Woburn Traffic Code Stuck On Red 81 Years: Changes On Way?

Woburn hasn’t fully updated its traffic code since 1935, but that could change in 2016.

Members of the Woburn Traffic Commission will hold a public hearing on Jan. 21 regarding the adoption of brand new traffic code. A draft written by City Clerk William Campbell will be presented and debated at the meeting, and residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinion.

Campbell told Patch that the code has been amended many times in the past, but hasn’t been updated in nearly 81 years.

“The traffic code in Woburn is still known as the 1935 Woburn Traffic Code,” Campbell said. ”The code has not been updated in a comprehensive manner since its 1935 adoption nor has a book of the code been available for some time.”

Attempts to update the code have stalled in the past due to state control of traffic ordinances, according to Campbell. Regulations would need MassHighway (now MassDOT) approval and permits, stalling some of those proposed regulations. 

Campbell added that this new draft traffic code is the culmination of ordinances and regulations adopted by both City Council and the Traffic Commission, which was born in 2005.

“The new Traffic Code is the compilation of this work,” Campbell wrote. ”There is a change in that the model code has been used as a foundational document but the indexes are based on ordinances and regulations that the city has adopted over the years and which I found in my research.”

Upon approval from the commission, the code must be approved by City Council. Then, the code is sent to the Mayor’s office for approval. Campbell said that the community will play an important role in the process.

“As you can see, the appendices are quite extensive,” Campbell said. ”For example, I located 351 stop sign restrictions. Having the entire community reviewing the document and pointing out a regulation that may have been overlooked will be helpful to the process.”

The public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Written comments on the draft can also be filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

“I am not sure what the response will be,” Campbell said in closing. ”But the opportunity is there.”