The Town of Dedham will be installing temporary traffic calming measures in the area of Colburn Street, beginning the week of July 18th, as the next step in the process outlined in the Town's Traffic Calming Policy. (A recap and summary of the original request submitted to the Transportation Advisory Committee is included below under "Original Request Timeline".)

Outlined below is the anticipated implementation timeline for this project, including installation of temporary traffic calming measures, trial period, resident/neighborhood feedback, and analysis of results:

Click on the timeline graphic below to enlarge

May 16, 2022 - Town Meeting approves funding for temporary measures

July 6, 2022 - Flyers delivered to residents in the neighborhood of the project area

July 18, 2022 - Begin installation of temporary traffic calming measures (approximately 2 weeks to completion)

August 2022 - Trial period (6 to 12 months) begins to measure effectiveness of traffic calming

Mid-January 2023 - Begin balloting residents on primary and affected roadways (see map below)

Spring/Summer 2023 - Final determination if temporary measures become permanent (construction in Summer 2023)

After installation is complete, the temporary traffic calming measures will remain in place for approx. 6 to 12 months (trial period) to measure effectiveness and results.

Residents in the affected area will receive a ballot after approx. 6 months to vote in favor or against the traffic calming measures. To make these measures permanent, 75% of residents on the primary street and 60% of residents on the affected streets must be in favor of the changes. If the project fails (a majority vote was not met), the temporary measures will be removed and the area will be returned to pre-existing conditions.

What is being installed?

• Temporary asphalt speed humps on Colburn Street
• Temporary speed cushions on Maverick Street and Curve Street
• "No Parking" zones delineated adjacent to speed cushions

Anticipated Work Schedule and Potential Impacts

• Installation to begin week of July 18, 2022; approximately 2 weeks to complete
• May include localized impacts to on-street parking and detours during construction hours only
• Dedham Police to assist with traffic flow
• Construction signage will be in place

• Talk to your neighbors:
  • Traffic Calming Requests like this are submitted by a resident(s) who has a traffic/safety concern on the particular residential/local public roadway they reside. Typically, if traffic calming measures are recommended the result could extend out from the primary roadway into other roadways in the neighborhood. Click on the Affected Roadway Maps below to see if you currently reside on any of the affected roadways.
• Contact us with your questions:
  • Jason Mammone is available to answer questions about the process, the proposed traffic calming measures, and the overall timeline. Email Jason at jmammone@dedham-ma.gov or give him a call at 781-751-9352.

• March 9, 2021 TAC Public Meeting*: TAC reviewed resident request with Town Engineer Jason Mammone and voted to approve the Town Engineer to conduct an initial evaluation of the area.
• April 13, 2021 TAC Public Meeting*: Jason Mammone presented a summary of the Initial Evaluation to the TAC and the public. The initial evaluation was conducted between March 8, 2021 and March 11, 2021 and included the following results:
  • Colburn Street experiences a higher-than-normal volume of vehicles traveling 7 MPH over the posted speed limit (compared to data collected in 2013).
  • Data shows 3 crashes per year involving hitting parked cars
  • Evaluation resulted in a score of 64 points (over 50 points results in traffic calming measures per Traffic Calming Policy) allowing the request to proceed to a Traffic Calming Needs Assessment which is a study to determine what type(s) of traffic calming measures should be used to mitigate the identified traffic issues.
• June 9, 2021 TAC Public Meeting*: Jason Mammone presented the summary of the findings and the recommendations in the Traffic Calming Needs Assessment to the TAC. The Needs Assessment included the following information:
  • Primary Roadway: Colburn Street
  • Affected Roadways: Maverick Street, Curve Street, Waldo Street, Denmark Street, Hirsh Terrace, and Gould Street
  • Recommended Traffic Calming Measures: Speed humps, speed cushions, and road widening (from 19 feet to 23 feet)
  • Temporary Traffic Calming measures be installed for a period of 6 months to evaluate and records results
  • TAC voted to approve the Affected Roadways Map as presented (shown below)
  • TAC voted to seek funding for the trial period of the speed humps and speed cushions
• July 7, 2021 Select Board Public Meeting: Jason Mammone presented the results of the Traffic Calming Needs Assessment and the votes by the TAC to the Select Board for approval and vote to move forward with the temporary traffic calming measures. The Select Board voted in favor of the TAC’s recommendation to seek funding for the temporary speed humps on Colburn St and the  temporary speed cushions on Curve Street and Maverick Street.
  • If the funding is approved, the Select Board also voted in favor of temporary parking restrictions on Curve Street and Maverick Street. 

*TAC Meeting Minutes are linked below