Field Street One-Way Proposal Tabled Again for Fire Chief Input
Oliver Street One-Way Request Denied Due to Applicant Absence
Stop Sign Request on Hope Street Denied After Applicant Fails to Appear
The Fall River Traffic Commission held its monthly meeting on July 15, 2026, chaired by Director of Traffic and Parking Stephanie McCarthy. The commission quickly approved the minutes from the previous month and moved through its agenda, which included a mix of new and tabled items. A request for a curb cut extension at 89 McDonald Street was approved based on a favorable review from the engineering department. The commission also approved a new loading zone for the Azores Market at 303 William Street and a parking prohibition on a 425-foot stretch of Brightman Street to improve traffic flow over a narrow bridge. Several items that had been previously tabled were addressed. A proposal to make Field Street one-way was tabled again to await input from the fire chief. However, two other tabled items—a one-way request for Oliver Street and a stop sign request for Hope Street—were denied after the petitioners failed to attend the meeting for a second time. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to resident requests for handicap parking spaces. The commission approved seven new spots at various locations throughout the city after confirming the applicants met the necessary criteria. The meeting concluded with the approval to rescind eleven outdated handicap spots that were no longer needed, followed by a motion to adjourn.
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City Officials
Public Safety
Public / Other
Good evening.
0:03Wednesday, July 15th, Traffic Commission meeting.
0:09Is there anyone here for citizen input that is not on the agenda?
0:15Something that's not on the agenda?
0:17Nobody?
0:17Thank you.
0:19Um, before we begin, pursuant to the open law meeting, any person may make an audio or video recording of the public meeting.
0:27Or they may transmit the meeting through any medium.
0:29Attendees, and therefore, are advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and deemed acknowledged.
0:39Roll call.
0:41Stephanie McCarthy, Director of Traffic and Parking.
0:44Natalie Mello.
0:46Helen Rigo.
0:47Chris Hathaway, Director of Community Management.
0:49John Woodpoint.
0:49Thomas Ferris, Borough Police.
0:52Motion for approval of the 17 June 2026 meeting.
0:58Motion approved.
0:59First by John.
1:01I don't think you want this one.
1:03Second on the approval of last month's meeting.
1:06Second.
1:06Second.
1:07Start with curb cuts.
1:20Josh, Roderick.
1:24Oh, this is from last week.
1:26Last month.
1:45All right, strike that last.
1:51Nelson Cabral, 57 Ryan's Way, Swansea, Massachusetts, requesting a curb cut.
1:5689 McDonald Street.
1:58The existing parcel is currently served by 10-foot by 8-inch curb opening slash driveway.
2:06The applicant requests permission to extend the opening by an additional 14.6 feet.
2:11The total opening for this location will be 25.2 The engineering department has reviewed the application as well as the location and found no issues, and there are no objections to the request for the curb cut per the city engineer.
2:28Motion for that?
2:29Motion.
2:31Second.
2:33That passes.
2:38Tabled items.
2:43Field Street to be made a one-way from Stafford Road to Lapham Street due to congestion with cars on both sides of the street during drop-off and pickup at Holy Trinity School.
2:54This was tabled to contact the abutters and the fire chief regarding a possible traffic pattern change.
3:03Are the abutters here for that?
3:09Okay, so one about it here.
3:132.
3:14Okay.
3:16The fire chief was invited to this meeting, was unable to attend.
3:24And I think we're going to need to table this again for his input.
3:30Motion for that.
3:31Motion.
3:32First by Natalie, second by Chris.
3:38We're going to have to table that issue.
3:42Can that study be done when school's in progress?
3:47Well, I think that what's happening in the city is most of the schools are going to a one-way circular pattern, easier drop-off, pickup.
3:55I don't disagree with it, but of course you'll certainly have your say.
4:01When that time comes.
4:02We're just waiting for the fire chief to give his input.
4:08We'll notify you again.
