Override Aftermath: It's Up To Residents To Make Pleasant Street Safe

After an override option to redesign the Pleasant Street Corridor was defeated yesterday, Selectman Jim Nye said it's up to residents to make the street safer.

The Board of Selectmen proposed the ballot initiative to improve the safety for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles along the Pleasant Street corridor. Since 15-year-old Allie Castner was struck and killed last summer, pedestrian safety has been a hot topic.  

The redesign plan stretched from the intersection of Village Street to Smith Street and provided for realigning streets,  rebuilding sidewalks, changing traffic signals and providing curb cuts for wheelchair access.

The cost was set at $1.64 million. Of that, $400,000 would have been reimbursed by the state. The average property owner would have seen an increase of $15.09.

Today, Nye said the "Plan B" is to do some soul-searching as drivers.

"I'm a little disappointed as people had the opportunity to address safety and traffic concerns with a state reimbursement," Nye said. "But the bottom line is, now people have to take personal responsibility -- get off the phone and leave 10 minutes earlier."

Nye said the town has been working with the police department to patrol the area of Pleasant Street and make it safer. Yesterday, Police Chief Robert Picariello declined comment, referring questions to Nye.

"If the override passed, we would have narrowed the roadway, which would have made people slow down and put better visibility lighting up," Nye said. "But now it all comes down to us as drivers, relaxing and being safe. I hope that message gets out."