Why Are East Emerson's Road Lines Blacked Out?

You Ask, Patch Answers is a weekly column for Melrosians who have questions about something they've spotted around the city or wondered about. Submit your question to danield@patch.com.

This past week, Karen asked, "Any idea why the yellow lines on East Emerson Street are blacked out?"

Incoming Director John Scenna said in an email that yellow centerlines in Melrose are reserved for the higher traffic/volume collector roads.

Because traffic volume on roads like Grove, Foster and Emerson is lower than roads such as Upham, Howard, Washington and Pleasant, Scenna said a few years back, the centerlines were no longer painted from Lebanon Street easterly with the intent of providing residents that live along those roads with a more neighborhood feel.

"Unfortunately, Emerson was mistakenly painted again this year," he said. "The black lines were intended to correct the mistake until the paint fades."

If you've got a question about something in Melrose, send it to danield@patch.com. We'll choose one question each week and get to work on digging up an answer.