Gillette Stadium Exit Traffic Creates Public Nuisance

The Foxborough Selectmen discussed the overwhelming traffic on North Street after events at Patriot Place that prevent emergency vehicle access, increased littering and some public urination. 

Police Chief Edward O’Leary stated that after an event at Patriot Place an estimated 1,400 cars exit from the eastern part of the property on Putnam Parkway that leads to North Street where traffic is backed up as where cars block the street.  O’Leary added that pedestrians walk from the stadium to North Street where they have parked on the street itself or paid homeowners to park on their property.

He noted, “people (home owners) engage in price wars,” on North St. before games to encourage people to park on their property. 

In an email, Dan Murphy, VP Business Development & External Affairs, spoke on the logistics of the number of vehicles that travel in and out of Putnam Parkway (formerly Fidelity Way). Murphy said there is a "loop counting mechanism that is permanently cut into that roadway."

"This system records all vehicle trips on this roadway, and is monitored by [Foxborough's] Zoning Enforcement Officer," said Murphy. "From the 2002 season through the 2010 season, we [Gillette] averaged 1,013.56 vehicles on the In, and 1,018.67 vehicles on the Out. We have never exceeded the Site Plan limit of 1,400 vehicles for our patrons that use this roadway. The highest number of vehicles that have used this roadway was 1,291 (both on September 21, 2003 and on January 16, 2005)."

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Larry Harrington said town code enforcement give citations to homeowners that allow too many cars on their lot.  He said the property owner will just fight the citation and a judge will throw it because the officer never witnesses money exchanging hands and the code being enforced is not a town by-law but a Board of Selectmen policy. 

Town Manager Kevin Paicos said he believes the “dramatic change” can be “attributed to the economy."  O’Leary estimated 300 cars parked on North Street during events, and an additional 70 along Hallowell Rd. 

Resident Mark Deveaux said the last three games at the stadium have had cars backed up from North St, down Young Rd to Edwards Rd and the cars go one way taking up both sides of the road. 

Messenger Ave resident Ted Parkman asked the selectmen “to look at the original management plan to see if it’s being followed."  He noted, “people are learning the back roads,” and added, “it seems there was stricter monitoring of traffic in earlier days."

Resident Kim Melon said the situation “is an accident waiting to happen”.  Further, Melon said cars are making u-turns in narrow streets and that “someone will seriously get hurt."

Selectmen Jim DeVillis, who recused himself from the board because he lives on MacKenzie Lane, said he believes there is “no fault to the police” and that the amount of cars is “too overwhelming."  O’Leary said he spoke with property owners allowing cars to park on their land and they say, “Give us a break, it’s Christmas money."

Selectmen Mark Sullivan motioned to ban parking on side streets of North Street during games.  Paicos advised against that, saying that if people stay too long on the road a small number will get frustrated and make bad decisions that could impact many.  Sullivan said he would, “still like to give it a shot”.

O’Leary said if that is what the board wishes he “could try it until it creates a hazard, then do what it takes to mitigate that hazard."

Paicos said a more enforceable solution would be to create a by-law, “we need something with teeth."

The selectmen then voted unanimously to have the town’s zoning officer create a by-law to create a safer situation.  Sullivan encouraged the zoning officer to not begin work on it until after Jan. 1.