Resident Calls For Improved Safety At South Braintree Square

BRAINTREE, MA — Members of the Braintree Town Council will be looking at safety around South Braintree Square after hearing concerns from a resident.

Penny Shaw, who is confined to a wheelchair, told the council Tuesday night that she believes that the sidewalks and crossing areas at the intersection of Hancock, Pearl, and Washington streets in South Braintree Square are not safe. She said that she is fearful when crossing and it’s considerably worse for handicap pedestrians.

Shaw called for crossing signals with more time to cross and LED “no right turn” signs because the current ones are not very visible to drivers, she said.

She told the council that she was supposed to meet with Mayor Joseph Sullivan but that meeting has not happened yet. Sullivan has written in a letter that he believes that while improvements can be made, the square is not in non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but Shaw disagrees and has since filed a civil rights complaint with the state’s Attorney General office.

Shaw also called on the mayor's office to set up a townwide meeting on an age-friendly action plan.

Councilor Sean Powers motioned to refer the issue to the public safety committee, which was approved without opposition.

Pedestrian safety continues to be a hot issue for some residents in town. A Change.org petition calling for changes in the area from Advancing Community inClusion & Equality on the South Shore (A.C.C.E.S.S.) has nearly 600 signatures.

Image Credit: Dan Libon