Special Selectboard Meeting 6/8/26

Printable version

Special Selectboard Minutes 06-08-26 203 KB

Web version

Town of Richmond 
Special Selectboard Meeting
Minutes of June 8, 2026

Members Present: 
Caitlin Filkins, Bard Hill, Greg Rabideau, David Sander, Adam Wood

 

Absent: None

Staff Present:  Josh Arneson, Town Manager; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town Manager; Susanne Parent, Town Clerk; Keith Oborne, Town Planner; Matthew Cohen, Police Chief; Peter Gosselin, Highway Foreman

Others Present: Recorded by MMCTV Erin Wagg, Amy Wardwell, Andrew Bessette, Bob Allen, Brian Youngberg, Cara LaBounty, David Thomas, Ed Neuert, Erin Farr, Fran Huntoon, Fran Thomas, Gerald Feenan, Hegg, Irwin, Irwin Langer, Jason Charest, Jason Murray, Jeff G, Jessica Arendt, John Linn, Jon Kart, Lisa Miller, Logan Hegg, Marcy Harding, Mary Houle, Michael Storrs, Morgan Wolaver, Rachel Gray, Rose's iPad, Ryan Gray, Sarah Volinsky, Sheri, Velma

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/o43ynmK66PI?si=KIsDKQ-SuX1qboUT 

Call to Order: 7:05 PM

 

Welcome by:  Wood

 

Public Comment: 

LaBounty apologized for not understanding the Delaware standards for the speed humps.  LaBounty requested speed tables like they have on Pine St that allow a vehicle to go the 25 MPH speed limit.  Haskins observed that when she drives on Cochran Rd, the different speed bumps require different speeds so they must not all be the same size or height.  

Additions, Deletions or Modifications to Agenda:  None


Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present


Discussion of the intersection of Thompson Rd., Huntington Rd., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd.

3a1 RTC THBC Intersection Alternatives Presentation 4-2024

3a2 THBC Intersection Pros Cons Revised 3-26-2024

3a3 FINAL Richmond VHB BridgeStreetCorridorStudy TechnicalMemo 8-27-21-compressed 1 

3a4 Crash and Speed Data

3a5 Richmond Accidents 2012 to 2024

3a6 Traffic Counts Huntington Rd.

3a7 Intersection Data May 28 2026

Wood introduced Charest (CPRC), Gosselin (Highway Foreman), Oborne (PZ Director), and Cohen (Chief of Police).  Arneson summarized the structure for general public feedback.

Charest reviewed the Bridge St Corridor Study and public reactions.  Charest stated that they grade intersections based on the amount of delay someone is going to incur. This intersection is a B level of service as during the peak hours it was going to have at most 5-6 vehicles stacked up.  Charest stated that the main concern was for vulnerable users, pedestrians trying to use that crosswalk and bicyclists that are interested in traveling through that area.  Charest stated that they did the Cochran Rd corridor study where the Town installed speed humps.  Hill stated that 5,400 vehicles go through that intersection daily according to a Transportation Committee report.  Charest stated that an all-way stop could accommodate that fair amount of vehicles. Charest confirmed it is not a common intersection as the 2-way stop is not a traditional one where opposing legs have stop signs.  Charest confirmed that the intersection could stay as it is.  Charest reviewed that a traffic count influences if there is a warrant for consideration of the installation of an all-way traffic stop. 

Houle observed that there is a lot of congestion as it relates to high housing density if there is a 4-way stop intersection. Kart reviewed the work of the Transportation Committee where many people identified problems at that intersection and why they asked for funding from CCRPC.  Haskins supported the idea of installing blinking sidewalks.  Gosselin stated that the most recent pedestrian illuminated crossing system on Railroad St cost $9,400 two years ago and that does not include installation.  Rabideau summarized how the voters of Richmond roundly rejected a 4-way stop and the Selectboard heard a lot of anecdotal evidence from the most dangerous intersection to a fine as-is intersection.  Cohen summarized the Police Chief document that includes crash and speed data for the intersection.  Youngberg stated that he voted against the 4-way stop and he is still not sure of a problem to solve as 90% of that traffic is Huntington Rd to Bridge St.  Wood observed that the reason this conservation is so tricky is because there is no consensus on which problem they are trying to solve: pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, traffic throughput, or traffic safety.

Farr observed people speeding on Huntington Rd but does not see Police patrolling that intersection like she sees on Rt 2 by the Fire Station.  Farr observed that vehicles and bicycles do not stop coming off of Cochran Rd.  Farr suggested making the Cochran-Bridge right hand corner turn clearer.  Charest confirmed that the center line could be extended through the intersection with a single dashed line that would go around the Bridge-Huntington corner.  Charest stated that there are many ways to make a stop sign more visible.  Storrs observed that the radar sign on the west end of Cochran Rd should be moved back around the corner to where the 25 MPH zone actually starts.  Charest stated that he did not think there was a site-distance issue at that intersection.  Charest confirmed that the next study would evaluate the 8-hour traffic volume.  Filkins summarized that the Town would not have to do anything even if there were specific warrants at that intersection.  

Feenan reviewed the complexities of the intersection.  Feenan observed other people who travel through Richmond but do not understand the complexities.  They often stop at the intersection when coming from the Village.  Feenan suggested that they should make informed decisions based on the traffic study data.  Feenan observed that pedestrians from Thompson Rd often go down Cochran Rd and use the Round Church Rd crosswalk to cross Bridge St.  Feenan suggested a flashing light at that crosswalk similar to the one at the Library.  Wood stated that there are two daycares on Thompson Rd.    

