Milton’s Traffic Commission is grappling with a surge in neighborhood cut-through traffic as residents report that GPS navigation apps are funneling commuters onto narrow residential side streets to bypass the Randolph Avenue road diet. Residents of Spafford, Buckingham, Martin, and Clifton Roads presented a united front of concern during Wednesday’s meeting, stating that traffic volumes have failed to improve during the critical 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM window. Brittany, a resident of Clifton Road, noted that digital maps are exacerbating the issue. The maps and the Waze seem to be directing people specifically up to Clifton Road... Clifton is the most direct route up to Highland, she explained.

DPW Director Marina Fernandez provided data showing average daily traffic fluctuated between 400 and 573 vehicles, though she cautioned that a recent dip might be attributed to equipment battery failure or the Thanksgiving holiday. Resident Travis Gregory expressed concern that Clifton is now perceived as the faster route, a behavioral shift he described as difficult to reverse. On Stafford Road, resident Bard highlighted the impending impact of the Avita memory care project, which is expected to add nearly 300 vehicles daily to a road he described as narrow and lacking sidewalks. The afternoon for whatever reason is when it seems particularly aggressive and that's when the kids are out of school, Bard noted. Manette Donovan and Nadine Hannah echoed these safety concerns, particularly regarding commercial hospital trucks navigating the steep, sidewalk-free terrain of Spafford Road. Resident Don Driscoll suggested a 2.5-ton limit for the area to curb heavy vehicle use.

While residents suggested Do Not Enter signs to stem the flow, Fire Chief Chris Madden raised significant red flags regarding emergency response times and town liability. My fear with the no left turn is we do come up Lincoln Road and we have to go to a building fire on say Marshall... taking that corner if we clip somebody's front bumper, then we become liable, Madden said, adding that such restrictions make it very difficult for a responding fire truck to get in place. The Commission ultimately decided to draft a summary of potential restrictions for the Select Board to review, rather than taking immediate action.

Safety concerns also dominated the discussion regarding Dyer Avenue following a major 3:00 AM crash in October. Dr. Linda Mulak requested traffic calming for the wide street, noting that cars zoom at 40 mph near the Tucker School. Our inquiry is whether we could have a study done or an electronic meter... with the ultimate goal of putting speed bumps down our street, Mulak said. While Chris Ernst of the Police Department noted few formal speed complaints, he agreed to increase directed patrols during late-night hours when racing has been reported. Fernandez and department staff noted that pneumatic traffic counters cannot be deployed during the winter due to snowplow operations. Motion Made by M. Fernandez to have the Engineering Department oversee a traffic count on Dyer Avenue in the spring. Motion Passed (Unanimous).

To assist local businesses, the Commission authorized a temporary valet parking program for Abbey Park and Novara on Franklin Street. Attorney Ned O'Connor and restaurant manager Amanda requested the service to manage evening congestion between Thursday and Saturday, utilizing private lots to move cars off the street. Chief Madden insisted on a 20-foot clearance from the Adams Street corner to ensure fire engines can navigate the turn onto Franklin Street. Vance Welch, owner of the restaurants, supported the trial, stating, I think it's important enough for us to give this a shot and then if we find that it's any kind of financial strain... we can revisit. Motion Made by M. Fernandez to allow a temporary valet pilot program via an engineering permit for up to six months. Motion Passed (Unanimous).

Parking tensions also flared on Elliot Street, where residents say Steel & Rye employees and patrons leave them with no place to park during peak dining hours. Alex Marini told the commission that residents often have to move cars late at night to avoid tickets in two-hour zones. I don't expect to be able to park directly in front of my house, but I do expect to be able to park somewhere on the street that I live on, Marini said. Fernandez resisted calls for resident-only permits, warning that it would set a difficult townwide precedent. There is no resident parking space anywhere else in town. So, opening this opens up for a whole different townwide issue, she noted, suggesting the town instead work directly with restaurant management to shift employee parking to Central Avenue. Commission member Mary, who submitted the previous minutes, concurred that communication with the businesses should be the first step.

The meeting was abruptly truncated before several agenda items could be heard due to a personal emergency for the Chair. Motion Made by M. Fernandez to continue the meeting next week via Zoom to finish the remaining agenda items. Motion Passed (Unanimous).