Chicopee City Council Proposes Lowering Speed Limit on Massachusetts Route 116
In an effort to enhance safety and reduce accidents, the Chicopee City Council is considering a proposal to lower the speed limit on a section of Massachusetts Route 116, also known as Chicopee Street. The council will vote on whether to petition the state’s Department of Public Works to decrease the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.
The specific area targeted for the speed limit reduction stretches from 116 Chicopee St., near the on-ramps to Interstate 391, and runs approximately one mile north to 319 Chicopee St. City officials, including Elizabette Batista, Superintendent of the Department of Public Works, are in favor of this change. According to Batista, the current speed limit signs on Chicopee Street do not align with the speed limits designated by the state’s Special Speed Regulation and need to be adjusted accordingly.
Lowering the speed limit would allow law enforcement officers to better enforce a slower speed, potentially reducing the number of accidents and ensuring the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike. The city has previously implemented a reduction in speed limits within residential areas from 30 mph to 25 mph in 2017, aiming to create a safer environment for its residents.
Chicopee has recently experienced a spate of pedestrian fatalities, particularly in the Willimansett section of the city. In response to these tragedies, the city’s emergency management director, Glenn X. Joslyn, took to the streets to regulate drivers’ speeds by driving a vehicle at the posted limit of 30 mph for prolonged periods, acting as a pace car.
Furthermore, a fatal two-car collision in the 600 block of Chicopee Street at the beginning of October claimed the life of a 49-year-old woman. These incidents highlight the urgent need for measures to be taken to address the issue of speeding in the area.
City Councilor William Courchesne, representing Ward 7, is the initiator of the agenda item. However, he has not yet been available for comment regarding the proposed speed limit reduction.
By seeking to lower the speed limit on this segment of Massachusetts Route 116, Chicopee City Council aims to enhance public safety and minimize the risk of accidents. By aligning the posted speed limit with the state’s Special Speed Regulation, the council hopes to give authorities the necessary tools to enforce a slower speed and prevent further tragedies on Chicopee Street.
