Needham panel OKs crosswalk beacon study

Transportation Safety Committee · Meeting of September 9, 2026

NEEDHAM — The Needham Transportation Safety Committee voted unanimously to study flashing beacons for the Great Plain Avenue and Warren Street crosswalk. Grant Street resident Stephanie Coyle told the panel, chaired by Justin McCullin, that drivers "looked right at us and just gone right through" the crosswalk near a day care, church and the YMCA. The committee directed DPW and engineering to evaluate solar rectangular rapid flashing beacons matching those at Roche Brothers and the Rosemary Pool.

Separately, members debated a petition over student parking crammed onto both sides of Manning Street near Needham High School, with member Rebecca Tarantino warning a full parking ban would be "too restrictive," and instead asked police to test a temporary no-parking zone between Gibson and Hemlock streets. The committee reported $99,963.29 remaining in its annual budget.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Roll Call
• Old Business: Speed Studies
• Old Business: Crosswalk and Intersection Status Updates
• Manning Street Parking
• Great Plain Avenue/Warren Street Crosswalk Safety
• Urban SDK Reporting Platform
• Budget Update and Broad Meadow Road Stop Sign
• Harvest Fair and Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,639 words

Source: the Transportation Safety Committee meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.