City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to Adopt. Order adopted

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to the item to come forward, seeing no one the Chair moved to approve. Motion approved on a voice vote

Recommend Approval

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and requested if anyone who was present and wanted to speak to come forward. Felix Rivera, grandson of the petitioner, explained the need for a space in front of his home so his grandmother would be able to be dropped off and picked up safely when she left the home. The Chair requested the Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering explain the administration’s recommendation to file. Mr. Khorasani stated this request is only for convenience for drop off and pick up. Mr. Rivera asked if it would be possible to install Resident Permit Parking only in front of his house be an alternative. Mr. Khorasani stated RPP could not be installed in front of one home. The Chair moved to Hold the item so the Petitioner’s family can reflect on what would be the best alternative. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to the item to come forward; seeing no one the Chair moved Approve. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval.

Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to the item to come forward; seeing no one the Chair moved Approve. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present to wanted to speak to come forward. Mr. Lamarche (the petitioner) spoke in support of the request. The Chair requested the Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering give the city’s recommendation. Mr. Khorasani stated there was off street parking and recommended the request be filed. The committee discussed this and since no one was present in objection, the Chair moved to approve. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval.

The Chairperson Colorio read the item and moved to take the Item up collectively with #3b. The Chairperson then stated the administration’s recommendation was to hold the Items because the Department of Public Works and Parks was reviewing safety concerns with the WRTA. The Chair moved to hold the item. Motion approved with a voice vote.

Recommend Hold.

Recommend Hold (See Item #3a)

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item. The Chair stated that at the request of the Petitioner she would move to hold the item since she could not be present. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item. The Chair requested the Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering give the administration’s recommendation. He stated the recommendation would be to approve for “No Parking Anytime” in front of 152 to 162 Burncoat St. The Chair spoke to an email testimony presented to the committee regarding concerns for this request. The Chair moved to accept the city’s recommendation but to amend it to Monday-Friday only. Motion approved as amended on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval for “No Parking Anytime in front of 152-162 Burncoat St. Monday-Friday.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the administration’s recommendation to approve to extend the “No Parking Anytime” 100’ west of Lagrange St. The Chair moved to accept this recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval to extend “No Parking Anytime 100’ west of Lagrange St.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present who wanted to speak to come forward; Patricia Hogan, JoyAnn Carter, John Detloff, Shane Wong and Kate Leonard spoke in support to find a solution to the problems resulting from student drop off. Councilor Rose spoke of the negative impact from this and stated the school needs to do more to communicate to the parents to prevent this from continuing. The Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering spoke to the city’s plan to resolve this with the schools safety assessment team; Liuetenant Walsh also addressed the committee regarding the Police’s participation in evaluating and assessing the traffic resulting from the schools and stated to he would speak with Rob Pizzella at the school department and request him to reach out to the school principal.

Councilor Bergman proposed a Chairman’s Order to “Request the City Clerk invite the principal or designee of Norback Elementary School to the next Traffic & Parking Committee meeting when discussing the petition regarding Reynolds St.” The Chair moved to accept the Chairman’s Order and to Hold this item. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold

Request the City Clerk invite the principal or designee of Norback Elementary School to the next Traffic & Parking Committee meeting when discussing the petition regarding Reynolds St.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to come forward; seeing no one the Chair read the city’s recommendation to file because there was no institutional effects. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to come forward; seeing no one the Chair read the city’s recommendation to file because there was no institutional effects. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present wanted to speak to come forward; Shane Wong and Luz Ramos both spoke not in favor of the request. The Chair read the city’s recommendation to file because there was no institutional effects. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and asked if anyone who was present who wanted to speak to come forward, seeing no one the Chair requested the Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering to explain the city’s recommendation to file. Mr. Khorasani explained this was a private street. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio took up this item at the beginning of the meeting; she requested the Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering give to the committee the city’s recommendation. Mr. Khorasanni stated the recommendation would be to file this request because a one way direction would not be effective and recommended the installation of a “Right Turn Only”from Clover St. to Heard St. from both directions. The Chair requested any one present who wanted to speak to come forward: Oumkar Tobarran spoke in support of the one way; Wayne Fulgham spoke to the one-way solution in the other direction; Carol Polselli spoke to one-way solution in the other direction; Al Polselli spoke in need of speed enforcement; Deborah McCrohan (petitioner) spoke in favor of changing the traffic pattern; Mike Howard spoke to the volume traffic coming from the towns; Anthony Nguyen suggested a one way between Pine View to Heard St. and remove double yellow line; Sue Howard spoke in favor;
Irene Pietrowicz spoke in opposition of one way; Judy Griffin spoke in opposition of one way;
Shane Wong, spoke in opposition; Michael Sullivan spoke in opposition of one way; George Palubinskas spoke in opposition; Max Palubinskas spoke in opposition of a one way.

Councilor Bergman requested information as what are the types of problems occurring in the area. Lieutenant Walsh addressed this and stated it is volume, some speed, and side collisions at intersection. Having heard this Councilor Bergman was not convinced “Right Turn Only” will fix this and stated speed bumps would need to be a component. Councilor Rose wanted to know if GPS mapping programs could be used to assist in redirecting traffic. Mr. Khorasani stated he was not sure if this could be accomplished.

The Chair stated speed and accidents are the major concerns. The Chair stated she would accept the recommendation of the city to install “Right Turn Only”signage at the intersection and further, She will also submit two (2) petitions that may address this. The Petitions would be for stop signs in Clover St. and a guardrail at the petitioner’s home. She stated this was just a beginning and will continue to find solutions. The Chair moved for a Chairman’s Order - “Request the Standing Committee on Traffic & Parking discuss the installation of “Right Turn Only” signage in Clover St into Heard St. from both directions. The committee also discussed intersecting traffic lights and speed bumps. Councilor Bergman proposed the following Chairman’s Order - “Request City Manager request the City Solicitor report to City Council whether or not it is legal to install portable speed bumps in Massachusetts.” and the Chair accepted this motion. Motion to Hold the Petition approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold.

Request City Manager request the City Solicitor report to City Council whether or not it is legal to install portable speed bumps in Massachusetts.

Request the Standing Committee on Traffic & Parking discuss the installation of “Right Turn Only” signage in Clover St. into Heard St. from both directions.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to file since there is an existing loading zone across the street. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to approve from Main St. to Commercial St. Councilor Bergman requested this be held and requested the Clerk of the District Court be invited to the next meeting when this is heard. The Chair move to hold the item. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Hold

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to File (Prima Facie Speed Limit; these are non-standard signs, DPW does not typically recommend installation of this types of warning signs because 1) it appears that their effectiveness is limited, 2) it gives a false sense of security and 3) budget restraints caution to reserve materials for effective safety issues). Councilor Rose stated he would accept the recommendation at this time and would find other options. The Chair moved to accept the city’s recommendation to file. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File

Request the Police Chief provide sporadic speed enforcement in Burncoat St. from Matteo St. to West Boylston Town line.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to recommend approval for Worcester Police department speed enforcement. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to recommend approval for Worcester Police department use the radar speed board and provide speed enforcement. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend Approval.

The Chairperson Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to continue use of Worcester Police Department’s radar speed board and continue speed enforcement. The Chair moved to hold the item. Motion approved on voice vote.

Recommend Hold.

The Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and read the city’s recommendation to file since there is an existing stop sign on Cowden St. at Heard St. and the city will replace faded existing sign. The Chair moved to accept the recommendation. Motion approved on a voice vote.

Recommend File.