WESTPORT — After two recent motorcycle fatalities on Route 177, Rep. Paul Schmid, D-Westport, has made one thing clear: town and local officials have the state Department of Transportation's attention on the matter.
Schmid confirmed he set up a meeting later this month to discuss the road’s safety, thanks in part to a meeting he had with the state DOT a day after the first of the fatalities.
Schmid said his June meeting was scheduled to be routine, regarding work on Normand Edward Fontaine Bridge at the end of Route 88. However, the timing allowed for him to sound off with local officials’ and residents’ concerns about safety on Route 177, among other areas in town.
The meeting at MassDOT's District 5 office in Taunton is expected to include input from Sen. Michael Rodrigues, Schmid, Police Chief Keith Pelletier, Town Planner James Hartnett and Planning Board Chairman James Whitin.
Selectman Steven Ouellette has brought up safety concerns at the end of each meeting this summer, proposing a traffic light at the intersection of Tickle Road, Robert Street and Route 177.
Ouellette noted at one meeting that some residents have suggested on social media that local and state officials could place a four-way traffic light at that intersection at will. However, such a plan would require traffic studies and a threshold number for accidents and traffic volume, according to the selectman.
Ouellette also released statistics from the police chief indicating an uptick in accidents on Route 177 over the past 18 months.
He said until anything can be done, greater caution is needed. He put focus on distracted and aggressive driving, in particular.
"I ask our townspeople to be attentive and aware of ‘the other person,’” Ouellette recently said. “We are a community filled with crossroad highways, back roads to a college and shopping destinations, along with gorgeous beaches.
“Vehicle operators want to get to their destination quickly and, sadly, many could care less about road courtesy when they are just passing through.”
Ouellette said police have stepped up enforcement.