Allen observed that there is a cost of delay with a lighted intersection.  Allen estimated that every minute a car idles costs between $0.01-$0.03/minute.

Linn observed that since the intersection is at 90-degrees, then it would require more than 1 pedestrian light.  Gosselin listed the 3 pedestrian crossings on the south side of the bridge: at Round Church Rd, at the Thompson Rd intersection, and one at Long Trail Physical Therapy where the sidewalk ends.  Charest confirmed that the traffic study would count cars, pedestrians, and bicycles.  Hill reviewed that Vermont Statute stated that a car is supposed to stop for a pedestrian whether there is a crosswalk or not.  Charest confirmed that the traffic study is already paid for with dues.  

LaBounty reviewed that 10-years’ worth of accident activity had only 4 reported accidents at that intersection.  There are other intersections that are more dangerous according to the data.  LaBounty requested data on the number of tickets written for speed or not stopping.  LaBounty stated that the Selectboard is trying to fix a problem that has not been defined.  

Huntoon agreed that the intersection is complex but if the signs are not visible until about 5ft away in a car.  The pedestrian sign is not visible so she would not step out unless she knew a car from Huntington Rd would stop.  Huntoon observed the funny left-hand turn from Cochran Rd to Thompson Rd as it never enters Huntington Rd.  Huntoon observed that the blinking lights by the Library malfunction after a rain so people become desensitized to the flashing lights.  

Arendt reviewed her suggestion to remove the one crosswalk that is right at the intersection.  There are two other crosswalks that can be used with ~50 yards.  Arendt stated that Vermont Statute does not cite that there has to be a crosswalk there.  The crosswalk currently ends in Thompson Rd, which the Statute says is not a good idea.

Charest confirmed that the traffic study does not count if a driver is confused at the intersection.  Charest clarified that a “warrant” is terminology used for uniform traffic control devices.  The traffic study will determine if the intersection exceeds the volume warrant.  

Filkins summarized her interest in understanding the liability of the Town by having a traffic study done and if there is a warrant by an engineering assessment.  Houle stated that it is the responsibility of the driver to stop for a pedestrian and the responsibility of the Police Officer to enforce it.  Not all drivers stop when they see the flashing lights.  Harding observed the problem of significant queues of traffic on Cochran Rd primarily in the morning.  Houle observed the traffic backed up on Bridge St.  Cohen did not observe a true backup on Cochran Rd but backs up along the line of the bridge for about 30-35 minutes from 7:30 – 8:00 AM.  Cohen confirmed that it is 4 points and $220 for not yielding to a pedestrian.  LaBounty expressed concern for getting rear ended on Huntington Rd going into Bridge St as that is the most congested area.  LaBounty wondered about the liability if everyone ends up going to Fay’s Corner and down Kenyon Rd.  

Gosselin reviewed that there is not going to be a speed hump or a 4-way stop as those got voted down.  Gosselin stated nobody wants mountable islands or a wider intersection either.  Gosselin suggested five solutions:
-North of the intersection on Bridge St, mount a sign “Left Turn Yield to Oncoming Traffic”

-Place an illuminated pedestrian crossing at that intersection as there is not a straight line of site

-Cut back the tree limbs currently blocking signs
-Move the radar sign on the west side of Cochran Rd to past Farr Rd where the 25 MPH zone starts

-Install single dashed yellow stripe around the Bridge St to Huntington Rd curve.

Charest stated that a simple yield sign would work for north of the intersection.  Cohen suggested putting the stop line on Cochran Rd closer to the intersection.  Miller suggested making the intersection look more like a 4-way intersection by removing some of the curves.  Wood summarized that they have a few solutions which would require money so it would be warned as a future agenda item.  Kart summarized that all the numbers will not give answers for the policy role of deciding how much they want to make that intersection safe.  Arneson illustrated the confusion of using blinkers when going straight from Huntington Rd to Cochran Rd.

Rabideau suggested taking Gosselin’s suggestions and putting into a Times Ink and Front Porch Forum article to get feedback on the ideas.  Rabideau summarized that the Selectboard does not have a private agenda to do one thing in particular but is trying to find a practical solution to this.  Charest confirmed that figuring out how to measure success is subjective as people have varying opinions and not everyone is going to be happy.  Transportation is a world of trade-offs.

Arneson confirmed that the Selectboard already approved the dashed line through that intersection and through Fay’s Corner.  Wood illustrated the future Selectboard action items as adding a yield sign, creating an illuminated crosswalk, and relocating the radar feedback zone.  Gosselin confirmed that they have two radar speed feedback signs so they would not have to remove the one on north Cochran Rd.  

            
Adjourn

Filkins moved to adjourn.  Hill seconded. 
Roll Call Vote: Filkins, Hill, Rabideau, Sander, Wood in favor.  Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at:  9:14 PM

Chat file from Zoom:  
1:36:19            John Linn, AIA:          These are the cost e...[Full message cannot be displayed on this version]
01:38:45          Andrew Bessette:        Has any town, any where been sued for a accident on a road. I do not know of any. For the same reason we do not sue car makers.
01:42:13          Rachel Gray:   thank you Pete!  thats what we want to see
01:42:48          Rachel Gray:   keep it simple and try it out
01:43:07          Andrew Bessette:        Thanks pete, go for it!!!
01:43:34          Jessica Arendt:            Thank you Pete, excellent approach
01:49:00          Andrew Bessette:        90% of the problem will go away soon as school closes.
02:03:32          Andrew Bessette:        You need to do the study before school closes. or your date will be flawed
02:14:30          Andrew Bessette:        I am signing off, good luck.
02:17:19          Rachel Gray:   thank you everyone for being part of this.