TheTraffic Council voted to Approve the following items, which may be appealed through January 3, 2024 (see Report):
- Adding EV Charging Stations and/or EV Shared Vehicles into the Pearl Street Parking Lot in Ward 1 (5-0). Four EV charging stations have been installed with a recent parking lot reconstruction. Five long-term spaces will be removed.
- Restrict parking on the north side of Watertown Street 120 feet east of Davis Avenue to improve intersection sight lines in Ward 3 (5-0). Will make the trial extension of a no parking zone on Watertown St permanent.
- Add a stop sign on Maynard Street, westbound, at the intersection of Morrill Street in Ward 3 (5-0).
- Add a stop sign at the intersection of Carver Road, southbound, at Woodward Street. In Wards 5 & 6 (5-0). The sign was requested by Safe Routes to School.
- Add one public 15-minute loading zone on-street parking space, in a new cut-out, as part of the project that will reconstruct the Armory in Ward 3 (5-0). A loading zone, 15-minute limit, all days, all hours, on the west side, from a point 37 feet north of Washington Street, 31 feet northerly will be constructed as part of the Armory project. The planned accessible parking spaces have been relocated.
- To elect David Koses as Traffic Council Chair through December 31, 2024. (5-0).
The Traffic Council voted to Hold for a Trial:
- To allow the Traffic Council to vote to allow long-term trials on any public street or parking area located within 1,500 feet of a school (5-0). These temporary trials may include modifications to the traffic flow, parking, turning restrictions and/or pavement markings, and are to be approved by the Commissioner of Public Works in consultation with the Director of the Planning Department and the Chief of the Newton Police Department. The item will allow Traffic Council to trial changes to help encourage more walking to school.
- To continue the trial restricting access to Elm Road (from Lowell Avenue) to Elm Road residents, Newton North High School staff, school buses and bicyclists in Ward 2 (5-0) to discourage Newton North High School parents from picking up and dropping off on Elm Road. Traffic Council could, in the future, determine how to make the trial permanent.
- To continue the trial allowing vehicles displaying Newton North High School TIGER parking permits to use the Austin Street lot without payment on school days in Wards 2 & 3 (5-0). The recommendation is to hold this item to continue the trial until a decision is made by the City Council Finance Committee and Traffic Council in the future.