City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Russell 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 moved to take the item up collectively with item #3b.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the following speakers:
1. Karen Valentine Goins, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
2. Jacob Seidel, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
3. William Talbot, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
4. Adam Thielker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
5. Robert Bilotta, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
6. John Forman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
7. Nathan Lewis, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
8. Kat Holmes, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
9. Dominick Casolaro, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
10. Travis Hyzak, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
11. Priscilla Chung, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
12. Oliver Chadwick, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
13. Dale Wickenheiser, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
14. Lynn Foreman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
15. Joyce Mandell, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
16. Sam Brown, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
17. Eric Stratton, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b
18. Tom Conroy, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #3a and #3b

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, who provided a presentation concerning the Worcester Mobility Action Plan (MAP) which included best practices relative to foundational guidance, the importance of supporting social and economic growth as well as equity and sustainability, engagement goals set relative to communication with the public, listening to public feedback, and being inclusive to historically underrepresented communities, a timeline associated with the MAP development, engagement findings relative to modes of transportation, top strategies that have received the highest prioritization scores, and the process relative to implementing MAP.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio spoke concerning the Worcester Vision Zero Safety Action Plan working groups and whether members of the elderly community participate and contribute to meetings, the process relative to engaging with the elderly community in the city, and member demographics relative to internal working groups for the Vision Zero Safety Plan with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

See Next Item.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the results relative to Florida’s Vision Zero Safer Streets Program for Fort Lauderdale.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why an ordinance was not required to change the distance a vehicle can park from the curb during the reconstruction of Mill St.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing any updates to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA)’s route planning initiatives. Further, request City Manager request WRTA Administrator provide City Council with a presentation concerning said initiatives.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Salem Skipper ridesharing service.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of creating a plan to fund new sidewalk installations without assessing betterments to abutting property owners.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report listing future public neighborhood meetings for projects associated with the Mobility Action Plan and Vision Zero Safety Action Plan.” (See Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking agenda from this meeting).

Chairperson Councilor Colorio then discussed a timeline relative to street reconfigurations, how the priority network relative to Vision Zero Action Plan was identified, and how the priority levels are defined with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell discussed the member makeup of the Vision Zero internal working group, concerns relative to lack of grassroot input from city residents and local organizations, budget availability for proposed traffic projects, whether neighborhood meetings will be held for the traffic reconfiguration projects with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell then spoke concerning the cost associated with MAP and Vision Zero including concerns related to the allocated budget, the process relative to holding neighborhood meetings related to street reconfiguration, and the process relative to hiring contractors responsible for creating the action plan documents including the cost associated and available funding with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Russell also discussed federal government requirements relative to the action plans including state and federal funding relative to project oversite with the Partner at Speck Dempsey and DTM Consultant.

Chairperson Councilor Russell then discussed concerns relative to truck traffic due to rerouting and potential backup traffic from implementation of the new traffic reconfiguration projects.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) research data concerning modes of transportation used by commuters, the process relative to assembling members for the Vision Zero internal working group and community working group, public outreach process for traffic reconfiguration projects, metrics to measure success of the projects, whether there would be assistance from the federal government with reversing or revising the road plans, and the assessment report concerning the Mill St. redesign with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and Assistant Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the results relative to Florida’s Vision Zero Safer Streets Program for Fort Lauderdale; and 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why an ordinance was not required to change the distance a vehicle can park from the curb during the reconstruction of Mill St.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed whether there are plans to address traffic safety issues in conjunction with the planned sewer stormwater project to address speeding and traffic safety issues on Shrewsbury St., best practices relative to traffic calming measures on Shrewsbury St., enhancing safety for bus shelters and bus stops, working with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) to develop policy concerning signage and bus stop installation, and plans concerning redesigning bus routes with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Orders: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing any updates to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA)’s route planning initiatives. Further, request City Manager request WRTA Administrator provide City Council with a presentation concerning said initiatives.

Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed concerns relative to District 2 residents in the senior community being underrepresented relative to the Vision Zero community working group.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio then discussed what Standing Committee a report provided by the WTRA would be referred to with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the hub-and-spoke bus system utilized by the WRTA and feasibility of creating crosstown service and on-demand micro-transit service to improve the model with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility and the Assistant Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Salem Skipper ridesharing service.”

Councilor Pacillo then discussed efforts to promote the Safe Routes to School Program and timelines associated with smaller projects with the Assistant Director of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who discussed whether there is a targeted list for specific sidewalk improvements, plans concerning creating a full sidewalk inventory, and ADA transition plan with updated maps with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a staffing analysis of the Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM). (See Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking agenda from this meeting).

Councilor King then discussed an update relative to the project on Endicott St. in the vicinity of Crompton Park with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Orders: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of creating a plan to fund new sidewalk installations without assessing betterments to abutting property owners.”

Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays