Morrissey Blvd. Crosswalk : A busy passageway to Columbia Point could be safer, says one reader. Photo by Bill Forry

To the Editor:

The following letter was sent to the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and dated July 7, 2012:

I’m writing concerning the intersection of Morrissey Blvd. and Bianculli Blvd. in Dorchester. The pedestrian walk light to cross the street is not adequate. When I press the button, I will get a walk light, but the way in which the road is set up, the majority of the cars that are supposed to be turning into UMass Boston, go straight when I’m trying to cross that section of the street with my walk light.

I called the state police on this matter, but the man claimed that there is nowhere to put a police officer there to enforce the traffic pattern. He went on to say that even if license plate numbers were recorded, the person driving the car might not be the owner of it.

It is not just a car here or there breaking the traffic pattern; it is a big problem for pedestrians. What inspired me to write this letter today is what I saw when I was walking along the boulevard yesterday. I saw a state police car go straight through the turn only lane, no flashers, not driving fast, just driving with the rest of the traffic, not even pulling over cars breaking the rule, and probably not even aware that it is a turn only lane. I noted the license plate number, date, and time of this incident. However, it is not my intention of getting this person into trouble. My goal here is to solve the problem of trying to cross the street safely.

I’m sure you can come up with a solution, but here are a few ideas of my own. I have noticed others trying to cross the street, and almost all of them avoid that intersection completely, and just run across near Old Colony Terrace. I’d like to recommend a pedestrian bridge like the one near Shaw’s supermarket on Morrissey Blvd. If this is not possible, I’d like to recommend a separate walk light right before Old Colony Terrace, just for pedestrian use. It would also benefit cars exiting onto the boulevard from the terrace in these moments. My last recommendation would be for better signage and a better walk light system at the main intersection, but I do not think drivers would acknowledge the signage, and of course, the state police have made it clear that they cannot enforce the traffic pattern in this intersection.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter and what you plan to do to ensure pedestrian safety while crossing at the intersection of Morrissey Blvd. and Bianculli Blvd. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Heidi Moesinger
Savin Hill Ave.