6.18.2025 Traffic Board

There you go. All right.

We will uh call to order the traffic board meeting for Wednesday, June 18th, 2025.

Uh I will read the open meeting laws.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or they may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether they're perceived or unpersceived, by those present. and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

We have a roll call. Stephanie MacArthur, director of traffic and parking.

Natalie Melo, Helen Regal, Charlie Deadby, director, department of community maintenance. John point and Tom Ferris, city of Fall River Police.

All right. So, uh, is there anybody here for citizen input that would like to come down and and talk about something that is not on the agenda this evening? What's on the agenda? Yeah. There's nobody here to speak for anything that is not on the agenda. Okay. Uh, can I get a motion for the approval of the minutes for the May 21st, 2025 meeting? Move to approve.

Second.

That motion passes. Okay.

Uh the first thing we'll talk about is the uh curb cuts applicant and owner Jason Dart of 329 J uh Draper Street, Fall River.

The location of the curb removal is 1202 Stow Street and the engineering department has reviewed the application as well as the location and they have found no issues and there are no objections to the request for the curb cut per the city engineer. Is there a motion to pass this? Is he here? Is he here? Second. Jason here. We usually just We usually with the curb cut. I don't think anybody ever comes. We get a

motion to uh pass that curve. One and two together. Motion to pass.

Second first by Natalie and second by Helen. All right, that passes.

You can put one together. Is this one different amount? It is uh another location for that curb cut by the same party, Jason Uart for 110 and 118 Stow Street. Uh and again, the engineering department has reviewed that application as well as the location. They have found no issues and there are no objections by the city engineer. Uh so that's that'll be one and two together for the 120 and

122 Stow Street. Motion to approve and the 110 and 118. Okay, look at this.

Yeah, that's one check. Uh the uh there's a couple items that were tabled from the last meeting and that is a request to further discuss making Pine Street a oneway. Uh it was tabled by the ordinance and is the uh vet rep here today? He is here today. Okay.

And you looking to uh to keep that the way it is, sir? You can come on down if you want.

Could you just kind of give us some background here, sir? Yes, sir. Thank you.

So, My name is uh Ken Lec. I'm the executive director um for the uh VABC at Pine Street and we're looking to get Pine Street a oneway from Roberson to Seabberry uh to open up parking. Um and I believe the last I was here it was pushed forward and then ordinance tabled it due to the fire chief reversed it. He said from Seabberry to Pine. Uh but I believe since then he's reversed it to

the way that we wanted it. Okay. Um so Robus and a seabberry one way. Robus and two sear. Yes sir. And you're still looking for that? Yes sir.

Yes. Yeah. So, this was tabled by the ordinance committee um in regards to the direction of the one way because of the fire department because you got parking on both sides.

So, it was originally the request was put forth for Roberson to Seabberry heading west. Uh fire department did have some push back on that and did recommend easterly. Um the reason being is because center station being able to access any of the addresses east of Um Robison.

So, the board approved it from Seabberry to Robesin. Yeah. But ordinance committee sent it back for a further look by the traffic commission. Um, in regards to that and the fire department is it okay is okay with it being east? Fire department is not here tonight to have that discussion.

You have a question, sir? Oh, I thought I'm sorry. No.

So, we need we need a representative from the fire department to be here. I would recommend that. Okay. And I would recommend that as well. I recommend that they come we push it forward for them to come. All right. So, there's a motion to table it for the next meeting. We can get a fire department representative here. I'd like to discuss the uh the issue the issues before us before we

table I agree to table it be you know to get the uh representative from the uh admin administration side of the fire department but I I would as long as we have the parties here uh I I would like to discuss what they would like to do and how we feel about uh designating the parking on Pine It is an issue and I I I I know we all

of uh want to deal with that side with direction fight the sides they would like to see it flow that can be decided by them. I think right now we air out what we need to do to get this the rest of it put away but um I'm sorry. I think that's it. Is there a need to notify any neighbors that may be affected? So the abutters were contacted in regards to

this meeting. They've been contacted um for every meeting that we've had in regards to this. Is is anyone else anyone here for that? Pine Street. Can I just add something? Yeah, sure. The um we had talked about the uh apartment building at Sacred Heart. Yes. And uh I if I remember correctly, I thought the gentleman said it was like 52 new apartments. Would you know, sir? Just I would say ballpark maybe 40 high 40s to

low 50s. I would just want to know.

