CITY OF WORCESTER | Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting | Wednesday, September 18, 2019 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 6:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:23 P.M. |
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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 |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Matthew E Wally
Vice Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Konstantina B Lukes | | | | | Also: | Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering Ali Khorasani;
Junior Engineer Michael Murphy;
Police Lt. Timothy Walsh;
City Clerk Susan M. Ledoux, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Handicap Parking Petitions | |
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| | | 1a. | Fakhriya Nashari request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 24 Lyon St.
# 8c CC June 18, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be held his department was unable to contact the petitioner to learn the reason for the request since this residence has a driveway. Recommendation Approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 1b. | Sharyn Trinidad request installation of handicap parking space in front of 5 West Lake St.
# 9q CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who opposes the petition and wanted to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 1c. | Thomas Vincent request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 14 Lansing Ave.
# 9r CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be Filed the petitioner has a driveway. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 1d. | Rosa M. Kelley request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 15 Caroline St.
# 9s CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Russ Ledoux spoke in favor but was concerned because the abutting neighbor had 2 HP spaces removed but saw the city erecting the poles; 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. The Chair let the petitioner speak in favor at a later point in the meeting.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 1e. | Milagros Garcia request installation of a handicap parking space across from 8 Plantation St.
# 9aa CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 1f. | Gina Redmond request installation of a handicap parking space on the Winneconnett Rd. side of 8 Mohican Rd.
# 6g CC June 11, 2019
In Committee August 14, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; seeing no one the Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be Filed – unable to contact the Petitioner. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
| 2. | Resident Permit Parking Petitions | |
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| | | 2a. | Patricia Horgan et al request installation of resident permit parking on Reynolds St.
# 8b CC April 30, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Patricia Horgan, Kate Leonard, John ???, Jennifer Quiles, Richard Astukewicz, and George Carpenter were present and spoke in favor because they are impacted by student pick up and drop off at Norrback School. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be held until the Principal of Norrback School can be contacted to find a resolution. Councilor Mero-Carlson was in favor of Holding but will vote for Resident Permit Parking if the school does not resolve this; the Chair Councilor Wally proposed to speak with the principal and Councilor Lukes was also in favor of implementing Resident Permit Parking. The Chair recommend to Hold the item. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 2b. | David Mitchell request installation of resident permit parking in Eastham St. in the vicinity of 343 Hamilton St. and 6 Eastham St.
# 6j CC June 11, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; The Petitioner and Diane Mitchell were present and spoke in favor. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani stated there were no institutional effects and recommended the petition be Filed. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 2c. | Leo Audette request resident permit parking be reinstalled in the vicinity of 240 Pilgrim Ave.
# 6i CC June 11, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Michelle Mangini was present and spoke in favor. The Chair recommend to File – no institutional effects. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 2d. | Urania Nicole Pappas et al request installation of resident permit parking on Hackfeld Rd.
# 9p CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; The Petitioner was present and spoke in favor. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to approve but in only the area of the street that is zoned residential. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval for residential zoned area only | |
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| | | 3a. | Mary Kelly request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage in front of Madulkas Ice Cream, located at 193-195 Lake Ave.
# 7m CC June 25, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; John Sworlley representing the Marine Corp League and Michael Madulkas spoke in opposition. Councilor Lukes suggested a 3D crosswalk would be ideal for this location; Councilor Mero-Carlson wanted to have a conversation with the business owners before any future new crosswalk is proposed. The Chair recommended to File the item. Approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3b. | John Fresolo request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage on both sides of Armory St. from Janice Nadeau Way to Armory Motor Storage or the dead end.
# 9z CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there were any persons present who wished to speak to come to the microphone; John Fresolo, Worcester resident; Nate Smith, business owner on Armory St.; George Aboody, business owner on Armory St. and John Gabrielle, business owner on Armory St. all spoke in favor of the petition. Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended the petition be Filed because there is an existing ordinance for “No Parking Anytime” on the southeast side of Armory St. and the missing signs would be posted. Mr. Smith asked if this included the cul-de-sac. Mr. Khorasani was not sure if the cul-de-sac was public property and if it is he would ensure the ordinance would include this area. Mr. Smith was concerned that the vehicles from the auto body shop will continue parking in street and needs both sides of the street have no parking. Councilor Mero-Carlson suggested the businesses call the police for enforcement and this would likely resolve the problems. Chairman Councilor Wally offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request Police provide on Armory St. enforcement of parking regulations to ensure vehicles from the auto body shop are not parked in the street. Councilor Lukes offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager look into whether or not the auto body shops on Armory St. are complying with zoning laws. Lt. Walsh offered assurance the parking issues can be resolved.
Recommend File and Approval of two (2) Chairman’s Orders (see below). | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police Chief provide enforcement of parking regulations on Armory St. to ensure vehicles from the auto body shops are not parked in the street. | | | | Request City Manager look into whether or not the auto body shops on Armory St. are complying with zoning laws. | |
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| | | 3c. | Fire Chief Michael Lavoie request "No Parking Anytime" signage be installed on May St. adjacent to 413 Park Ave.
# 8y CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Deputy Chief Dyer was present representing the Fire Department and spoke in favor. The Chair recommend to approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 4a. | Councilor Sarai Rivera request installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Southgate St. and Janice Nadeau Way.
