Watertown News Poll: Traffic, Once Again, Tops the List of Concerns for Watertown Residents

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The Town Council is working on ways to cut traffic in Watertown by requiring new developments to reduce single driver vehicles.

FreeFoto.com

The Town Council is working on ways to cut traffic in Watertown by requiring new developments to reduce single driver vehicles.

A poll of  Faire on the Square attendees found that traffic/transportation came top among concerns about Watertown, followed by development.

People who stopped by the Watertown News table could participate in the poll, in which they were asked “What concerns you most in Watertown Today,” and participants could check one or more of these five issues, and could write in their own issue:

  • Schools
  • Development
  • Traffic/transportation
  • Heroin/opioids
  • Property Taxes
  • Or, add their own write-in issue

This year 30 people took the poll, and some checked more than one issue. Traffic/transportation received 21 votes, followed by 15 for development.

Close behind was heroin/opioids, which got 12 votes. The schools got 10 votes and property taxes got six.

The “other” category received five votes, with two for cost of living, one for green infrastructure, one for sidewalks and one for “police reports.”

In 2017, the same two issues topped the votes, traffic/transportation and development, followed by schools, opioids and property taxes. Two years ago, the top issue was development, then traffic/transportation, schools, property taxes and heroin/opioids.

One thought on “Watertown News Poll: Traffic, Once Again, Tops the List of Concerns for Watertown Residents

  1. I too agree with the majority polled. I have lived on Rutland St. for 25+ years. Over that time use of this street by cars has constantly increased. I believe some of the reason is the flow of traffic that is directed in one direction on the next street over and even a greater cause is the development that is happening almost unchecked while there is space to be had. Rather than cars heading toward pinch points like the square, Bridge St or Seyon St people are justifiably trying to avoid those points by using neighborhood streets as shortcuts. In my opinion, the best way to put a stop to the ever increasing flow of cars is to as quickly as possible curb or put more restrictions on unchecked development and begin to think of ways we can maintain the suburban neighborhood feel many live here for.

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