Yeah. you know, when that park opens up or that Pine Street opens up, a lot of that parking is going to be eaten up by those people who don't have off- streetet parking. Uh, yes. So, I'm I'm curious with that individual how many off street park how many uh parking spaces he's going to provide for his tenants.

I I don't believe it's much, but also um as of right now with the construction crews there, um I I arrive at 7:30 in the morning and half of Pine Street is already full from the construction crews, you know, their vehicles and things like that. We sent we sent the letter to him, right? The the gentleman that's it would be only the abutters. Um so he wouldn't have been contacted because technically he doesn't fall

within where we're making the change.

the changes from seabberry to robes. So it would just be those of butters that were But he's gonna he's going to have a big impact on that. It's gonna be that's going to be impact. Is there any way you can make a horseshoe like going in one side and come out and then people get served. You go right to the door and they'll be right there and you serve them. There's uh the parking lot that we

have, right? Three, four. What I'm saying, you'll have that where they can come in, you give them their product and they go back out. There's there's there's no way to They the park the parking lot that we have is is very tight to turn around already, you know, so to But you can't go around the building. You can't go around the building. No, no, no. The front. The front. I think I think what Ken's trying

to uh say is if if you look at the parcel that 750 Pine Street sits on, it it dates back to the old fire alarm. And um once you enter once you enter that parking lot um and you if you was to start to turn behind that building you would see a uh handicap ramp that would start to come up. But you could I'm not saying behind I'm saying in front in front. It's a lot

there's a lot of Who owns the land behind your building? I bet you got building at least twice a week. Yep. Um behind us is Merrow the uh um the Merrow um they have that top parking lot that's directly behind us. And you've never appro approached them to see if that you can use some of that land. Uh I I have um with with no luck I would say. And what does Charlie say? No.

I he kind of kicked it down the road. Uh I didn't get a definitive yes or no. Let's talk about it in the future. Um, I've been told a few times. I can tell you when I used to go to church. Yeah. Well, no.

Yeah. The no parking. I don't think this is going to make a difference either way. Well, I mean, there's there's one more thing we need to think of is that when that park is open, you're going to have people visiting the park that are going to park there. Correct. So, uh, and at nighttime with, uh, softball games and and things like that, they do they park on both sides of the street.

Currently, parking is prohibited on the south side. Correct. Yeah. Um, which is, I guess, adds a little insult to injury because the veterans get tickets when they park there during the day, but then at night time it it's a free-for-all, I would say.

I think what this does, it emphasizes the need for pocket and um and like Ken tried to say and uh to um Natalie's point, you couldn't put a horseshoe in front to serve to to to have the people come up.

Ken doesn't have that staff. There's not enough room inside to stack orders. Uh there's not enough staff in there, the volunteer staff. Um what they do in there is a miracle upon itself. They feed people that seniors, a lot of senior veterans that serve their country and uh done and these I mean during hard times these people come they they're coming there for food. They're coming there for their needs to sign up for

benefits. I mean but they're not they're not asking either for exclusive rights to park on that street. They're just saying, "Open up that street and let everybody park on that street." And uh I think this is where we're at. And um but if there was a way, believe me, I've sat in that building since 2007 in meetings and we've tried to find different ways to maximize the potential of every inch

of that place. And it's just that's what we have. That's what he has. And he makes the most of it every single day.

And uh you know how many cars a day do you have that come to pick up stuff?

Um I would say roughly anywhere between 50 80 you know there's usually in a ballpark about Yeah. Yes. There's usually about a 100 veterans that come through the door a day. You know some do you drive in uh some do you uh use the bus services or walk. So that's why I kind of cut it down to that 50 to 80. So you're saying 50 cars a day. 50 to 80 cars a day. Correct. Yeah.

And then I and I also feel what's important to note is by bringing the cars that way, it eliminates some of the accidents on that Robison intersection.

um when when people are coming out um I I've had police officers come in and look at our video cameras, you know, for the accidents where people just roll right out into Robison Street and and you know the accidents there. So by having it come in it and that's five days a week you get that many 50 uh Monday through Thursday on Fridays.

Monday through Thursday uh we're closed on Fridays. Yes.

staff is there on Fridays, but we're clo that's our our our put back together day from the week.

Charlie, will the trash trucks have any issues making that turn? We'll still have to put some prohibited parking at least 20 ft from that corner. I believe they come now that way. They they make that turn, right? But there is no parking lot on the south side. So cars shouldn't be parked on that south side.

