City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and provided an opening statement regarding the purpose of the meeting to identify the appropriateness of installing speed humps on various roads in the city.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Director of Traffic Engineering, who provided an overview of what a speed hump is, the advantages and disadvantages of installing speed humps, and the potential procedures and standard requirements associated with installing speed humps.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the following speakers, who participated remotely through digital means:
1. Suzanne Burke, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Melanie Gallagher, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
3. Gordon Duncan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
4. Michael Testa, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
5. Victor Saffron, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
6. Alexandra Dennehy, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
7. Robert Iacovelli, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed speeding concerns in the city, research done concerning other municipalities’ successes with speed hump programs and the pricing of installing temporary speed humps.

Councilor Bergman then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report, after conferring with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, ascertaining the cost of implementing a pilot program relating to the installation of temporary speed humps/cushions.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the amount of times speed hump items have come before City Council, speeding being an issue in the city and whether there is potential for liability for having speed humps on Westland St. and Bancroft Tower Rd., where speed humps are currently installed.

Councilor Mero-Carlson then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a cost analysis of police officers providing enforcement for speeding in an area against the cost of a speed hump.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Fire Chief, who discussed implementing speed humps with gaps in the road for emergency vehicles and emergency vehicle response times on routes with speed humps with the committee.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the WPD Sergeant, who discussed a need for proper roadway markings for enforcement purposes.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Director of Emergency Communications, who discussed including UMass EMS in the discussions of installing speed humps to ensure their vehicles can also utilize speed hump gaps.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio, Councilor Bergman and Councilor Mero-Carlson discussed verbiage the committee could use to move forward with the implementation of the program with the Director of Engineering and the Deputy City Clerk.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who put forth the following Chairman’s Order: That the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking takes no position concerning the procedure and standard requirements for the installation of speed humps on city streets as recommended by the Department of Public Works and Parks. Further, that the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking recognizes a future meeting with the Department of Public Works and Parks would be beneficial in discussing said procedure and standard requirements.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to recommend approval of the item as amended to include language allowing for gaps for emergency vehicles.

Recommend Approval as amended to include language allowing for gaps for emergency vehicles.

Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report, after conferring with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, ascertaining the cost of implementing a pilot program relating to the installation of temporary speed humps/cushions.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a cost analysis of police officers providing enforcement for speeding in an area against the cost of a speed hump.

That the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking takes no position concerning the procedure and standard requirements for the installation of speed humps on city streets as recommended by the Department of Public Works and Parks. Further, that the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking recognizes a future meeting with the Department of Public Works and Parks would be beneficial in discussing said procedure and standard requirements.