# 8s CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Nate Smith was present and spoke in favor. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to File – it does not meet the warrants. Recommendation approved on a voice vote
Recommend File | |
| 5. | Turn Prohibition Petition | |
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| | | 5a. | Councilor Matthew E. Wally on behalf of concerned neighbors request right turns from Heard St. onto Clover St. be restricted when heading southerly on Heard St. and restriction of left turns from Clover St. onto Heard St. when travelling easterly on Clover St. Further, request installation of 20 mph signage in Clover St. from Heard St. to Pine View Ave. and further, request Traffic Engineering provide further suggestions to deal with the traffic volume and speeding issues on Clover St.
# 9y CC July 23, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there were any persons present who wished to speak to come to the microphone; Alfonso Polselli, Deborah McCrohan and a number of other residents of this area spoke to the committee regarding the concerns regarding speeding, accidents and how over traveled this street has become. Mr. Khorasani made the following recommendations: 1) to approve the turn restrictions; 2) to approve police speed enforcement and 3) recommended to file the request for 20MPH signage.
The Chair recommended for approval the Traffic Engineers first two recommendations and further recommended to Approve posting the current speed limits as well as the following two Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request the City Manager provide to City Council the process necessary to allow the posting of 20 MPH speed limit signage on city streets; and 2) Request the Commissioner of Public Works & Parks repave and make level the section of Clover St at the intersection of Clover St. and Heard St. to eliminate the bump across the road which has results in unsafe traveling conditions. Approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval of 3 Orders and 2 Chairman's Orders (See below)
| | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide to City Council the process necessary to allow the posting of 20 MPH speed limit signage on city streets. | | | | Request Commissioner of Public Works & Parks repave and make level the section of Clover St., at the intersection of Clover St. and Heard St. to eliminate the bump across the road which has resulted in unsafe traveling conditions. | |
| 6. | Crosswalk and Lighted Crosswalk Items | |
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| | | 6a. | Joanna Loftus, Principal of Wawecus Road School request a crosswalk light be installed at the crosswalk in Burncoat St. and Wawecus Rd.
# 7t CC July 17, 2018 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and recommended to File – previously approved at this location. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 6b. | Kelsey Cummings request installation of a crosswalk in front of 138 &139 Green St.
# 8f CC November 28, 2017
In Committee September 26, 2018 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and recommended to File – Area will be evaluated for pedestrian access with Polar Park design. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 6c. | Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Sheilagh Crotty request installation of a crosswalk across Grafton St. in the vicinity of its intersection with Standish St.
# 7k CC June 25, 2019
In Committee August 14, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; Petitioner was present and spoke in favor. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to File – unsafe intersection for a pedestrian crossing. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 6d. | Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a four-way crosswalk at the intersection of Merrick St. and Larch St.
# 8t CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally took up items #6d – 6g collectively and read the items and the Chair recommended to Approve with amendments to #6f and 6g. Petitioner was present. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 6e. | Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a four-way crosswalk at the intersection of Larch St. and Russell St.
# 8u CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Approval (see 6d)
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| | | 6f. | Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of a three-way crosswalk at the intersection of Chatham St. and Newbury St.
# 8v CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Approval as amended (see 6d) across Chatham St. only | |
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| | | 6g. | Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Ellie Gilmore request installation of crosswalk at the intersection of Congress St. and Newbury St.
# 8w CC August 13, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Approval as amended (see 6d) across Congress St. only | |
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| | | 6h. | Councilor Matthew E. Wally request installation of signage or blinking yellow lights to alert and warn drivers of the crosswalk at 243 Stafford St.
# 7r CC February 26, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and recommended to Approve pending funding from private business. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval, pending private business funding | |
| 7. | Miscellaneous Petitions | |
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| | | 7a. | Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of John Fresolo request the removal of the bus stop sign on Grafton St. at pole number 26 in the vicinity of Attorney Turo’s office at 177 Grafton St., in the interest of public safety and to facilitate smoother traffic flow.
# 7j CC June 25, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and asked if there was anyone present who wanted to speak; John Fresolo was present. The Chair recommended to Approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 7b. | Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes on behalf of Paul Gomes request police surveillance of traffic entering Howland Terrace from Pleasant St.
# 7bb CC May 28, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item. The Chair recommended Approval of Worcester Police Department enforcement. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 7c. | Rocco Leone request installation of a "Dead End" street sign at 35 Natural History Drive.
# 8b CC November 13, 2018 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item; Petitioner was present and spoke in favor. The Chair requested Mr. Khorasani to provide the committee with his recommendation. Mr. Khorasani recommended to File – it is a private street. Councilor Mero-Carlson supported the Petitioner and moved to approve. The Chair recommend to approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 7d. | Evan Corrigan request installation of a "Do Not Block Intersection" sign at the junction of Mountain St. East and Triangle St.
# 9a CC March 26, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and recommended to Approve. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend Approval | |
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| | | 7e. | Councilor George J. Russell request installation of "Turkey Crossing" signage in the vicinity of 500 to 505 Massasoit Rd.
# 8r CC September 3, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairman Councilor Wally read the item and recommended to File. Recommendation approved on a voice vote.
Recommend File | |
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