So when the trash trucks are making that turn, correct? So there is a sign um right there. Uh the gas station. Yeah.

Um, no parking from here to the corner.

Um, so and he's got the curb cut that will enable a truck to make a turn from either side. All right. Perfect.

Dump it on. Dump it on. We'll make a motion to table the issue until we get some more information from the fire department and maybe the uh that apartment building as well. I'll second that. All right. So, motion by Mr. Le Point to table and seconded by Helen to table. Get a representative from the fire department down here. Um, and then we can discuss it further. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Welcome.

And Sacred Heart, right? Secret heart.

Sacred Heart. Yep. I'll reach out to them as well. That's certainly going to be an issue. Yeah, that's going to be a big issue. Big. Yep. Okay.

You up to speed? All right. The next uh there the next uh miscellaneous request is a request from residents to revert the one-way traffic on Niagara Street due to a number of vehicles driving in the wrong direction.

Is there anybody here from Niagara Street? Okay, sir. Come on up. Let us know your name, your address, if you would please.

How's it going? Good. yourself. Good.

Uh, my name is Matthew Texar. I live on Foster Street. I'm on the corner of Foster and Warren. Um, I've been there about 5 years. I believe Niagara Street used to be a oneway up until about 2018, 2019. Uh, when Keller Williams moved in, they reverted it to be two-way traffic until the end of the Keller Williams property line. Uh, now there's a single family house they just built there.

That's kind of the end point now. Uh the problem is when cars turn from Plymouth Avenue to Niagara Falls, they don't know that it's two-way until 500 ft. They think it's two-way the whole way. Uh so you have a lot of cars going all the way down to Foster past the do not enter sign and then they don't turn left because Foster is a oneway north. They turn right to head to Warren. Uh I live

on the corner of Foster and Warren. The amount of times I've seen a car come down the wrong way and just blow right through Warren without even tapping the brakes. It's an accident waiting to happen. I'm surprised there hasn't been one yet already. Um, there's a lot of kids that play on Aiagara Street. You go by there on a nice day, you're going to see there's a house with some soccer

fields. There's like six or 10 kids that play there. The ball goes over the fence all the time. It It's just an accident waiting to happen. That should have never been done. Um, I've talked to all my direct neighbors. I haven't talked to everybody on Niagara. I haven't talked to everybody on Foster, but the house is right on the side of me. The house is across the street. We all agree that

that should have never happened and it needs to be changed before somebody gets seriously hurt. So, right here. So, it's a two-way from from up to this driveway and then there's there's do not enters from here on. It's considered a oneway head last place.

It was a um a real right used to be a funeral home and now it's a real Yep.

So, it's a two-way from just from this driveway on. Yep. The other heading west it's a oneway from Foster. The other thing I'd like to for and on the last house when you're just just one you're recommending make it a oneway revert it back to the revert it back to a one way to add to it that property with the Keller Williams which is now Remax one way they have

another one way west out to the A. Yes.

Yes. So that you can't turn from the A onto Niagara. Okay. Uh that property that Keller Williams that's now Remax, they have another curb cutout entrance on Warren Street for whatever reason that was fenced off so they can't use it. Gotcha. That in my opinion that should just be they should take out that fence and use Warren Street as their entrance. Niagara has the exit. Whatever

they want to do if they don't want to go all the way around Foster and Niagara, but someone's going to get hurt if that street stays two-way. Okay. And Stephanie's just changed the mileage.

She had 30 miles an hour. should just change it back to down to 25. 25. I thought it should be 20, but we should put 25. That's because they come flying up Forcer Street right up to Niagara.

You're in the way, you're going to get slammed.

Okay. Is there anybody else from that uh Niagara Street area that would like to come up and talk? Okay.

And so this is the first request. So there is only a few abutters. We would have to contact the abutters. Okay. So So I think based based on that Um, I would ask ask the board or someone to make a motion to table this to the next meeting so that um other abutters or residents in that neighborhood can come to a meeting and express their concern one way or the other. I'll make the

motion. All right. So, Mr. Le Point makes a motion and seconded by uh Charlie.

So, we'll table this to the next meeting. Sir, will I get a letter for the next meeting? Yes, you'll also get it. Yeah, perfectly. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

All right. Moving along here. All right.

