The Town of Medfield recently installed delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions as traffic-calming measures designed to improve pedestrian safety in the downtown. Initial public response to this installation has raised a number of critical concerns about its impact on traffic flow through the center of town. This press release is intended to provide background information to answer some of the questions that have been asked, as the town works to address public concerns and adjust installations where appropriate to achieve the intended safety improvements while minimizing avoidable disruptions to traffic flow in the downtown.
The Town of Medfield received a $146,000 Pedestrian Improvement Grant from MassDOT as part of their Shared Safe Streets and Spaces Program. Pedestrian safety, particularly crosswalk safety, was identified as a concern in both the Townwide Master Plan and the Rapid Recovery Plan.
The project was designed by traffic engineers and included two construction phases. The first phase of the project took place in the fall, with the installation of new crosswalks on Main Street and North Street, and the realignment of the crosswalk at North/Janes Avenue. New crosswalk beacons were also installed on Main Street and North Street, as well as new ADA ramps in the downtown.
The second phase of the project was the installation of delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions to serve as traffic-calming measures, slowing vehicles and turning speeds while increasing visibility for crossing pedestrians.
The following are some of the questions that have been raised:
Who approved the Project? The Select Board accepted the grant from MassDOT, and a review and presentation were made at the Select Board meeting on September 17, 2024.
Why did the Town apply for a Pedestrian Improvement Grant?
The 2021 Master Plan cites residents' concerns about pedestrian safety in the downtown area. The Downtown Rapid Recovery Plan cited concerns about the safety of pedestrians in downtown crosswalks and vehicles turning off Main Street.
Are the delineators permanent?
The flexposts are a traffic-calming pilot project and can be moved during this test period. Any of these locations deemed successful can be made permanent, and any that are not can be removed. The flexpost delineators are not permanent installations.
The new crosswalks, ADA ramps, and the flashing beacons on Main Street and North Street are permanent installations.
Were the Handicapped Accessible Spots blocked?
Yes, this was done in error, and those flexposts were removed. A broader discussion is underway regarding our downtown handicapped spaces, as some are not in compliance and need to be upgraded and/or moved to be fully compliant.
How will this impact snowplowing?
The flexposts will be removed for the winter months to allow for snowplow operations.
Posted onApril 24, 2026|Comments Off on 1676 King Philip’s War marker dedication at 6 PM Friday
The new King Philip’s War historic marker dedication occurs this afternoon at 6:00 PM, followed by the opening reception for Medfield History Week at the Dwight-Derby House –
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Posted onApril 23, 2026|Comments Off on My May Office Hours Postponed to 2nd Friday, 5/8
Select Board Office Hours this Month on 5/8
FOSI yard sale preparations at The Center on 5/1/26 are bumping my regular monthly office hours (usually on the first Friday of every month) to May 8 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
I will get back at FOSI for bumping me by buying all the good stuff at their sale!
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Posted onApril 14, 2026|Comments Off on MFi’s “CAMP FUND” Sends Our Medfield Kids to Camp
Medfield Foundation Camp Fund Creates Summer Opportunities for Local Families
For eight years, the Medfield Foundation’s Camp Fund has been quietly transforming summers for families in town, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent children from experiencing the joy and growth that comes with summer camp.
Since 2021, the Camp Fund has supported 70 campers providing over 131 weeks of summer camp fun. “The Medfield Foundation’s Camp Fund supports families who want to give their children meaningful summer experiences but face financial constraints,” said Abby Marble, President of the Medfield Foundation. “We believe every Medfield child deserves the opportunity to make memories, build friendships, and discover new interests during the summer months.”
The Camp Fund exists through the generosity of Medfield community members, the Home Committee, and local businesses who recognize the importance of ensuring children can participate in summer activities. The Medfield Foundation works collaboratively with Medfield Outreach which determines eligibility for the campership program on a confidential basis, and also with Medfield Parks and Recreation which offers campers a discount.
Posted onApril 13, 2026|Comments Off on Earth Day Talk at First Parish Unitarian Universalist this Sunday
Every year, Medfield’s First Parish Unitarian Universalist church holds a special Sunday service in honor of Earth Day. For this year’s service, at 10 AM on Sunday, April 19, I have been invited to be the featured speaker. I will speak about my experiences as a member of Medfield’s Energy Committee and about the climate issues and challenges faced by Medfield and similar towns in our area. All are invited.
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The seven justices’ chairs at the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
COMMONWEALTH vs. META PLATFORMS, INC.
WENDLANDT, J. The Commonwealth alleges that Meta Platforms, Inc., and Instagram, LLC (collectively, Meta), engaged in unfair business practices by designing the Instagram platform to induce compulsive use by children, engaged in deceptive business practices by deliberately misleading the public about the safety of the platform, and created a public nuisance by engaging in these unfair and deceptive practices. Meta moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing, inter alia, that § 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA), 47 U.S.C. § 230 (§ 230), barred the claims. A Superior Court judge denied the motion, and Meta appealed.
Thus, at least at this preliminary stage of the litigation, Meta has not shown it is entitled to the protection provided by § 230(c)(1).
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I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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