The Saugus Legislative Agenda

Shutting off the Peabody jughandle light during rush hour topped the selectmen’s wish list in this week’s discussion with the three legislators who represent Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

The three state legislators who represent Saugus sound like they are serious in their commitment to help reduce the rush hour traffic jams on Route 1. Shutting off the Jughandle traffic light during periods of rush hour traffic seems like a more doable option, provided there is no opposition from communities that would be affected. That seemed to be the sentiment of the local lawmakers who met for more than an hour in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall Tuesday (June 24) morning to discuss a wide range of projects that selectmen hope the lawmakers will help make possible.

“Any time you put a light in the middle of a major highway, I can’t see where it would help traffic,” Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini said.

“I couldn’t see a scenario where somebody would oppose alleviating traffic [jams],” Cicolini said.

State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), whose 3rd Essex Senate District includes the Town of Saugus, said he, state Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere), who represents Saugus Precincts 3 and 10; and state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), who represents the other eight Saugus Precincts, plan to organize a public meeting that includes legislators outside the Saugus delegation who represent communities along Route 1. That includes Danvers and Peabody – where the Jughandle is located.

The issue was last broached by the Saugus delegation about six years ago, but the issue faded without anything getting accomplished, Cicolini recalled.

“It’s a little disheartening, nothing really came of it,” Cicolini said.

“I know it’s exponentially worse than it was six years ago,” he said.

Barring major opposition from businesses or communities along the Route 1 corridor, selectmen and the Saugus legislators expressed optimism about getting the Jughandle light turned off during rush hour traffic.

“There might be some pushback from certain towns and businesses that don’t want that light off, because it affects certain businesses,” said Selectman Corinne Riley, who called for the meeting between selectmen and the Saugus legislative delegation back in March, with a focus on addressing Route 1 traffic backups caused by the Jughandle light.

She called the Jughandle light her “pet peeve.” “This is low-hanging fruit,” Riley said following the Tuesday morning meeting.

Riley would like to see the Jughandle light shut off during weekends and between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. during weekdays and from 4 to 7 p.m. “It won’t cost much money to have it done. It’s just a matter of turning the light off during rush hours,” she said.

That will be a decision yet to be determined by state officials after studying past reports regarding traffic patterns, according to Sen. Crighton. He said he would reach out to MassDOT to obtain that information. “We’ll talk to the senators and representatives [of the affected communities],” Sen. Crighton said.

“I can’t think what the negative is [of shutting down the traffic light during rush hour],” he said.

State Rep. Wong said he supports a study of the traffic patterns to determine the feasibility for shutting the light down during certain times of the day.

State Rep. Giannino mentioned there’s another aspect that officials will need to consider: the traffic flow of the vehicles that make frequent use of the Jughandle. There would need to be coordination with state officials regarding the traffic patterns, she said. “Keep in mind, every time you change the traffic pattern, they’re [the traffic] going to go someplace else,” Giannino said. She also suggested that the project should focus on Saugus and several communities north of town so attention wouldn’t be diverted away from Route 1 in Saugus.

Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said she was impressed by the meeting, which ended shortly after 11 a.m. “We talked about many different things concerning the residents in our community, including traffic, Route 1, the Jughandle light over in Peabody, WIN Waste, Karla Shoes, the condition of Route 1 medians, Foxhill Bridge floodgates and a number of other topics,” Panetta said.

“We’re very grateful we have our partnership with our state delegation, and I want to thank the full board. I think it was a great meeting, with a lot of interesting and productive discussion,” Panetta said.

Discussion about the logistics of shutting down the Jughandle light in Peabody was a primary focus. Here are some of the other highlights of the meeting:

• State Rep. Wong said he’s in the process of contacting the offices of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton about funds to obtain air quality sensors for Route 1 “to see if the traffic is hurting our quality of air.”
• Selectman Anthony Cogliano wondered if the state could assist with the demolition of the dilapidated former Karla’s Shoes building located at 1181 Broadway (Route 1 South). Not only do town officials consider the building “an eyesore,” but also a public safety hazard in the event it collapses. Board of Selectmen Chair Panetta said she worries about pieces of the building winding up in the middle of the highway and putting the motoring public at risk.
• Selectman Michael Serino and others wondered if there are ways to improve access to MBTA bus transportation on Route 1. Better bus service would reduce the traffic flow.
• Attack the trash, weed and brush problem in the medians of Route 1.“When you drive up our section of Route 1, the median is not maintained. Picking up trash and cutting needs to be done. It really looks shabby,” Selectman Cicolini said. “It’s kind of the first impression when you’re driving in. Call it the Gateway…the first thing you see – weeds and trash,” he said.
• Selectman Riley expressed concerns about the condition of the bridges, some of which show advanced stages of rusting.
• Board of Selectmen Chair Panetta asked if there is anything the state could do to make Route 1 safer. “I think we have two or three of the most dangerous intersections. Walnut Street is bad. Every time I drive by there, there’s an accident,” she said.