By Carol Britton Meyer

Following passage of a citizens’ petition at the 2024 annual town meeting prohibiting the placement of obstacles on the railroad bed that block access between M and XYZ streets, the select board last week discussed and voted in favor of a number of changes along that stretch.

In The section of town between L Street and xYZ Streets, Beach Avenue exists only as a “paper street,” along the waterfront, forcing residents to use the railroad bed to access their homes. On this image from GOOGLE MAPS, The RAILROAD BED IS INCORRECTLY labeled BEACH AVENUE.

The state Attorney General’s office recently issued certification of the town meeting vote, which was required because it involved a town bylaw change, paving the way for the town to make policy changes to comply with the town meeting vote.

In the past, telephone poles were placed along the railroad bed right-of-way from roughly L to XYZ streets to create parking channels for residents while restricting vehicular access for several months out of the year – including the busy summertime. In that section of town, Beach Avenue exists only as a “paper street,” forcing residents to use the railroad bed to access their homes.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable said she and Assistant Town Manager Stacy Callahan talked with neighbors, and that public safety staff assessed the stretch along the right-of-way before deciding to make changes, which Constable said were recommended based on input from the neighborhood through meetings and an email group, and public safety staff “to maintain safe passage for all along the right-of-way.”

The solutions approved by the board last week include:

· Installing “Dead End” signs at each of the alphabet streets from M St. to XYZ St.;

· Installing rubber speed bumps to slow vehicle traffic;

· Assigning community service officers to enforce parking regulations throughout the summer;

· Restricting resident parking to the east side (oceanside) of the railroad bed right-of-way for Beach Avenue residents, which will be enforced by the Hull Police Department;

· Investigating the installation of cameras to monitor the volume of traffic along the right-of-way, at the discretion of the town manager and Police Chief John Dunn;

· Installing stop and one-way signs at the V Street intersection as requested by a resident and supported by Dunn; and

· Community messaging regarding these changes.

The board also authorized a speed limit of 10 m.p.h. and making the railroad bed one-way from M Street north to W street because there will not be room for two-way traffic once the changes are in place.

During the well-attended meeting, the board (member Jason McCann was not present) heard from a number of Beach Avenue residents who expressed concerns about negative impacts that some of these changes – especially the loss of parking on one side of the railroad bed – would have on their families and others who visit during the summer months, when parking is at a premium.

One concern is that a number of residents will be giving up parking that they have been using for decades.

Constable noted that homeowners with parking stickers are allowed to park in the municipal lots located at either end of the neighborhood, leaving neighborhood spaces free for family members and visitors to park.

Some residents prefer the telephone poles. A Beach Avenue resident referred to the expression, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” remarking that the poles “were up for years, and there was never an incident when emergency vehicles couldn’t get through.”

“I hear you, but town meeting approved this citizens’ petition and we have to adhere to it and enforce it,” Constable responded.

“We’re here tonight to make the neighborhood safer,” board member Greg Grey said. “We may not all agree, but safety is the priority.”

He added that once the measures are in place, “let’s see what happens. We can always make adjustments.”

Another issue that came up and is as yet unresolved is the question of whether the town owns the railroad bed right-of-way.

“There’s a difference between ownership rights and rights to property,” Constable said. “We’re looking into this and will let people know. There’s no date certain; the worst-case scenario would be by the end of the summer. I would like to put the ownership issue to rest.”

Another resident remarked, “It will be a big issue if it turns out the town doesn’t own it.”

Ownership of the railroad bed – and abutters’ use of the property – has been an issue for decades. Trains stopped running through Hull in 1932.

In other business, the select board unanimously approved a reduction in the speed limit in the Kenberma district from 30 to 20 m.p.h. – from Kenberma Street to Nantasket Road – at Dunn’s request due in large part to the high number of pedestrians, bicyclists, and children who frequent the area.

“Thirty miles per hour is very fast for a business district,” he said.

A replay of the meeting is on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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