from Julie Baker

I am a Milton resident and a pedestrian. Due to low vision I do not drive. I cross the intersection of Central Avenue and Eliot Street multiple times per day during my commute to work, when I exercise on the bike path, or frequent local businesses. Yesterday, I was almost hit by a car while in the crosswalk. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this has happened to me HUNDREDS of times in the 6 years I’ve lived on Central Avenue. Most cars slow down at the stop signs and then just fly through the intersection. If I’m lucky, they wait for me and/or my children walking with me, to get halfway across the street.

On the other end of Central Avenue, near Turner’s Pond, there are plastic stands in place that remind motor vehicles to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. At minimum, I think the same stands should be placed in the four crosswalks at the Central Avenue and Eliot Street intersection. I would also hope that a police officer could be stationed, as they sometimes are, on the corner with the abandoned Hendries facility to ticket drivers that do not stop for pedestrians. I have seen police officers sitting there in the past and they do NOTHING when cars race through, barely giving me time to get halfway across the street.

I love living in Milton and want to make it safe for pedestrians.

— Julie Baker