SAUGUS — Ralph Genzale, chair of the Council on Aging, spoke at the Board of Selectmen meeting to address the safety concern at the Senior Center.
The board received a letter from the council requesting a traffic evaluation and study of the four-way intersection at the entrance of the Senior Center parking lot. They also asked for one to be done for the traffic flow and speed going both ways on Central Street.
“We’re concerned about the safety of the elderly individuals that are now attending the Senior Center,” Genzale said.
According to Genzale, there has been an influx of elderly individuals coming to the center due to an increase in programs, thanks to Laurie Davis and her staff. This increased population has led to worries about accidents in the area.
“We’ve had a couple of accidents right outside the center, and we’ve had a couple of near misses. We contend with the traffic from the Veterans School every day, both morning and afternoon,” Genzale said.
Genzale also said Central Street has heavy traffic later in the day and that there is a lot of speeding on the street overall. He hopes the town can do a traffic study and try to get additional signage in the area.
In response, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said, “We can have some more patrol that’s directed there to try to slow some of the traffic down. We can look at signage and other ways to make it a little safer.”
Selectman Michael Sireno also lended his input on the issue, saying that his mother had been hit approximately 15 years ago on Central Street.
The board and Town Manager will continue working on ideas to make the area safer for those at the Senior Center.
