Salem · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Salem public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Road Program Funding
Councilor Wright's motion to restore the road improvement warrant article from $2.5 million back to the $3 million level passed unanimously, keeping the road program at what she called the compromise they'd worked out.
Pelham Road/Keewaydin Drive Traffic Signal Repair
The signal's vehicle detection cameras failed, so the light runs on a fixed timer — causing unnecessary delays and unsafe peak-hour conflicts. Impact fees, not general taxes, will cover the $28,432 fix.
M&E; Bus Route Ridership
The new M&E; bus line logged 3,200 riders in its first month — the top complaint is that it doesn't run often enough.
CART Senior Transportation Costs Jump
CART bus service costs jump from $47,000 to $123,000 now that federal COVID relief has dried up. Councilors want a conversation with Salem Caregivers about alternatives and floated cutting on-demand rides to three days a week.
Bridge Street Bridge Cost Overrun
Spring flooding and undersized contractor pumps drove up engineering oversight costs on the Bridge Street bridge replacement. The council released $200,000 from the road reserve fund, and the project is now targeted for December 4 completion.
Salem Rail Trail Phases 4 & 5 and South Broadway Culvert
The rail trail resurfacing won't start until 2027 because the culvert near Gidley is undersized — and the DOT insists any replacement bridge be strong enough to carry a 30-ton train, even though a train likely isn't coming.
Gravel Road Paving (Palm Road)
A resident whose family has waited 70 years for Palm Road to be paved asked why gravel roads keep getting bumped from the road program. Councilors explained gravel roads are expensive to convert and none were done this year because bids came in high; the road committee will take up her request.
All-Way Stop at Hampstead/Shannon/Town Farm/Liberty
After eight correctable crashes last year and 12,000 vehicles a day, the town recommends all-way stops at this intersection — with expected backups near Route 97 at peak times.
North Main and Bluff Intersection Status Quo
The town found the intersection operating correctly with good sightlines; crashes are tied to high volume rather than an unsafe design, so no changes for now.
Town Hall–courthouse footpath
The old bridge between Town Hall and the courthouse was removed for safety reasons. DPW plans to build a five-foot footpath with a pipe crossing instead — no new bridge, no cost to the conservation commission, and no impact on parking.
Route 111/Ermer Road Intersection Safety
The town is building a roundabout at a dangerous intersection where fatalities have occurred, funded 90% by a state grant. Construction is about a year and a half ahead of schedule.
Barnes & Noble Plaza Traffic
Chairman Bryant says the new traffic island and no-U-turn setup near Barnes & Noble made safety worse, with long backups behind the shops — the town is taking a look.
Discontinuance of Old Haverhill Road Segment
A leftover piece of the pre-1958 Main Street layout near 354 Main Street was formally discontinued after a public hearing, cleaning up an old records gap at the property owner's request.
Rockingham Park Flyover Closure
The flyover closes April 1 through November 13 for construction — expect detours, but it will reopen before holiday shopping traffic. Councilor Stacey stressed it cannot slip past that date.
MeVa Transit Route to Tuscan Village
A one-year, Massachusetts-grant-funded bus route connecting Salem to Methuen, the Lawrence commuter rail, and Tuscan Village starts April 6 — free for riders and costing Salem taxpayers nothing in year one. Councilors want ridership data before deciding whether to continue it.