Funds Secured for Traffic Signal Near Playground on Route 37

BRAINTREE, MA - Soon, it will be safer for residents to get to a playground near the Braintree-Holbrook town line.

State Representative Mark J. Cusack (D-Braintree) announced Tuesday that he has secured $150,000 from within the state's budget for the construction of a pedestrian traffic signal on Route 37. The lights will be placed near Highlands Community Playground, the Braintree Community Arts Center, and the soon to be open CATs Academy.

“As we have added the Highlands Playground and the Community Arts Center at this property over the past several years, and with CATs Academy bringing 400 students to this site in the near future, pedestrian safety is a major issue especially along Route 37. This traffic signal will allow our residents to safely cross this heavily traveled road,” Representative Cusack said in a statement. “I am hopeful that this improvement will prevent the tragedies we have seen along this busy state road. I want to thank Governor Baker for releasing these funds from the FY16 budget along with the MassDOT and the town of Braintree for making this improvement in public safety a soon-to-be reality.”

Know as a dangerous place to cross the street, the area has become a public safety area for the town, according to Cusack. In 2004, a 22-year-old was struck and killed while trying to cross at Highlands Plaza. A traffic light was installed shortly afterward.

The new signal is expected to be installed in the upcoming months.