CITY OF WORCESTER

Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 4:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 5:04 P.M.


Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

 

Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli

Committee Members

Chairperson Donna M Colorio
Vice Chairperson Etel Haxhiaj
Councilor Thu Nguyen
 

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts


Present Were:Vice Chairperson Councilor Etel Haxhiaj Councilor Thu Nguyen
 
Also:Director of Transportation and Mobility Stephen Rolle WPD Sergeant James Foley Deputy City Clerk AJ Pottle
 
1.

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information

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

2a.

Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Traffic and Parking hereby approves the minutes of the Traffic and Parking Committee meeting of November 30, 2022.

View Agenda

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted

3.

Handicap Parking Petitions

3a.

Bernadette Forget request installation of handicap parking space large enough for two vehicles in front of 10 Merrifield St. # 9c CC September 29, 2022

In Committee November 30, 2022 - Held

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3b.

Dean Fisher request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 227 June St. # 9h CC September 29, 2022

In Committee November 30, 2022 - Held

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3c.

Majed Anaifas request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 27 Longfellow Rd. # 9i CC September 29, 2022

In Committee November 30, 2022 - Held

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Majed Anaifas, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to file, as the property located at 27 Longfellow Rd is a single-family home with 2+ off street parking spaces.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Speaker #1, who discussed the needs for handicap parking space with the Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to recommend the item be approved.

Recommend Approval

3d.

Paul Parent request removal of handicap parking space in front of 11 Eureka St. # 8j CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3e.

Anthony Madison request installation of handicap parking space in front of 6 Berkeley St. # 8k CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to hold, as the request is located is in a declared winter parking ban.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to amend the item to read as follows, “Anthony Madison request installation of handicap parking space in front of 5 Berkeley St.”

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Hold

3f.

Cindy Messier request removal of handicap parking space in front of 17 Barnard Rd. # 8l CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Cindy Messier, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3g.

Jose Brisita request installation of handicap parking space in front of 209 Constitution Ave. # 8i CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with Item #3h.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to file item #3g and approve item #3h.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend File

3h.

Elia Brisita request installation of handicap parking space in front of 209 Constitution Ave. # 9e CC November 22, 2022

Attachments

Recommend Approval (See Item #3g)

3i.

Antonio de Almeida request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 16 Stanton St. # 8h CC November 15, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3j.

Sherri Ford request installation of handicap parking space large enough for two (2) vehicles in front of 56 Windsor St. # 9b CC November 22, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the following speakers:
1. Sherri Ford, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Mary Frasier, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3k.

Kenneth Ducharme request installation of handicap parking space in front of 315 Lovell St. # 9c CC November 22, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

3l.

Mary Sisko request installation of handicap parking space in front of 52 Plantation St. # 9d CC November 22, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to hold, as the requested location is in a permanent winter parking ban and the handicap placard has not been provided.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Hold

4.

Traffic Control Signal Petitions

4a.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Sheilagh Crotty request installation of flashing warning lights to alert drivers to slow down as they round the curve on Grafton St. in the vicinity of Standish St. # 8q CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Sheilagh Crotty, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Michelle Wesson, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
3. Debra Beauregard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed the traffic safety issues concerning the location.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor Nguyen, who discussed installation of speed monitor equipment at the location with WPD Sergeant.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj then discussed using the speed monitor data to inform future traffic recommendations with the Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Police Chief provide enforcement with speed monitoring equipment on Grafton St. in the vicinity of Standish St.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide enforcement with speed monitoring equipment on Grafton St. in the vicinity of Standish St.

5.

Crosswalk and Lighted Crosswalk System Petitions

5a.

Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Sheilagh Crotty request installation of a flashing yellow stop light at the crosswalk on Grafton St. at Lamar Ave. # 8p CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Sheilagh Crotty, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Michelle Wesson, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to hold, as best location to install flashing crosswalk sign needs to be determined.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Speaker #1, who discussed the degree of impact of “Slow Down” signage on speeding, the needs to reconfigure the streets at the location and the impact of speed monitor equipment with the Director of Traffic and Mobility and the WPD Sergeant.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Hold

5b.

Aidan Chabot request installation of rapid flashing beacons for crosswalks on Grove St. in front of Forest Grove Middle School (495 Grove St.) # 8r CC October 12, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Aidan Chabot, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who discussed the best location for installation of RRFB on Grove St. with Speaker #1 and provided the recommendation to file, an RRFB has previously been approved at this location pending funding.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor Nguyen, who discussed the actions necessary to install parking ban near the crosswalks on Grove St. with Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend File

6.

No Parking Petitions

6a.

Jean Gaucher request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage on Quinapoxet Ln. from the telephone pole on the right side of 14 Quinapoxet Ln. to 367 Burncoat St. # 10c CC November 29, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Jean Gaucher, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Christina Manxhari, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
3. Artur Manxhari, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility and Councilor Nguyen, who both discussed the petition request with Speaker #3.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who spoke concerning No Parking Anytime ordinances at the area in the vicinity of 14 Quinapoxet Ln. and the motions and procedures to address parking issues on the west side of Quinapoxet Ln. with the Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Transportation and Mobility review “No Parking Anytime” signage on the north side of Quinapoxet Ln.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request Director of Transportation and Mobility review “No Parking Anytime” signage on the north side of Quinapoxet Ln.

7.

Parking and Parking Meter Petitions

7a.

Joshua Lee Smith of Bowditch & Dewey, LLP request the removal of one (1) metered parking space and installation of a 30-minute parking zone on the southerly side of Temple St., beginning west of Grafton St., opposite of 44 Grafton St., and extending for approximately 50 feet to accommodate two (2) standard sized vehicles or one (1) larger delivery vehicle (see attached). # 10b CC November 29, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Mark Borenstein, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to approve.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Approval

8.

Stop Sign Petitions

8a.

Lorie Cahill request installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Kinnicutt Rd. and Westbrook Rd. # 8h CC October 25, 2022

Attachments

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Lori Cahill, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the Director of Transportation and Mobility, who provided the recommendation to hold, as the intersection does not meet MUTCD warrants for a multiway stop.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to accept the recommendation.

Recommend Hold