WORCESTER—In a jam-packed agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, the Worcester City Council hears several reports related to street safety issues.
As requested by member Donna Colorio, chairperson of the traffic and parking committee, the council receives a report on the number of accidents that have occurred on Mill Street since its reconfiguration. Stephen Rolle, the commissioner of transportation and mobility, presents the update, which includes commentary on how the reconfiguration has impacted the street’s safety.
Related to the controversial and expensive reconfiguration of Mill Street, which involved restriping the street, eliminating travel lanes, and creating street parking spots, council member Morris “Moe” Bergman requested a one-year study of the travel lanes proposal.
This proposal asks the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility to consider pausing the elimination of travel lanes on public streets as a traffic-calming measure, with new on-street parking spaces in their place, such as on Mill Street, while the safety and best practices of creating them are fully evaluated over the coming calendar year.
City Councilor Luis Ojeda from District 4 has submitted two orders calling for a comprehensive assessment of opportunities to improve walkability and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the pedestrian bridge on Cambridge Street. Additionally, he has requested a traffic review for the intersections of Cambridge Street with Richard Street and the intersections with Fremont and Canterbury streets, with the aim of optimizing traffic flow.
Other items on Tuesday’s agenda related to traffic include a discussion of once-daily bus service of a Worcester Express train for the Spring MBTA commuter rail schedule and a discussion on whether there is a need for a permanent winter parking ban.
Responding to a request from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services, council hears a collaborative report from the offices of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and Central Mass. Housing Alliance on the topic of help for the chronically homeless and unsheltered in Worcester. The report includes a discussion of current statistics and details the gap between permanent supportive housing and the number of homeless in the city.
Requested by Councilor Kate Toomey, Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier provides council with a five-year comparison relative to gun violence and firearms seized by the Worcester Police Department.
The Worcester Regional Research Bureau has finalized a report emphasizing the importance of investing in the city’s school facilities, presented to council by Paul Matthews, WRRB’s CEO and executive director. The report, “Building the Future: Investing in Worcester Public Schools Facilities,” is accompanied by an online presentation, “Understanding Your Neighborhood Schools.”
Worcester City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, at City Hall in the Esther Howland (South) Chamber.
Charlene Arsenault can be reached at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
