Marblehead traffic, safety board member retires

MARBLEHEAD – After 10 years on the Traffic and Safety Committee, Ed Principe is calling it quits.It’s not that he’s tired of life in the fast lane.After 21 years with the State Police Principe retired a year ago and started a law practice in Boston and Miami, and he’s had to be out-of-town for several committee meetings in recent months.In fairness to the committee, he’s taking some time off from volunteering for the town.Selectmen received the news with regret Wednesday evening."Maybe a couple of years from now I’ll have some free time and I’ll give back to the town again," Principe said Thursday.It may come as no surprise that his favorite memory of the committee, which processes resident traffic complaints and recommends changes to the selectmen, is the work Traffic and Safety did to improve conditions at the intersection of Maple, Humphrey and Tedesco streets, also known as Bailey Square.As a result the selectmen ordered "No Turn on Red" signs on Maple Street in the fall of 2006. The three-way intersection is located near the Glover School. Maple Street carries traffic from Lafayette Street and Humphrey and Tedesco streets carry traffic from Vinnin Square and Swampscott.The committee faced an uphill climb convincing selectmen to make that change, but after two visits to the board and substantial community input they got it done.Principe’s frustrations are the same as other committee members’: the limitations the committee faces when it comes to residents’ most common complaints.Most Marblehead streets have a 30-mile-an-hour speed limit. The committee faces state restrictions when asked to lower that speed on a side street that motorists use as a shortcut – and speed bumps, a frequent suggestion, may not be installed on a public street."I wish we could do more to accommodate people but we have to stay within the law," Principe said.