I am a resident of Ward 9 in Greenfield, and I am concerned about the amount of speeding in town and the number of traffic deaths in town. In 2016, Corrections Officer Jacob Garmalo was killed on his motorcycle while leaving the jail on Elm St. In 2017, James Arcellana was killed by a Greenfield Police cruiser speeding to a call at over 80 mph. Just this past month, on Elm Street, Ivan Doncev was killed after being struck by a motorist.
I live off Elm Street, at the end of West Street. Elm Street is posted at 25 or 30 mph the entire way. People regularly speed at 40 mph or more down this street. I am shocked that there has not even been a speed warning billboard, like there is at multiple locations on Silver Street, posted on Elm Street. Children regularly walk home from school up and down Elm Street, and to and from Hillside Park. There are two public housing developments, with families and children, as well as Greenfield Gardens, also home to many children, along Elm Street.
I urge the City Council to adopt a 25 mph blanket speed limit for the downtown core. People regularly speed on 30 mph roads, including Elm Street, Conway Street. (where there have been multiple crashes at the intersection of Philips and Conway) and Federal and High streets. With the exception of Federal Street, these streets all cut through densely populated residential areas and there is no need for a speed limit higher than 25 mph. High Street is needlessly, and dangerously, posted at 35 mph currently.
I also urge the City Council to work with the Police Department to more aggressively enforce traffic laws in town. I rarely see officers on speed patrol, and I rarely see anyone being pulled over, and people in Greenfield are not polite drivers. There is plenty there for the police to correct, and I urge the police to take a stricter line on traffic laws.
After one of GPD’s own officers killed someone by traveling at an unsafe speed, the police department needs to take a more public stance on traffic safety.
Thank you.
John Griffin
Greenfield