I beg the powers that be to take the appropriate measures to fix the dangerous intersection at Common Street and Trapelo Road! While the left turn from Common onto Trapelo towards Cambridge is a left-on-green-arrow only and clearly lined, and therefore safe, the same can not be said for the left turn from Common onto Trapelo coming from Watertown. The set-up is unsafe, it lacks clarity, and it promotes drivers to be selfish.
So, the lane that provides three options—turn right onto Common, go “straight” onto Cushing Avenue, or go “straight” to continue on Common Street—is a high-volume lane. Traffic backs up. Every driver wants to get through the light before it turns. What do more than 50% of the drivers do to beat the light? They go into the lane designated as Left Only onto Trapelo Road but instead go “straight” through to Common. This happens while drivers in the Common Street lane are asked to observe a ridiculous dotted line that is arced like a 3-point line and essentially makes it look like cars aren’t continuing on Common. Many drivers, while observing the “arc” in an attempt to stay in lane, slow down because they know that those in the left lane are going to “cheat” and go straight on Common. It’s insanity. Also, the left lane turn onto Trapelo from Watertown-to-Belmont is not a left-on-green-arrow only, contributing to the havoc.
So please, redo the lines so that the left lane turn onto Trapelo is clearly just that, and make it a green arrow only. Also consider having left turns from both directions go at the same time, and once red, then allow common street traffic in both directions to proceed. Bring safety/sanity back to Cushing Square before a serious accident occurs!
James Vershbow, Lovell Road, Watertown