Country lane? Not if Pats on

Walpole traffic fix crosses town line

Mention "Gillette Stadium" and most people envision packed sporting events and rock concerts at the massive Route 1 arena. And Patriots fever leading up to a possible Super Bowl.

But those who live in the Walpole and Norfolk neighborhoods adjacent to the Foxborough venue have another view. Their quiet side streets are snarled on game and event days by thousands of fans seeking shortcuts around traffic jams.

Walpole launched a plan in late July to keep stadium-going vehicles to main routes, posting signs that restrict traffic to routes 1, 1A, 27, and 115. But now neighboring Norfolk needs a solution as cars hoping to sidestep the Walpole restrictions - and avoid red lights at the new Patriot Place mall - have converged on Everett Street.

The winding country road connects Route 1 at Summer Street in South Walpole to routes 115 and 1A in Norfolk.

Norfolk officials are talking about turning Everett Street into a cul de sac at the Walpole town line, although such a move would require voter approval. The town's Public Works Department director, Butch Vito, is expected to report to Town Hall on the issue this month.

"There is more traffic and it is on an upward trend," said Norfolk Selectman Rob Garrity. "The question is, do you want Everett Street to become Route 1B, or remain a small, country road?"

Efforts to widen the road and improve drainage would be costly and change the character of the lane, he said, adding that residents don't want that. "We are going to be talking with Walpole," Garrity said.

Walpole Town Administrator Michael Boynton has said his town needs more from stadium owners to mitigate traffic and safety concerns. Last year, the town received $24,094 from the Kraft Group, whose holdings include the New England Patriots football team as well as the stadium and Patriot Place. The money paid for police and fire protection during events.

Boynton had no comment on Norfolk's idea because he said there have been no official discussions.

He said the new restrictions in Walpole, which were used for a number of summer events, including a Bruce Springsteen concert, will be in place today for the Patriots' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. He didn't believe there would be any additional changes to the plan.

Norfolk Police Chief Charles Stone said about 600 vehicles travel Everett Street on a "normal" day. That bumps up to more than 2,000 vehicles on stadium days. Because of Walpole's traffic plan, drivers may try to take a right onto the narrow, scenic route so they can go left on 115 and bypass the restrictions, Stone said. But they soon find out they are blocked in. "Then people get irritated and they come back two times as fast."

Norfolk does not receive money from the stadium, like Walpole does, nor does Stone hold out hope that it will. With three of his 17 full-time officers staffing the day shift and three on afternoons, increasing the road's police presence is not an option, he said: "Who's going to pay for that?"

Some residents in the Freedom Trail, Lafayette, Lantern Lane and Old Coach Road neighborhoods are concerned that closing Everett Street would only redirect traffic to their areas in the effort to avoid Route 1. Others have suggested making Everett Street one way on game and event days.

Walpole Police Chief Richard Stillman said the traffic experiment has made some difference in his town, but what is seen as positive in one area can be a problem in another. It will take time for out-of-towners to learn which roads are usable and which aren't, he said.

"This is a quality-of-life issue, not a public safety issue," he said. "Concerts are always a mess. I assume that over the course of two or three football games, it will get straightened out."

Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at mmbolton1@verizon.net