Pedestrian Safety Committee

We are the Pedestrian Safety Committee, composed of Needham High School students and adults, who are concerned Needham residents, and who are committed to making Needham a safe walking town. This is a committee of NeedhamCAN. We advocate for safer areas around schools and on their surrounding feeder streets, improved pedestrian safety through education and awareness, and improving and installing engineering and enforcement measures to prevent accidents. 

 

NeedhamCAN has a multi-generational Board in keeping with our mission. Two former high school Board members came to the larger group as we were retooling our future priorities. They asked if pedestrian safety could be a focus after the tragic death of two of their friends in the crosswalk at NHS. This active team has met with Representative Denise Garlick where we obtained $200,000 in state funds to Needham for pedestrian safety improvements. We directed this money to convert 2,500 streetlights in Needham to brighter LED fixtures with smart controls. New light posts are continually being installed throughout Needham.

 

We have made great strides with our campaign where we partnered with Needham Elementary Schools to promote the #NeedhamKidsFirst Pedestrian Safety Awareness Campaign on National Walk to School Day. We advocate for best practice pedestrian safety measures in Needham, particularly around schools and the feeder streets around our schools, and for improved pedestrian safety education and awareness, improved engineering, and enforcement measures to prevent accidents. To carry this out we worked closely with our town Police Chief and public school principals who have helped us carry out town educational and fundraising events. Volunteer parents and teachers were given “STOP, LOOK, CROSS” t-shirts and escorted kids to school along designated routes. Over 50 lawn signs were planted around schools and high traffic intersections to promote pedestrian safety awareness.