Otis Avenue is not stopping,” he said. “Because it is a major crosswalk, in my opinion, for school and church, I think having clarity and making everyone stop is what we saw for it from the beginning.”
Fr. Stephen Norton, pastor of St. Benedict’s Church, said the intersection is an important one for both the church and school, and that this was a change that both parishioners and school parents have wanted.
“There is a light at Logan and Otis avenues, and once you hit that light, (drivers tend) to try to get all the way to East Tremont Avenue without any slowdown at Edison Avenue,” said Fr. Norton, adding that “there are cars at the intersection that are just kind of leaning on the horn and going straight through.”
The intersection is dangerous for people coming to church, but can be especially hazardous to young schoolchildren, said Fr. Norton.
“There have been accidents,” Fr. Norton added.
