State Promises New Safety Measures On Lynn Fells Parkway After Review

MELROSE, MA — Portions of the Lynn Fells Parkway in Melrose are set to receive a series of new safety measures, according to a letter from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently shared by State Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian.

The letter, signed by DCR commissioner Doug Rice and dated Nov. 29, outlines measures following a safety evaluation and a review of road conditions of the area in recent months. The department is largely looking to make changes over “the next few weeks,” according to Rice, before tackling a larger slate of recommendations and projects.

“DCR is committed to continuing its ongoing communication with the City of Melrose, state and local representatives and members of the public as we work to implement these changes,” Rice wrote in his letter.

The Lynn Fells Parkway runs through parts of Stoneham, Melrose and Saugus, connecting the Middlesex Fells Reservation to the Breakheart Reservation. It is part of a larger network of DCR-managed parkways throughout Greater Boston.

The promise of safety changes comes months after a fatal crash in early September galvanized frustration about what many in Melrose described as longstanding safety issues, often related to drivers speeding on the Lynn Fells Parkway.

DCR responded to an open letter from concerned residents after the crash, announcing its planned safety review.

The DCR, Rice said, ultimately looked at a roughly .4 mile stretch of the parkway between Green Street and Lincoln Street, including the September crash site near the parkway’s intersection with Elm Street and Linden Road.

The department has since reduced the posted speed limit in the area from 30 miles-per-hour to 25 miles-per-hour, according to Rice. This change will be marked with two speed limit signs in each direction, Rice said.

The DCR will replace an existing “crosswalk ahead” sign seen when approaching Lincoln Street traveling out of Melrose.

Crews will repaint the double yellow line along this stretch of road and “refresh” bike lane, buffer and bike lane symbol markings, Rice said.

Crews will trim vegetation at the parkway’s intersection with Bellevue Avenue to help improve visibility.

DCR will also “clarify” pavement markings for outbound motorists traveling east of Green Street where the parkway narrows from two lanes to one lane.

Planned new and relocated signs, Rice said, will largely be installed by the end of the year.

The DCR is additionally looking to install a pair of radar speed signs in each direction along this stretch of the parkway. Those signs, Rice said, have been ordered and will be installed once they arrive.

See also: 1 Dead, 2 Injured In Melrose Lynn Fells Parkway Crash

'A Literal Death Trap': Locals Call For Action After Melrose Crash

Lynn Fells Parkway Crash: DCR Responds To Resident Safety Concerns

The DCR already conducted a master planning process for its parkways, culminating in a report in 2020.

The report flagged 275 recommended improvements throughout the network, including several for the Lynn Fells Parkway. Recommendations ranged from new sidewalks and crosswalks to a possible separated bike lane between Green Street and the Melrose/Saugus line.

Rice said last week that the DCR is developing a work plan to implement master plan recommendations.

The work plan, Rice said, “will guide our capital planning process in the coming budget years.”

Lipper-Garabedian said on Monday she was “pleased that the Department will implement safety enhancements between Green and Lincoln Streets” after prior advocacy throughout her tenure in the legislature.

Radar speed signs, Lipper-Garabedian said, are a specific measure she first requested 18 months ago.

Lipper-Garabedian said she will push for progress on remaining master plan commitments moving forward, with a priority placed on an envisioned redesign of the Lynn Fells Parkway’s intersection with Melrose Street near the Melrose middle and high school campuses.

She noted public forums on the topic to date and said she looks forward "to the next steps in that project occurring in the near term."

John O’Donnell, who witnessed the deadly September Lynn Fells Parkway crash in his front yard, said this week that new DCR commitments represent “a very important step in the right direction.”

He said signage and radar screens “should make a difference to slow people down,” adding that increased visibility “never hurts when it comes to this sort of thing.”

“I hope this is just the first step and not the last step," he said, though.

O’Donnell said he hopes to see physical measures — such as a rumble strip or reflector posts — in addition to recent DCR commitments.

“I’d be in favor of anything, any sort of physical barrier that would slow people down,” he said. “I think it's going to save lives.”

Melrose City Councilor Ryan Williams called the Lynn Fells Parkway "a literal death trap" in comments on social media after the September crash.

He said Tuesday that he is "thankful for the work of our community leaders in keeping this issue a high priority."

Williams described the DCR's recent commitments as "a minimal acknowledgement of the problem."

"While the efforts to slightly lower speed limits and install speed feedback signs may have a minor impact for a short amount of time, most of their proposed improvements are shown to have little to no effect on speeding," Williams said. "I would challenge DCR and the city to follow through with this and report to the community on the impact of these measures after 90 days."

Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur noted work with Melrose's legislative delegation prior to this point in a separate statement Tuesday.

"It’s exciting that these short-term solutions will be moving forward as fast as possible," he said.

He continued, saying he and Melrose legislators will continue to work with the DCR on parkways master plan recommendations over the coming years.

"(We) look forward to these combined efforts resulting in a safer Lynn Fells Parkway for all,” Brodeur said.

Patch has reached out to the DCR for comment on Lynn Fells Parkway safety measures. DCR did not respond with a comment prior to publication.

Read DCR Commissioner Doug Rice’s full letter as shared by Lipper-Garabedian here.