Sidewalks, flashing pedestrian lights and a crosswalk are among the safety measures being considered to improve bike and pedestrian safety at the intersection of Lafayette Street, Princes Point Road and Pleasant Street in Yarmouth.

“There’s no real way to know where it’s safe to cross,” said Mike Tremblay, a member of the Complete Streets Advisory Committee. “Especially on a road like (Lafayette Street), where it’s winding and there’s curves and hills. We think this location is quite safe for a crossing, with some reasonable modifications.”

Tremblay also has concerns about the 35 mph speed limit at the intersection, saying improvements should include warning signs before the intersection to warn drivers there may be pedestrians ahead. To increase visibility, vegetation should also be cut back in the area because it sometimes impairs drivers’ vision at curves in the road, he said.

The committee has budgeted about $10,000 to hire a consultant to look into safety alternatives, according to Town Engineer Steven Johnson, with a goal of getting someone on board by July 1. A feasibility study will likely take a few months and will consist of surveying the area and speaking with residents. Once the consultant comes up with two or three alternatives, the town will decide on the best option with the hope of beginning work on the improvements by 2025.

A survey is open at yarmouthme.us through April 1 that asks residents how safe they feel when they travel through the intersection and what improvements they think would best suit the area.

Director of Planning and Development Erin Zwirko said the geometry of the intersection could make it difficult to include a crosswalk because of how the roads intersect and the general layout.

“The study will come up with some alternatives to look at for the intersection,” Zwirko said. “It could range from sidewalks to reorienting Pleasant Street and Princes Point Road, which would be a larger project, or other sorts of intervention that would just bring attention for drivers to the fact that there may be pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the intersection and they need to be more aware.”

Other possibilities include flashing lights or beacons to make drivers aware of pedestrians. Any improvements will be in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, meaning any sidewalks, crosswalks or other improvements will be fully accessible.

Dan Ostrye, who lives near the intersection and is a former chairperson of the town Bike and Pedestrian Committee, said his family members have felt unsafe walking in the area. The need for safety improvements has been discussed for about 10 years, he said.

“I’ve heard from all of my friends and neighbors in the area that they want to see these infrastructure improvements,” Ostrye said.

“I’m optimistic we will get this crosswalk in,” he said. “Once we do that, we also need to make sure the kids who are using it know how to use it properly. It’s nice to have it, but it’s important to know that just because vehicles are supposed to yield to you, that doesn’t mean they’re always paying attention. Kids need to know to look both ways again and again and that’s how to safely cross.”

The intersection has been the scene of two vehicle accidents since 2018, according to Yarmouth Police Chief Dan Gallant. Both were rear-end collisions that did not involve pedestrians or bicyclists.

Tremblay said the intersection is popular for Yarmouth residents because it’s an efficient way to get to the center of town and safety has been a concern of area residents for a few years.

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