All items were held by Public Safety and Transportation Committee (see Report and watch the video on NewTV):
- Request for a discussion and creation of an ordinance that would limit the winter parking ban either through a pilot program in Wards 2 and 3 or a permit program that would apply across the City based on established criteria or some other option as derived through the discussion. The desired outcome is to remove the burden on residents with no place to park their cars during the current ban period.
The Chair reported that five hundred emails have been received and recorded (referencing this study, and reported here in Fig City News) stating that a public hearing will be held when a draft ordinance is ready, with further opportunity to comment. One focus of the meeting was to hear from the departments impacted and the Executive Department. DPW, the Fire Department, and the Police Department appear to agree that the removal of the parking ban during COVID was not problematic, but the Police are concerned that a permit system and enforcement could overburden staff. Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Yeo stated that the Executive Department is ready to work with the Council and examine different options or pilots.
Committee members and councilors expressed their support and concerns, and the item was held.
- Request a discussion with the administration and school officials on transportation priorities and public works/streets/sidewalks, etc. (Held 5-0 Lipof, not voting)
The Director of Transportation Planning, Josh Ostroff, provided an update on the Bike/Pedestrian Network Plan funded thru ARPA. He reported that the project will take a year and there will be two public meetings and public online opportunities with dates to be determined. He said that there will be a focus on safety with the use of protected and unprotected bike lanes, shared use paths, reduction in speed and slow zones, and a focus on accessibility. The plan will complement Newton’s climate equity and economic development work. He added that the next few months will be spent assessing existing conditions (sidewalks, ramps, roads).
The Washington Street Pilot will extend from Chestnut Street to Lowell Avenue to install structures in the roadway for bike lanes and bump-outs. They are now collecting data, and that will be followed by a preliminary design, completed by their consultant, Howard Stein Hudson. Public meetings will be held in the future. See Washington Street Vision Table.
A question was raised on whether it may be necessary to reduce the scope of the project or get more funding. Yeo answered that for Washington Street, there is $500,000 for the initial work from the HCA funds and $3 million from ARPA. The whole project, in the long run, could cost “tens of millions of dollars.”
With regard to Albemarle Traffic Calming, the City is beginning two big projects in the coming years that will focus on surface treatments (signage, speed bumps, and paint). The City anticipates design in March 2023 that will be reviewed at a Complete Streets Working Group meeting.
The City received a Safe Routes to Schools Grant in February that will focus on signalization, surface, and signage improvements to ensure students can safely walk and bike across the overpass of Route 9 at Parker Street.
The issue was raised regarding the cutting of trees along the south side of Washington Street by a MassDOT contractor — and the possible health effects of that on residents. Yeo stated that the City will explore sound barriers, adding that the City was reimbursed and planted some new trees.
The inclusion of wayfaring signs was raised for the Albemarle Road project along with stormwater and greenery.
