The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Request to change the number of Deputy Chiefs in the Fire Department from 5 to 6. The change would help with facilitate administrative work and has been approved by the union. Position is in the 2024 City budget. The Committee voted to approve 8-0.
The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted to hold the following:
- Discussion concerning PS&T Committee workplan for the new term (8-0)
- The Washington Street pilot project should be heard in this Committee along with the Public Facilities Committee. A suggestion was made that perhaps the Council Rules need to be amended as to how Committee referrals are made with respect to discussions of large projects. Chair Grossman to contact President Laredo about the Committee discussing the project.
- Commonwealth Avenue Carriageway Bicycle Project How successful it is, what is the ridership, what sorts of incidents have occurred, are there ways it can be improved since the paint and signage is complete?
- Data. Suggestions included looking by precinct at the number of police calls, fire calls and traffic crashes. Is data available on the level of service at peak times?
- Sidewalk conditions – how to improve
- Fire Department response time and fire hydrants – How old are they? How are they maintained? Is it adequate?
- MBTA updates on the train stations and express buses. Can we do anything about the lack of express buses from West Newton?
- Employee parking programs – are they successful? What metrics are used to judge them?
- Traffic calming. Request the Traffic Dept to explain their approach to projects and what can be done with a small budget.
- State-level issues. How to communicate and advocate for Newton’s needs.
- Improved safety in School areas
- The Police Department website on traffic crashes needs to be updated, and the quality of details improved to help DPW and Planning determine if infrastructure was an issue in the crash.
- Using the Planning Department’s to be released Bike/Ped plan to prioritize transportation work.
- Parking solutions to the City’s challenges and the “Overnight winter parking ban will be on the 2025 ballot. Village centers, enforcement, and abandoned cars should be monitored.”