4:09I'm sorry you had to come down here.
4:11All right, but you'll be notified again.
4:14Thank you.
4:15Thank you, sir.
4:28All right, request to make Oliver Street a one-way from Broadway to South Beach due to the street being narrow.
4:35It was tabled due to the person requesting it not in attendance.
4:40Is that person in attendance today?
4:42Oliver Street?
4:50Not here.
4:51Looking to deny it.
4:52Looking to deny it.
4:53First, first by Helen.
4:55Second.
4:55Second by John.
4:59Another table item here.
5:01Fountain Street.
5:04Hope and Fountain Street.
5:05The request is for a stop sign on Hope Street at Fountain and on Hope Street at Eagle Street due to speeding on Hope Street to Broadway.
5:15It was tabled due to the person requesting it not being in attendance.
5:19Is that person here?
5:23Twice, nothing.
5:24Motion denied.
5:26First by Natalie, second by Alan.
5:34Miscellaneous request from the Azores Market at 303 William Street requesting a loading zone signage for business hours of operation Monday through Saturday, 8 to 6 PM.
5:43Is that person here?
5:44Yeah.
5:45Okay.
5:46Good.
5:46Come on up, sir.
5:48Sorry, come on up.
5:50Just state your name and your address, please, for the record.
5:55Just explain the situation if you could.
5:57Yeah, my name is Eli Reese and the address is 303 William Street.
6:00Um, there's those markets.
6:02I think most of the people knows the market and it's really, really hard to park, especially on the deliveries.
6:08Uh, it's always a hard, you know, really hard.
6:11And before I bought the place, which was almost 7 years ago, I know they had a sign there And they just remove it.
6:17I don't know why.
6:17Right.
6:19So you're looking for a loading zone sign?
6:22Yeah.
6:24Basically all day, right?
6:25Monday through Saturday.
6:28Where do you propose that this sign goes?
6:30So it could be on William Street or Eagle Street.
6:34Okay.
6:35Which one would you like?
6:38Probably— that's a tough one.
6:41I would say probably on William Street.
6:45I mean, they're both tough.
6:46That area is very difficult.
6:47Yeah, but they usually come from, uh, you know, one way from William Street, so it would be easier for them to park.
6:53My only concern with it being on William Street, there's a curb cut right there, so I don't want it to block anyone's driveway once the trucks come up to load.
7:02There's a driveway.
7:03Is that your driveway?
7:04Yeah, that's my driveway.
7:05Oh, okay.
7:06But the thing was, the previous owner, they had the sign on Eagle Street, right?
7:10Okay.
7:10So I don't know, in one way or the other, just to the south, right?
7:15Yeah, right around the corner.
7:16Yeah.
7:17And you don't know when the loading is coming?
7:20We've dealt with this before.
7:21It varies all the time.
7:24Yeah.
7:24Okay.
7:25Any discussion for the board?
7:27Where do they load?
7:27They load in that front door?
7:29Or do they— you have a back door they load?
7:31Yeah, it's both ways.
7:32They go to the front door and through the garage depending what— where's the garage, on William or William Street?
7:37On William.
7:39So it would benefit you to have it on William?
7:41Even for the trucks would be a lot easier, you know, because if they do on Eagle Street, that means they have to make that curve, you know, they have to take a right.
7:49So if they do it on William Street, after they unload, they can always go straight.
7:53And, you know, anything further from the board?
7:59No questions?
8:01Okay.
8:03I was 6 years old when I used to go to that store.
8:07It was, I think, a penny for a slice of bread.
8:10It's been around a while.
8:11All right, is there a motion for that, Simon?
8:15Motion.
8:16Seconded by Natalie.
8:17Seconded by John.
8:18And third by Helen.
8:19Trifecta.
8:21Hat trick.
8:22You'll be all set, sir.
8:23Oh, sorry, about 12 to 14 weeks.
8:25Okay, thank you.
8:26No problem.
