Malden Police To Ramp Up Traffic Enforcement With $65K Grant

MALDEN, MA — The Malden Police Department is planning to ramp up traffic enforcement, among other things, thanks to a new nearly $65,000 state grant.

The state announced the funding last month as part of its Municipal Road Safety program.

The Malden Police later shared their original grant application, showing plans to buy fixed speed sensing signs, also known as LIDAR signs, in areas where speeding frequently takes place. These signs will track and display drivers’ speeds in such problem areas.

The department is looking to buy various bike safety equipment for distribution, including bike helmets, reflective bands and lights. Officers will initially prioritize distributing these items to individuals found riding their bikes at night, though the department may reassess its plans, according to Malden’s grant application.

Malden Police are then also planning to fund overtime traffic enforcement within city limits.

Police detailed current traffic safety conditions in their filings with the state, saying speeding complaints “are on the rise across the city.”

Highland Avenue, Lynn Street, Salem Street, Bainbridge Street, Medford Street, Madison Street and Route 60 are all particular problem areas, according to police documentation.

In addition to speed signs and traffic enforcement patrols in those areas, police said in their grant proposal that they would aim to enhance bike safety with a greater focus on monitoring crossings and crosswalk violations in and around Malden’s portion of the East Coast Greenway bike path.

Police said they have had experience with speed signs in the past, finding positive responses from community members. Current funding situations and inventories had left the department temporarily without these resources, though.

“Staff shortages have made traffic enforcement difficult to make a priority when officers are needed to backfill patrol positions,” police said elsewhere in their application.

New grant funding will help address both topics, police said.

Police documentation called for speed signs to be installed at some point in November.

Ramped up traffic enforcement will also kick off in November.

Part of a larger grant program, Malden is not the only local police department receiving money through this round of Municipal Road Safety Program grants. Stoneham, Wakefield and Burlington have all also recently won grants.