CITY OF WORCESTER | Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting | Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2 Airport Drive | Convened: 5:31 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:02 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Donna M Colorio | | Vice Chairperson Khrystian E King | | Councilor Thu Nguyen |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Donna M. Colorio
Councilor Khrystian E. King, who arrived at 5:42 P.M.
Councilor Thu Nguyen | | | | | Also: | Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
Councilor Morris A Bergman
Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility Stephen Rolle
WPD Sergeant James Foley
Deputy City Clerk AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Traffic and Parking Committee Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92893960051
Traffic and Parking Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Traffic and Parking Committee Zoom Access Code: 928 9396 0051 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Traffic and Parking hereby approves the minutes of the Traffic and Parking Committee meeting of March 20, 2024. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent) | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to adopting a statutory speed limit of 25 mph and the establishment of Safety Zones with 20 mph speed limits.
# 13a CC December 12, 2023
In Committee January 31, 2024 - Held
In Committee February 8, 2024 - Held
In Committee February 22, 2024 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who provided an overview of the proposed statutory speed limit of 25 mph and Safety Zones.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the following speakers:
1. Wayne Griffin, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
2. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
3. Caroline Selma, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
4. Dale Wickenheiser, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
5. Bill Krikorian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
6. Sheila Firmin, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
7. Natalie (No last name given), Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
8. Elsie Uffelmann, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
9. Andrew Piazza, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
10. Colin Novick, Worcesrer resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
11. Martha (No last name given), Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
12. Leslie Saffer, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
13. Tom Griffins, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed whether Highland St. is under the statutory speed limit with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio then discussed the Speed Humps Program and the different traffic calming tools with Speaker #6 and the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the WPD Sergeant, who discussed methods of speed enforcement, including RADAR and LIDAR, with speaker #7.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognize the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed the projected costs for the project and the needs for speed enforcement on Olean St. with Speaker #8 and the WPD Sergeant.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Police provide increased speed enforcement on Olean St.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio then discussed the traffic report concerning Mill St. with Speaker #13.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the history relative to the proposed speed limit reduction and Safety Zones.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Nguyen, who discussed psychological shift and cultural shift relative to speed limit reduction.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the importance of changing driving behavior and alternative traffic calming methods.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who discussed the importance of the 3Es (Engineering, Education, and Enforcement).
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed how speed limits affect traffic congestion with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police provide increased speed enforcement on Olean St. | |
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