Councilor: Hub up for traffic signal review

City Councilor Ed Flynn is seeking hearings and calling for the city to take action after a pedestrian fatality in the Seaport last week.

“Pedestrian safety is one of the top most important issues in the city,” Flynn told the Herald on Tuesday as he prepared to enter a hearing order during today’s council meeting.

Flynn cited last Wednesday’s crash in his district when a van turning left from Melcher Street onto Summer Street hit two pedestrians — who had a walk signal even as the light was green for the van driver. The man and the woman struck were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and the woman later died.

The city then changed that signal order to keep the light on Melcher red when pedestrians have a walk signal — referred to by traffic experts as an exclusive approach instead of a concurrent one.

Flynn, who represents South Boston, which has had several high-profile traffic tragedies over the past few years, wants the city to lower the general speed limit to 20 mph and take a hard look at all of the traffic lights similar to the ones at the intersection of Melcher and Summer streets.

“I’m going to ask the city to review every single light where that situation takes place and make improvements,” Flynn said.

Flynn’s order calls for discussion at a future hearing about what traffic infrastructure — like raised crosswalks and speed bumps, he mentioned — could calm traffic. The hearing also would seek an update on the city’s “Vision Zero” initiative, which has been a push from Mayor Martin Walsh to improve pedestrian safety.