BCAT News

The Select Board unanimously voted to support a Fox Hill Road speed table proposal to go before Town Meeting. Town Meeting member Bill Boivin and Town Engineer Tom Hayes proposed the measure due to ongoing speeding and pedestrian safety issues on Fox Hill Road. 

Compared to speed bumps, speed tables are wider, longer and flat topped to slow vehicles more gradually. Federal guidelines no longer allow for speed bumps on public streets.  

A traffic study was done on Fox Hill Road, Donald Road, Westwood Street and Beaver Brook Road. The Fox Hill Road study results showed over 10,000 vehicles recorded in a week, with 5% exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph.

The proposal requests nine speed tables, roughly 300 to 500 feet apart, with signage, going from Fox Hill school to Hart Street. Several residents of Donald Road expressed their disapproval of the project, concerned drivers would use Donald Road as a cut around and increase speeding traffic on their road. Members of the Select Board voiced concern regarding the number of speed tables and costs.

The engineering department will determine an estimate of the cost. If approved by Town Meeting the speed table installment will be coordinated with Fox Hill Road’s next paving project after the construction of the new Fox Hill Elementary School, estimated to be 2028-2029.