Transportation Safety Committee (TSC)

Formerly Traffic Management Advisory Committee (TMAC)

2023 Meeting Schedule (please note the new location)

Submit a Traffic Safety Concern Form

Agendas, Minutes, and Status Updates

TSC meeting agendas are available prior to the meeting.

Most Recent Agenda (PDF) | View All

TSC meeting minutes are available following approval at the subsequent meeting.

Most Recent Minutes (PDF) | View All

A Master List of past TSC petitions is used to track any next steps and to avoid duplicative requests.

TSC Master List Agenda Items Status/Updates (PDF)

If you have any additional questions about the TSC meeting schedule/agenda, the petition process, or the status of committee recommendations, please email TMAC@needhamma.gov. 

Committee Details

Composition: The Transportation Safety Committee shall be composed of:

• Four (4) at-large community members (currently 5 due to transition from TMAC)
  • Justin McCullen
  • Guus Driessen
  • Rebecca Tarantino
  • Donna Mullin
  • Barry McNeilly
• The Town Engineer/Designee
  • Tom Ryder
• The Highway Superintendent
  • Rhain Hoyland
• The Chief of Police/Designee
  • Lt. John McGrath

* Full-time employees serving on the Committee are regular municipal employees, even though the MPCC members are designated as special municipal employees. 

Purpose:  The purpose of the Transportation Safety Committee is to evaluate and make recommendations to the Director of Public Works and the Select Board to promote and improve the safety of the multimodal public ways in Needham. 

Charge: The Transportation Safety Committee will:

• Provide a forum to hear petitions from residents that improve the safety of roads, sidewalks, signals and marks within the Town’s multimodal public ways.
• Serve as a resource for residents about Needham’s multimodal transportation programs, plans and procedures and assist in the communication of such information.
• Recommend to the Mobility Planning & Coordination Committee proposals for implementing changes to existing multimodal transportation programs, policies and procedures to ensure safety, effective communication, coordination, and continuation of sound traffic and transportation programs.
• Participate in the semi-annual meetings of the Transportation committees (Mobility Planning & Coordination Committee, Transportation Safety Committee, and Rail Trail Advisory Committee).  The purpose of the joint meetings is to align activities, projects, and planning initiatives to facilitate public awareness of current and planned Public Works projects. These meetings shall constitute a regular committee meeting for each committee.  The semi-annual meetings will occur in September and February of each year.  
• The Committee will assist departmental staff in monitoring the effectiveness of infrastructural changes and share evaluations with Public Works and the Select Board.
• The Committee will elect a chair who shall rotate at least biannually.

Organizational Framework:  There shall be two types of relief response to resident petitions.  Public Works will review each petition to determine the response. The Director of Public Works/Designee shall provide administrative and technical staff support to the Committee.

Existing Infrastructure 

• The Director of Public Works/Designee will acknowledge receipt of the petition directly to the petitioner within one (1) week and shall provide the petitioner with an action plan on whether and how relief will be acted upon within three (3) weeks of receipt of the petition.
• Any approved improvements of existing infrastructural elements such as sidewalks, signals, signs and marks shall be completed by the Department of Public Works.  
• If the Department of Public Works is unable to resolve the issue satisfactorily to the applicant, the applicant shall file an appeal within four (4) weeks from the date of Public Works’ action plan response and that will be forwarded to the Committee for consideration.

New Infrastructure 

• Any petition requiring new infrastructural elements ranging from installation of sidewalks, signals, signs, markings or geometric improvements shall be heard by the Committee within two (2) months of receipt.  The Director of Public Works/Designee will acknowledge receipt of such petition to the petitioner within one (1) week. 
• Upon hearing the petition, the Committee shall recommend action to the Director of Public Works on any project costing up to $24,999 and shall recommend action to the Select Board on any project costing $25,000 or more.  
• There is no time guarantees on work as they will be workload and budget dependent. 
• Appeals on petitions heard for new infrastructural elements shall be filed with the Town Manager’s office. 

Charge Adopted: As Traffic Management Advisory Committee July 17, 2001

Charge Revised: January 10, 2023  SME Status Voted: January 10, 2023  

Helpful Links

• Commonly Asked Questions (PDF)
• Traffic Control Information (PDF)
• Emotionally Intelligent Signs (PDF)
• Bicycle Plan (PDF)
• Overnight Parking Regulation (PDF)