Ward 2 Councilor Wendy Lattof formally introduced her proposal to establish a Complete Streets – Transportation & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee at a recent City Council meeting. Her proposal has been sent to the Municipal Public Safety Subcommittee for further review and discussion.
“As traffic patterns, development pressures, and cut-through traffic continues to increase across our neighborhoods, residents across Peabody have raised concerns regarding speeding, unsafe intersections and crossings, sidewalk gaps, accessibility barriers, pedestrian and bicycle safety, roadway and sidewalk conditions, and signage needs,” Lattof wrote in her proposal. “These issues affect residents of all ages, particularly children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities — and are currently addressed in a fragmented manner.”
She continued, “As we begin the January Council term, I am submitting for your consideration an order to establish a Complete Streets – Transportation & Pedestrian Safety Committee as a resident-led, advisory committee to help coordinate and elevate these concerns in a transparent, data-informed way.”
The proposal stated that, additionally, “the Committee may identify, review, and recommend potential state and federal grant opportunities related to transportation safety, accessibility, Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, ADA improvements, traffic calming, and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.”
She proposed that the Committee include the following members:
- One resident representative from each ward, who will be recommended by the respective ward councilor
- One City Council member, who will be appointed by the Council President, and who will chair the committee
- One Police Department representative
- One Department of Public Services representative
- One representative from the Disability Commission, to ensure accessibility and ADA considerations are meaningfully incorporated
- One representative from the Historical Commission, in any advisory capacity, to remain informed and provide input when matters interact with historically sensitive areas
Mayor Ted Bettencourt expressed his support for this committee’s creation.
“Councilor Lattof’s proposal offers a thoughtful, structured approach to these issues,” Bettencourt said. “By creating a resident-led advisory committee, we can better organize community input, review safety data, and develop prioritized recommendations for improvements… This initiative positions Peabody to be more competitive for state and federal transportation grants, and I believe it reflects our shared commitment to safety, accessibility, and proactive planning.”