So, we have on to the next part of the meeting is uh request for handicap spaces. And the first one, you up to speed? Yeah. All right. So, the first request is from a resident of 23 McGawan Street for a handicap spot. The applicant does drive and has a valid placket and registration. The applicant is a tenant and a letter from the landlord that there is no off- streetet parking available to them. Are they here?

Is the applicant here? Is Mr. O'Brien?

Okay. Okay.

It does have an active license, an active registration, an active placket, and there is a letter here from the property owner.

She does not Basically, the bottom line is that she does not um she does not have any off- streetet parking for him at his at his um residence. Make a motion to approve.

Second. A motion made by Charlie to approve and seconded by John Mcuire.

Anybody against?

No issue.

The area on the side of the house is used by the property owner to uh to have a garden, which he has every right to do.

here.

All right, that passes. So about 12 weeks. Um, they'll be going out doing the measurements. In about 12 weeks, you should see the signs and the polls go up. You also got to keep in mind, sir, with that spot on the street, it's not just yours. Anyone with a placket can park there. I understand. Okay, sir.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay.

Next request is from 188 Kilburn Street.

The applicant does drive, has a valid placket and registration. The applicant is a tenant and there is a letter from the landlord that there is no off streetet parking available for Mr.

Sylvia sir available. Okay. So he is here.

My license on that picture says it's new but it is changed at the registry. They don't give you a sticker or anything anymore to put on your license for change of address, but it is changed to my current address at the registry.

Yeah, the registration usually I used to bring my laptop. I know. I used to bring the laptop.

The registration the registration has your um has your proper address on it. Um and you're right, they don't give you any more stickers for your driver's license.

Typically, when I was doing this, I would bring a laptop and I would run it right on site. Um, and we would know.

So, your your your your registration is good. I'm going to presume your license as well. Typically, they go hand in hand. And he has an active placket.

There is also a a letter here from the um

I don't see the letter. I make a motion to approve. So motion on on the table for uh from Charlie to approve. Second. Seconded by Helen. And that will pass, sir.

Thank you. Same thing about 12 weeks.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Okay, sir. You guys have a great night. Thank you, too.

Next item is from 55 Almy Street for a handicap spot. The applicant does drive.

They have a placid active registration.

The applicant is a tenant and the letter from the landlord that there is no off- streetet parking available. And that is Mr. Latinville.

You here, sir? Yes, sir. Okay.

Registration. Just the registration still says bad. What's um what's the what's the um you want Alamy Street?

Yes. It's changed over. Same thing with the DMV. It's a new apartment. And when I moved in, I've been here for a month now. It's everything's changed over.

Like you said, they don't give it. It says the back of my license has it written, but it doesn't approve of it.

How about your registration, sir?

Everything is legit. I have everything.

All right. Everything's registered and sure.

We can uh check that tomorrow. Yeah, I can check it tomorrow. We can if if it's approved, we can base the approval on Yep. Just confirming the All right. So, we'll Yeah, we'll double check that to make sure. But your your reg is good, your license is good, your placket is good. Yeah, I have to and there's a a handwritten letter from the uh property owner that states there's no off street parking. Okay. Is

there a motion to make a motion to approve pending uh motion on the board to approve pending that the registration and license come back to 55 Almy Street?

Second and seconded by Helen.

Thank you.

So against your 12 weeks or so, we um we'll check that tomorrow to make sure your license and registration is squared away. It'll be about 12 weeks or so.

They'll go out, they'll measure, they'll put that in and that spot is not exclusive. Yeah, I know it's not just mine. It's anybody who has I know my I see my dad go through this. Okay, sir.

You're good to go. All right. Yep. You got it. Good day. Have a great day. Good day. The next request is from 8052nd Street for handicap spot. The applicant does.

That's you, sir. Yes, sir. Okay, so it's Mr. Mr. Loz is here for the 8052nd Street. He drives. He has a valid plaque and a registration. He's a tenant. He has a letter from his landlord stating that there is no parking there.

Letter in the packet from uh Paul and Sandy Dart indicating that he has no access to the driveway and he must park his car on the street.

Your license is good.

The placket is good to 29.

Your registration is expired.

I make a motion to approve.

Second. You have an active registration.

Registration. Do you have an active registration on your vehicle? I'm seeing 2020. Yes. I got in my car. I got everything. Okay. cuz the one that we have on file expired in September of 2024. Did you get a new one in September? Yes, you did. Okay. So, we need a copy of that cuz this one that we have is expired.

