Mayor Sarno, SPD Traffic Supervisors Meet with State Transportation Secretary

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “I appreciate the Baker-Polito Administration’s outreach in offering further assistance and resources to continue to proactively address the recent uptick of traffic accidents. As Secretary Tesler stated, the side effects of Covid-19 have really escalated risky roadway behaviors nation-wide. Topics we discussed included the need to start to educate in our schools, and especially with young drivers, our support for red light/speed cameras in order to reduce “T-bone” hit and run accidents, and that impact data and studies of where accidents occur would dictate where these cameras are placed.”

“Secretary Tesler commends us on our continued enforcement efforts, but we need for our court system to take these traffic issues seriously and back us up when violations occur. Short term asks we made were for more speed beacons, flashing lights for crosswalk areas, radar units, license plate readers so that you can get unregistered/uninsured and stolen vehicles off the street before they cause an accident – many hit and runs are attributed to this issue. Also Hawk, feedback, and speed signs which collect data info. Long term we will continue to work together on redesign and road diet aspects where appropriate. Again, it was a very productive meeting and I deeply appreciate Lt. Governor Karyn Polito’s direct outreach to me, and Secretary Tesler and his team taking the time to come out to Springfield.”