South Boston residents meet with city on pedestrian safety

SOUTH BOSTON - It's been less than three weeks since a toddler was hit and killed as he was being pushed in a stroller in South Boston and Thursday night residents and city officials met to discuss how to make the streets safer for pedestrians.

The renewed push for safety improvements comes at a time when the South Boston community is mourning the death of Colin McGrath, a 2-year-old killed at L and 6th Streets last month when a minivan jumped the curb and hit his stroller.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn said in a letter to the South Boston community that he hears about near-misses daily, with children and older adults dodging cars. He is proposing a 12-point plan to make streets safer for pedestrians and vehicles.

Among the proposed changes:

• Reducing the South Boston speed limit to 20 mph.
• Speed humps and raised crosswalks along L Street and other high traffic roads.
• Increasing police patrols to enforce speed limits and catch wrong-way drivers.
• A complete traffic study of all South Boston streets.

It's been five years since 66-year-old Billy McDermott was struck and killed while crossing the street in South Boston on a rainy February night.

The place where Liam' McDermott's father was hit, L Street and Day Boulevard, is the same area where two-car crash sent one vehicle up on the sidewalk, fatally striking Colin McGrath. Liam has been pushing for better safety measures in the area since his father's accident.

A solar light has been installed to illuminate the crosswalk as well as physical improvements to infrastructure.

"Five years should be enough time for something to happen," said Liam.

>>MORE: Crash victims' families call for safety improvements in South Boston streets

State senator Nick Collins says he knew Billy McDermott and lives just a half-block away from where 2-year-old Colin McGrath was killed.

"It reinforces the need to move faster and get these things done," said Sen. Collins.

Collins says he's been working on road improvements for years now and that it's very likely that Day Boulevard will shrink down to one lane on each side only. Improvements are also being made to the outdated flashing lights and confusing red and yellow pedestrian lights.

"We think that's gonna have a big impact on speeding control of traffic and traffic patterns," said Sen. Collins.

Collins adds he's been frustrated by the pace in getting the funding and plans approved, but changes are just weeks and months away.

"It's long overdue and we're working to get it implemented with the administration as soon as possible," said Sen. Collins.

Smaller changes such as adding new stop signs or improving pedestrian lights are already happening, but bigger advances like finding data to identify crash hot spots will take some more time.

Cox Media Group