Marion pedestrian study receives support

MARION — Proposed recommendations for pedestrian safety in Marion have near unanimous support from town residents, said town administrator James McGrail during an Aug. 16 Select Board meeting.

According to a study by engineering firm Greenwood Pederson Inc. recommendations include lowering the town’s speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour and implementing a safety zone with a speed limit of 20 mph on Spring Street from Ryder Lane to Main Street and Front Street from Ryder Lane to South Street.

Speed limits on state highways will remain unchanged.

Other recommendations include painting transverse markings on select roads, which are designed to encourage drivers to slow down, and installing a removable speed hump.

Emails and phone calls from town residents to the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee were mostly positive, said McGrail.

The select board could vote to approve the recommendations as soon as September.

However, the board discussed coming up with a plan to outline where new speed limit signs would be placed and how funds for the project will be allocated before any changes are implemented.

According to McGrail, Tabor Academy has agreed to pay for a portion of the new speed limit signage. Meghan Davis, engineering manager for the Marion Department of Public Works, said that one sign face costs $47 and a signpost costs $55.

“I can’t believe how fast some people drive on Front Street,” said select board chair Randy Parker. “It’s a great idea,” he added, referring to the change to a 25 mph speed limit.