Framingham Traffic Commission Approves Flashing Crosswalk Beacon On Edgell Road at Frost/McAdams

By Ashlyn Kelly

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FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham Traffic Commission voted unanimously to approve implementing a rectangular rapid flash beacon (RRFB) at the intersection of Edgell Road, Frost Street, and McAdams Road during its meeting on Tuesday, February 22.

During the last meeting on January 25, the Commission had requested more data about speeds and pedestrian usage at the intersection. 

According to Simon Alexandrovich, director of Transportation Engineering for the City of Framingham, it is hard to count pedestrians during the winter but “from our experience” the pedestrian number is “sizable” in the warmer months due to the nearby Dunning Elementary School. 

He also said the current crosswalk is not ADA compliant.  

William Sedewitz, chair of the Framingham Traffic Commission, said they would normally wait for pedestrian counts but “we do have a lot of speed data for Edgell Road – speeds are definitely high. There are a couple of schools in the area and it seems to make some sense” to put in a rectangular rapid flash beacon.

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“This particular intersection is something we’d like to make more substantial changes on at some point. It’s just – that’s further out and whether we want to make some kind of short term enhancement to improve the situation while we look to [a] more significant investment there,” Sedewitz said. 

He added the “whole corridor” is a high priority for improvements. 

Traffic Commission Steven P. Croci asked what would happen to the rectangular rapid flash beacon if approved but construction happened at the intersection. 

Sedewitz said if the intersection becomes “signalized,” the rectangular rapid flash beacon could be moved and used in another place. 

According to Sedewitz, the money for the rectangular rapid flash beacon would come out of the Commission’s budget. 

The motion to install the rectangular rapid flash beacon was approved 6-0-0.

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Ashlyn Kelly is a Spring 2022 SOURCE intern. She is a is a senior communication arts major with minors in political science and journalism at Framingham State University. When she is not writing an article, you can usually find her in a theatre.