CITY OF WORCESTER

Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:07 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:54 P.M.


Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

 

Clerk of the City Council
Susan M. Ledoux

Committee Members

Chairperson Matthew E Wally
Vice Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Konstantina B Lukes
 

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts


Present Were:Chairperson Councilor Matthew E Wally Vice Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
 
Also:Councilor Sarai Rivera; Senior Transportation Planner Brian Pigeon; DPWP Junior Engineer Michael Murphy; Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering Ali Khorasani; WPD Lieutenant Timothy Walsh; Assistant City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk
 
1.

Approval of Minutes

1a.

Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Traffic and Parking hereby approves the minutes of the Traffic and Parking Committee meeting of November 20, 2019.

Attachments

Councilor Wally read the Item and moved to approve the minutes of the November 20, 2019 Traffic and Parking Committee meeting. Order adopted

2.

Handicap Parking Petitions

2a.

Report of the Committee on Traffic and Parking Upon the Petition of Flor Portillo request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 21 Marion Ave. # 14l CC November 12, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be approved to install a handicap parking space in front of 23 Marion Ave. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approve

2b.

Kimberly Dover request installation of a handicap parking space across from 16 Ashmont Ave. # 8g CC November 12, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be approved. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval

2c.

Greg Cybula request the removal of two handicap parking signs in front of 2 Stockton St. # 8g CC November 19, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be approved. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval

3.

Resident Permit Parking Petitions

3a.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson on behalf of Rick Swedberg request installation of resident permit parking in Kenwood Ave. in front of 61, 62, 64, 65 and 67 Kenwood Ave. # 7i CC May 29, 2018

In Committee November 20, 2019 - Held

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be given Leave to Withdraw. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Leave to Withdraw

3b.

Olsi Gjinko request removal of resident permit parking in Shirley St. from Florence St. to Park Ave. # 8k CC November 12, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be held, so that more information could be gathered in regards to multi-family homes that fall within the business-zoned area. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold

4.

Stop Sign Petitions

4a.

Jacob Baum request installation of two additional stop signs at the intersection of Uxbridge St. and Shattuck St., creating a four-way stop. # 8v CC September 3, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be filed, as the intersection does not meet the warrants for a multi-way stop sign. Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who asked Mr. Khorasani to expand on information as to what warrants need to be met. Mr. Khorasani cited sight distance, accident reports and volume of traffic as reasons why the Item does not meet the warrants. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

5.

No Parking Petitions

5a.

Nicole Gulbankian request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage in front of 64 Norfolk St. # 8m CC October 15, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and recognized the petitioner, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be approved to install “No Parking Anytime” signage 20’ south of Hawkins St. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval to install “No Parking Anytime” signage 20’ south of Hawkins St.

5b.

Councilor Matthew E. Wally on behalf of Urania Pappas request installation of “No Parking Here to Curb” signage on both sides of the driveway of 20 Hackfeld Rd. # 18b CC November 19, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and recognized the petitioner, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to approve the Item as written, which was approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval

5c.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of “No Parking Anytime” signage throughout the entire length of Natick St., on the west side of the street. # 14a CC November 26, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Ann Marie Walton, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #5c
2. Karen Silitro, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #5c

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who offered the following Chairman’s Order through the Chair: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks inspect the resident permit parking signage on Natick St. and install any missing signage on the street.
Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to approve the Item as written, which was approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approve

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks inspect the resident permit parking signage on Natick St. and install any missing signage on the street.

6.

Miscellaneous Items

6a.

Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a stop sign in Albany St. at its intersection with Hill St. # 17f CC June 11, 2019

In Committee November 20, 2019 - Held

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be filed, as the intersection does not meet the warrants for a multi-way stop sign. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

6b.

Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request the eastbound approach of the intersection between Belmont St. and Skyline Dr. be modified to include a dedicated right turn, left turn and thru lane and further, provide advanced signage and pavement marking as required. # 9f CC September 3, 2019

In Committee November 20, 2019 - Held

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be filed, as the intersection had been modified previously. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

6c.

Petition of Councilor Matthew E. Wally request additional safety measures be identified and implemented at the blind drive on the corner of Weetamoe St. and June St. # 8t CC September 3, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be approved to install missing blind driveway signage in the area. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval

6d.

Petition of Susan Lozoraitis request investigation and remedy of the congested traffic situation at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Chandler St., which is caused by vehicles entering and exiting Murray Ave. onto Chandler St. # 8e CC May 9, 2017

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and recognized the petitioner, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be filed, as interim improvements have been made to the area and is also redesigning Chandler St. Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Rivera, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally asked Mr. Khorasani what the timetable for the design process will be. Mr. Khorasani stated it may take some time.

Chairperson Councilor Wally offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks look for and install short term options to remedy the traffic situation at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Chandler St.

Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to accept Mr. Khorasani’s recommendation to file the Item. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks look for and install short term options to remedy the traffic situation at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Chandler St

6e.

Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of flashing crosswalk signs at the intersection of Mountain St. East and Triangle St. (near New England Backpacker). # 9l CC July 23, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and recognized the petitioner, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to take up Items #6e through #6h collectively, which was approved on a voice vote.
Chairperson Councilor Wally requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petitions be filed for various reasons, including traffic signals already being installed, assessments will be made by the School Safety Assessment Team and the items being approved at other times. Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the feasibility of installing pedestrian crosswalk lights in the locations requested by the petitioner. Chairperson Councilor Wally discussed the work being done by the School Safety Assessment Team, which will be able to work out many of the areas discussed in the petitioner’s various requests.
Chairperson Councilor Wally offered the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased traffic enforcement between Burncoat Middle School and the Summit, located at the intersection of West Boylston St. and Mountain St. East. 2) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks assess the area around Mountain St. East and Triangle St. to determine any safety measures that can be taken in the area.

Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to accept Mr. Khorasani’s recommendation to file the Item. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased traffic enforcement between Burncoat Middle School and the Summit, located at the intersection of West Boylston St. and Mountain St. East.

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks assess the area around Mountain St. East and Triangle St. to determine any safety measures that can be taken in the area.

6f.

Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of flashing crosswalk signs at Burncoat Middle School and Burncoat Senior High School. # 9m CC July 23, 2019

Attachments

Recommend File (See Item 6e)

6g.

Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of flashing crosswalk signs at Wawecus Road School. # 9n CC July 23, 2019

Attachments

Recommend File (See Item 6e)

6h.

Brian Underwood request installation of flashing crosswalk signs at the intersection of Thorndyke Rd. and Burncoat St. # 9o CC July 23, 2019

Attachments

Recommend File (See Item 6e)

6i.

Petition of Leo Hoffman request installation of a traffic light at the intersection of North St. and Grove St. # 8d CC April 30, 2019

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the item and recognized the petitioner, who spoke in favor of the Item. Chairperson Councilor Wally request Mr. Khorasani provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be held in order to collect data to evaluate traffic signal warrants. Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the timetable for the data to be collected with Mr. Khorasani. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold