[WestMALocals] Press Release| Following Accident, Broadhurst Calls for Mass Transit

[Owen Broadhurst]

AGAWAM - Green-Rainbow Party candidate for State Representative in the Third
Hampden District, Owen R. Broadhurst of Agawam, has released a statement
expressing concern over the recent pedestrian accident on South Westfield
St. in Agawam, although taking issue with efforts by both Democratic and
Republican opponents to lay blame for this accident at the feet of
foot-dragging state officials who continue to delay the Route 57 extension.

"Traffic congestion throughout the Town of Agawam is due far less to
continued foot-dragging over the Route 57 extension than continued
foot-dragging over the expansion and improvement of regional mass transit.
Traffic shall inevitably prove no less a concern for the district when
re-directed so long as district residents remain solely dependent on
automobiles to reach their destinations. We must expand the network
immediately."

"What happened at South Westfield Street could easily have been a major
tragedy, but one that the long delayed Route 57 extension might never have
prevented. One major problem in this area, one primary reason for the
traumatic injury that one of our youth sustained, remains that of a poorly
located crosswalk at a very dangerous intersection where traffic continues
to travel at unreasonably high speeds," Broadhurst argued.
 "I support the Route 57 extension, and I join my Democratic and Republican
colleagues in urging its speedy completion. I do not, however, believe the
project's delay to be solely responsible for the predictable result of both
poor traffic management and a lack of any mass transit to speak of at the
local level. We do indeed have a major congestion problem in Feeding Hills
due to how traffic from Southwick must enter Feeding Hills to meet the
freeway - but it is disingenuous to blame this situation alone for the
various automobile accidents, and it is disingenuous to suggest that Route
57's completion alone shall be the solution to all of Agawam's major traffic
problems.

"The people being struck are being struck because the crosswalk runs right
in front of decelerating and accelerating traffic. The highest crash
locations are the North Westfield and Springfield St. intersection and the
Rotary. This very dangerous section of road, and those other high crash
areas I mention, shall remain incredibly dangerous regardless unless we
facilitate a reduction in automobile dependence. Ultimately, people are
being struck with automobiles because district residents are being stuck
only with automobiles to go places. We can reduce traffic congestion, motor
vehicle accidents and air pollution all at once."

"What both Southwick and Agawam most urgently require for pedestrian and
automobile safety happens to be fewer cars on the road, rather than more
road to generate even more motor vehicle traffic", Broadhurst warned. "My
opponents view proper construction of new crosswalks as a band-aid pending
Route 57 completion, but I view Route 57's completion as a band-aid pending
the proper facilitation of a much needed mass transit network."

"We require both, as well as lower speed limits and a far more wisely placed
crosswalk. I continue to believe that properly managed mass transit will do
more for sustainable development and bolstering our tax base than anything
else we might ever devise. As with the completion of Phase II for Route 57,
our need for mass transit is urgent and is a need that must be satisfied
right now."

-- 
Owen R. Broadhurst
Candidate for State Representative
Third Hampden District
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org