The average person can walk a mile in 20 minutes, a bike going 10 mph can cover that distance in six minutes, and crawling through the mile-long stretch of Westford Academy’s student drop-off line takes long enough to drive any person insane.
The never-ending line of unmoving cars, filled with students being dropped off and seniors waiting to park, is not a new sight to members of the WA community. Numerous cars idle in the line every morning as students with nearby parking spots weave past the rumbling vehicles, clinging to the narrow shoulders of the road.
While the drudgery of the drop-off process is a common complaint, many people overlook a closely related problem: the condition of the roads leading to WA prevents many students who live within a few miles of the building from walking or biking to school.
To promote well-being in the community, and to preserve the sanity of both parents and students, the town must prioritize the construction of sidewalks and bike lanes on the roads abutting the school. Without these necessary features on roadways, students who live nearby will continue to be forced to spend 15 minutes or more anxiously waiting in a congested line when they could be checking in with teachers, socializing with friends, or spending time on assignments.
Country Road, Cold Spring Road, and Patten Road are the three primary streets that approach WA, and they connect to several neighborhoods that house high school students. However, the risks associated with traveling alongside lines of SUVs and minivans deter many students from taking the relatively straightforward route to the building. Many students carry heavy backpacks, and cars trying to reach the building on time often make quick and jerky movements that could injure pedestrians.
The result of their reasonable discomfort is an increase in the number of blockages in the roads, as cars filled with students who could have quickly biked to the school add to the congestion of the drop-off line and delay the process for students who live farther away.
What’s worse are the sharp bends present on Country Road that make the narrow route even more dangerous to walk along. After a long day at school, I enjoy taking a leisurely drive down the road on the way to my house, but even when I’m going under 25 mph, I frequently find myself startled by a couple walking their dog as I go around a bend. Evidence of the road’s danger is clear from the police car that is often stationed near one of the sharp turns.
With multiple houses lining the winding route, the lack of sidewalks, or even just wider shoulders, creates a hazard for the residents and pet owners who have to deal with high school students and frantic parents speeding by their homes on a daily basis.
Despite the apparent danger, I understand that the marshland and hills that border Westford Academy make it difficult to expand the road. According to Westford Director of Public Works Kyle Fox, the variance in terrain across Westford is one of the primary reasons why constructing sidewalks in town is so complicated.
“Many of [Westford’s] roads were built long before sidewalks were commonly included, so space is a major challenge,” Fox said. “There often isn’t enough right-of-way without impacting private property, utilities, trees, wetlands, or stone walls.”
Only adding to the cost are the drainage systems and slopes in the road that need to be altered to minimize the impact of new sidewalks. In total, Fox estimates that new sidewalks can run the town $300-500 per linear foot, which works out to be $1.5-2.5 million per mile. Acquiring permits, property infringement, utility relocation, and in some cases, total road reconstruction, can add on expenses as well.
Sidewalks and bike lanes are an undeniably expensive addition to roadways, but I believe that they are a worthwhile cost in securing safe passageways for students. Since WA is surrounded by neighborhoods and roadways frequently used by pedestrians, it is the perfect place to begin adding the passageways using funding from other currently planned reconstruction projects. Even a slow and gradual progress towards extended, consistent spaces for community members to walk and bike would go far in creating a safer environment for all Westford residents.
The construction of sidewalks and bike lanes does not have to be an isolated project, either. Road reconstructions happen frequently throughout town, with one of the most recent being on Concord Road, which leads to Country Road and WA. Factoring in sidewalks and including plans for bike lanes while the reconstruction is being outlined could reduce certain costs relating to moving drainage systems and utilities.
On the topic of improving the environment, adding bike lanes and sidewalks to roadways would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of fossil fuels used by cars as they idle in the drop-off line. According to the Department of Energy, personal vehicles in the U.S. generate about 30 million tons of carbon dioxide every year just by idling. Fewer idling cars means a cleaner overall atmosphere for Westford residents and a reduction in the amount of money spent on gas for several WA parents.
By constructing sidewalks and bike lanes for students, the town would also be promoting healthier lifestyles and establishing more environmentally-friendly habits and routines in the next generations. A study from the University of British Columbia found that children who spend an increased amount of time outdoors have a higher tendency to enjoy nature when they are older, and with climate change growing worse, it’s important that green transportation alternatives are made available.
Although it may seem like the impact of adding additional sidewalks and bike lanes would be minimal, in a poll conducted on The Ghostwriter’s Instagram account, 79 respondents answered that they would be willing to walk or bike to school if safe sidewalks and bike lanes were present on the roads leading to WA. While some responses may have been from students who ride the bus or already walk to school, the significant number of people who replied “yes” demonstrates a clear interest in the student body and a potentially major reduction in the number of idling cars waiting in line.
The Department of Public Works is currently engaged in a variety of projects to improve road safety and ensure that the 63 miles of existing sidewalks in Westford adhere to government standards, according to Fox. Nevertheless, I believe that the construction of sidewalks and bike lanes around WA should be prioritized for the benefit of parents and students who make up a significant portion of the cars on Westford’s roads.
According to Fox, the needs of the school community and dense residential areas, such as those around WA, are given high priority by the town.
“Increased public demand—especially where pedestrian safety concerns are documented—helps raise a project’s priority,” Fox said. “Securing additional funding, whether local, state, or federal, is also a key factor. In areas with high pedestrian use – schools, recreation facilities, and denser neighborhoods – sidewalks naturally rise to the top of our planning list.”
Westford updates its capital plan annually with changes that include sidewalk recommendations, and certain areas are prioritized by the Pedestrian Safety Committee. If residents want to see the roads around WA become safer and more convenient for nearby students to navigate, while also working to combat pollutants in Westford’s atmosphere, we must express our concerns and ensure that the changes we want to see in our community are heard by Westford’s planning and financial committees.
I understand that there are many other areas in Westford that are in desperate need of reconstruction. However, WA is in one of the most consistently busy areas of traffic in town, and the lack of safe passageways is a disservice to students, teachers, and parents who could be spending their time more productively while also reducing the amount of emissions being released into the atmosphere. According to Fox, town leaders aim to improve the roadways and transportation across town, but they can only do so with input from residents like you.
“We share the community’s goal of making Westford safer and more accessible for pedestrians,” Fox said. “[…] Public input is always welcomed — residents can work through the Pedestrian Safety Committee to request and advocate for specific locations. Together, we can continue to improve our walking network over time.”
