Grafton Common Will Undergo Traffic Study

Personally I've nearly been hit by cars entering the common from Upton St that do not yield when bearing right onto North St. The line of sight at this intersection is limited as well since people keep parking opposite Peggy's Place at the newly installed "No Parking Signs.". I agree that the common is beautiful. I'm in favor of the study as long as we use the info gathered to better the traffic flow & keep drivers & pedestrians safe while maintaining the charm & beauty of the space.

From what I see, there are a few issues:

-Traffic coming from North Street, trying to cross Worcester Street. Without the traffic dummy, I have noticed that traffic coming up the hill fails to slow down now as they are approaching the center of town. This makes trying to pull into traffic more difficult, and traffic can get backed up here. Same goes for coming up from Millbury Street. A blinking yellow light, maybe hung from a wire across the road, aimed at the people coming up Worcester Street, might be enough to get that oncoming traffic to slow down.

-Coming up into the center from Worcester Street, heading towards Upton Road, this is where you routinely see people not familiar with the center slowing down, because they see the light. Same goes when you have people coming from Upton Road. Maybe it is time to get rid of that traffic dummy there, and replace it with a blinking yellow light, on a wire across the road, aimed solely at traffic coming from Upton Road, to warn them to slow, and that there is a turn up ahead.

-Road in front of the Country Store - I have always felt this area was way too wide, where you have cars coming from Worcester Street cutting the corner close, many times near cars in the parking spot, many times when people are in the cross walk. Maybe create a more defined entrance to this turn.

-Traffic around the common - it is two way traffic around the common, and most of us know how to navigate it, but it can be confusing. By the church at the center, you also have that small one lane driving lane, and to the left of it, another 2-wide lane of traffic. Saw someone the other day try and turn into that single lane of traffic in front of the church, only to be met by an oncoming car. I would not be opposed to making this area one way (north to south).

I have seen in other towns as well, on-demand cross walk lights, so when there is foot traffic, and they need to cross the road, it turns a yellow flashing light to red, and allows people to cross. This might be something to consider.

There is definite room to better what we have, to make this area easier to navigate on car, or by foot or bike. I'll be curious what changes are brought to the table.