Main Street Changes Get Positive Reviews 3 Months Later

Main Street has had numerous changes in the wake of many pedestrian deaths on the roadway, including eastbound traffic reduced to one lane and the installation of left turning lanes back in May. When changes were made many Patch readers, while applauding the efforts to make the road safer, were not pleased with the results.

Since , proponents of the road changes said the feedback received has largely been positive.

Lavena Sipes, mother of , the 11-year-old girl who was killed on Main Street in November 2009, said people have told her driving on Main Street has become more comfortable.

"As far as what's been done so far everyone has told me, especially closer friends, say that they honestly feel more comfortable driving down Main Street and that sometimes it's a little bit slower but so what, it's going to make things safer," Sipes said.

Mancini Architecture owner Mark Mancini, who has been outspoken about the need for changes on Main Street, said he's heard complaints about delays at certain intersections but the feedback has still largely been positive.

"I think there's some frustration coming into the merge but it's got much better as the months have worn on, people have got used to it," he said. "There are times that it does get jammed up at the Route 111 intersection or at Terry Road, it gets backed up a little bit."

Both Sipes and Mancini said aside from road delays the complaints they've heard from locals concern the lack of law enforcement on the road and the speeding from motorists that still exists.

While both Sipes and Mancini said they have not heard much from local business owners about the road changes, some owners said they've experienced differences at their places of work since the road changes were made.

John Johnson, owner of Cupcake Couture, said his customers are frequently parking in front of the store now versus across the street when he first opened.

"Now customers can obviously park in front of the store so there is a convenience factor, for lack of a better word, for my customers," he said. "They probably feel a lot safer now that traffic has slown up a little bit."

Johnson did add, however, that it is still too soon to say if the changes have provided a boost to his business.

While the changes are a good start, according to Sipes, she said there is much more work to do.

"There's so much opportunity for the town to take this even further and bring in economic development that would benefit the town," she said. "From a safety standpoint this is a stepping stone but I think more should be done."

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