Peabody looks to solve downtown traffic troubles

PEABODY-City councilors reached a general consensus on how to improve traffic safety downtown: increased enforcement. Peabody Police Lt. Marty Cohan, however, believed that solving downtown?s problems involves much more than writing a few more speeding tickets.?The problem with downtown is not going to be solved with just enforcement,” he said. “We need re-engineering.”Community Development Director Jean Delios suggested the same at last month?s joint meeting with the city councilors when she compared Main Street?s four-lanes to that of the Indianapolis 500. She told the Council to consider reducing the number of lanes from four to two.?There?s a design problem,” Cohan said last week. “Four lanes (are) just not for that area. It causes the problem to be worse.”Councilor Barry Sinewitz, however, expressed his discontent with the idea.?Traffic is horrendous,” he said, adding that going down to two lanes would “destroy the livelihood” of the area. He feared people would avoid traveling downtown because of the increased traffic.?You need community policing,” he said. “You have to spend some money.”Sinewitz went on to say that the police department should make room in their budget for a full-time officer to patrol the streets and become familiar with business owners and regular customers.In the last year, from September 2007 to September 2008, Cohan reported that 853 cars were stopped just in the vicinity of downtown. The fines brought in a total of $8,000 – an amount he admits is most likely lower than most cities.?I?m not a believer that we?re doing all we can,” said Councilor Dave Gravel, citing the number of stops as his proof. “We?re not taking advantage of speed violators?I strongly advocate for more enforcement.”Gravel also suggested making the pedestrian light outside of Walgreens a permanent working traffic light in effort to slow down drivers. The idea received the support of several other councilors.Cohan is expected to address the Council at their next meeting with a full breakdown of the violations mentioned so as to pinpoint specific areas of concern.