Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

Mission

It is the intention of the Town, in creating the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC), to establish an advisory group that can receive all requests and suggestions for traffic safety

improvement in the Town of Stow, and evaluate and recommend to the Town Administrator and Select Board various approaches that could be used to create safer and more livable

neighborhoods through efforts to reduce speeding and unnecessary traffic on neighborhood roads.

Local traffic problems arouse emotion, as do their solutions. It will be the mission of this committee to provide a multi departmental approach to systematically and logically studying

conditions and developing possible responses to propose to the Town Administrator and subsequently the Select Board. This Committee is advisory only, and will not have responsibility for any operational activities.

Responsibilities and Functions

The TSAC will be responsible for promoting enhanced traffic safety in the Town of Stow by creating a forum where residents of the Town can voice traffic concerns, suggestions and requests, work with Town staff to examine alternatives to existing traffic situations, and identify long and short-term solutions to traffic issues in Stow.

While the Committee does not have the ultimate power to commit Town resources or approve projects, it is the Select Board's intention to support reasonable actions and recommendations of the Committee that are supported by the Town Administrator and department heads of the Town, and to the extent that Town Bylaws, Town Meeting action, and budgetary limits permit.

The Committee will work with the Town Administrator to develop a set of guidelines to follow for determining the plan of action with regards to these requests, suggestions, or complaints.

Operating Procedure

1.) Hear Initial Complaint From Party: The Committee, upon receiving a task, will invite the parties to a TSAC meeting to present the complaint or issue to the Committee.

2.) Determine Plan of Action: The Chair will then take comments from the Committee and Committee liaisons to determine if further information needs to be gathered (for example: traffic counts) in order to resolve the complaint. The Committee will determine a prudent plan of action in resolving a complaint using the guidelines previously established.

3.) Carry Out Plan of Action: The Committee will implement the plan of action agreed upon and call upon the appropriate Town Departments for assistance. The Committee may reach out to the Stow Police Department and/or Planning Department to conduct any necessary traffic counts.  Prior approval from the Town Administrator shall be required when expending funds.

4.) Conduct Public Hearings: The Committee will schedule a date for a public hearing when appropriate to solicit public input.

5.) Invite Concerned Parties back for Final Determination: The Committee will set a meeting date after all data and information necessary for a final determination is gathered. When appropriate the Committee will solicit public input and suggestions before a final determination and vote is taken.

6.) Committee Vote: After the Committee is satisfied that all concerned parties have had an opportunity to be heard and all necessary information and data required for resolution has been gathered, motions for a final vote on resolutions will be entertained by the Committee.

7.) Report to Select Board: The Committee will submit a report to the Town Administrator and Select Board including an explanation of the complaint and/ or problem, a summary of the Committee Plan of Action, the dates the Committee met on said issue, an explanation of the conclusions the Committee reached, and the final action the Committee voted. The Chair shall appoint individuals to write said report. In the event of a split decision, both points of view shall be represented. The TSAC will appear before the Select Board when requested.

Members

Chief of Police, or designee

Superintendent of Streets, or designee

Fire Chief, or designee

Town Planner, or designee

TSAC Consultants (as needed)

ADA Coordinator

Conservation Agent

School Facility Director

Complete Streets Committee

The Town Administrator will serve as a non-voting advisor to the Committee.