The one that you provided with your I I took upstairs every day and she Yeah, but that one that you brought is expired.

I hope you remember. Right. The issue is is these people keep registrations year after year. It's like milk. Once it's expired, you get rid of them. All right.

You just throw them out. Oh, I I have to I have to everything. I have a question.

Okay. So, we'll talk about Yeah.

I I don't understand Portuguese.

Yeah. Portugal. I was very young. Like, as a kid, I spent a lot of years.

I speak bad Spanish and All right.

Spanish and Italian. Yeah, I'll be there. Well, you got to take a picture from Portugal. You're from Azor. It's different. No, I'm not from the AO. I'm from going here. Yeah. I'm sorry. All right. Let's let's let's go back to the registration. You got to bring an active registration in. And that was the first motion was Charlie. Charlie. Charlie on the first motion to approve and uh John

La Point on the second. Based upon you bringing another an active registration, you got to bring it into us.

Hey, come on up. Come on up. Come on.

Come on up. Oh my god. Come on. He's gonna show you. I'll show you. Oh my god. It's okay. It's okay. Poor guy. I can't walk. Go slow. So, this is your registration and it's showing expired here. See? 2024.

So, just bring a new one in. It's probably in the car. You have it in the car. You probably have it in the car.

Just Just bring it in. But my car I can buy. No, I don't need it right now.

Yeah, I can buy. All right. Yeah. So, next week is fine. Come back. Yeah, next week is fine. On Monday upstairs, y'all have to come back here. No, no, bring that because because it's going to be approved. We just need to make sure you your registration is down. I never think I just I don't know why this happens. I don't know. Maybe I give to her the wrong one. It happens. Once they expire,

you get rid of it. And excuse me. My So, the house has two doors. 85 second street one gate and then west side to the uh uh another street climate. Yep.

That's where I live. Right. Berkeley.

Berkeley. Yep. My daughter is there like more people use that door. I got the stairs to the Berkeley Street directly.

I don't have to I don't use five. Okay.

So, actually So, so you are approved.

Yeah. You're approved. Yeah. Just give us a registration. I think you put the sign in Burke side.

You know the the problem there, right?

You come back and you have you do have parking. Yep. Now move there from from all over a lot of lot of foreign people.

Sure. They got trucks everything. It's just you don't have it. And uh when it's raining or whatever, I have to come to the parks close to the hospital and then I got two surgeries here and to walk upstairs it's it's a lot tough. I got you. All right. So, you are approved.

Tomorrow. There you go. Oh, not you can't come tomorrow. We're closed tomorrow. Close tomorrow. Tomorrow. It's closed. Yes. Tomorrow's closed. So, don't come tomorrow. Monday. Monday. Oh, I mean today's right there, right? No, today's Wednesday, but tomorrow's a holiday. Holiday. That's okay, sir.

Monday. You are approved 12 weeks and uh the spot is not exclusively yours. Okay.

Just bring her the wrench. Yes, sir.

Have a good day, sir. Thank you. Have a good day.

Take care. Nice. Number five, a request from 211 Wage Street. Um, thank you.

That is Burton. Okay, so they are here.

211 Wage Street. Applicant is for a child uh and has a valid placket, caregivers license, and registration has been provided. The applicant's a tenant and there is no off- streetet parking available. Registration is active. 27 211 Wade Street.

active placket the end of September 2025 and an active license all with the proper um address provided and there is a um a written letter here that the um son basically is disabled and uh has an active placard everything looks like it's in order we see no issues I make a motion to approve so a motion to approve by John second and second ined by Helen.

So, you're all set. Basically, again, 12 weeks. Uh they'll go out, they'll measure, and uh they'll make sure everything's squared away there. And it's not exclusively your spot. Okay.

All right. All right. All right. You got it. Have a great night. Bye.

Uh, rescended handicap spot request from the traffic department to have the following handicap spaces rescended due to individuals no longer utilizing those spots because they've either moved, they don't drive, or they have passed away.

Uh, Pitman Street 1031 2022, Milk Street 28201, Baronaby Street 128 2021, Badge Street 724204, Summerfield Street 414 2020 uh, 2017, Fountain Street uh, 323 2021, Cambridge Street 87209, and Cottage Street 516 2008. Is there a motion on the board to remove those spots? Motion to approve.

Motion to approve. Second by Helen and second by John.

Is there any other business? We have a motion to end the meeting. Make a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn by John, seconded by Helen. Okay. All set. All set.