8:32Requests for prohibited parking on Brightman Street north side Garside Street, 425 feet west.
8:42That roadway at the— for that overpass is 25 feet wide.
8:48I think there were signs up there at one point.
8:52Brightman Street, yep, just up from North Main.
8:54We had a vehicle parked there, made it extremely, extremely difficult for vehicles to navigate over that bridge.
9:02Bridge.
9:02There always seems to be a van that's parked about 40 feet from the wooden bridge, so you actually have to extend yourself every time I've driven by there.
9:09Correct, correct.
9:10We had some, some dialogue with him recently.
9:13Yep.
9:13He explained that his, his van was broken down, and we kindly asked him if we— if he could move over.
9:19Yeah, so currently the ordinance reads Brightman Street north from North Main Street west to Garside, so it would just be from Garside for the additional 424 feet west, taking it up to the wooden bridge.
9:31Correct.
9:32And then there's signs for the eastbound side already there.
9:36So that's, that's the request there.
9:39So that people can navigate that road, that trestle safely.
9:42I'll make the motion.
9:44First by John.
9:45Second.
9:45Seconded by Chris.
9:46So that passes.
9:49All right, handicap tabled issues, there were none.
9:53And now it's request for spots.
9:55Request from a resident, 84 Stanley Street, for a handicap spot.
9:58The applicant does drive.
10:03They have a handicap plate registration provided.
10:06The applicant's a tenant, and there was no off-street parking.
10:08I did go— that's, um, Miss Souza.
10:11Yes, I did go by that area.
10:13Um, I didn't see any, any issues with that at all.
10:22Motion first by Natalie, seconded by John.
10:27Man, that'll get taken care of 10 to 12 weeks or so.
10:30Somebody will come out, they'll measure, and, uh, they'll put some signs up.
10:34Uh, just keep in mind that it's not your personal spot.
10:37Anybody with a, um, an active placard can park there.
10:41Okay.
10:42Yeah.
10:42All right, thank you.
10:44Thank you.
10:46Request from 691 Charles Street, Mr.
10:49Hull.
10:50The applicant does drive, has a valid placard and registration provided.
10:56The applicant is a homeowner and there is no off-street parking, and I did go by that address as well.
11:00Mr.
11:00Hull, are you in attendance?
11:02Yeah.
11:02Okay, sir, I did go by your place.
11:05Um, I don't see any issues with your application or, or having it, um, taken care of.
11:12Motion approved.
11:13Second motion by John and seconded by Chris.
11:16So you're going to be all set with that.
11:17Again, 10 to 12 weeks, somebody will go out there and measure, and it's not your personal spot, okay?
11:23Anyone with an active placard can park there.
11:25Is there a preference where I would like to have the sign put?
11:29I would presume it'd be in front of your house as far as close as possible, right?
11:32Right.
11:33There's a certain spot that I would like to have.
11:38Is that closest to your door?
11:40Yeah, it's right where the steps are.
11:43There's like 3 steps to get into the— right into the walkway.
11:47That's, that's where they'll put it, sir.
11:51Yeah, so when maintenance goes by to do the measurements, that they will mark the ground, but it does have to be closest to the entrance.
11:59Closest to the entrance of the property, correct?
12:01Yeah.
12:01Okay.
12:02Yep, yep.
12:02So that when they go out there, you'll see the markings on the ground as far as where the placement of the signage is going to go.
12:10Okay.
12:11All right, uh, 122 Whipple Street.
12:14Mr. Mendez, I, I did go by that.
12:18Yep, you're all set, about 10 to 12 weeks.
12:20Okay.
12:21Yeah, thank you.
12:22For 122 Whipple Street, the applicant does drive, valid placard registration provided.
12:27The applicant is a homeowner.
12:30There is a very single car There.
12:34They shoehorned that in there somehow.
12:38And that spot is owned by someone who co-owns the house with you?
12:42I did check that.
12:45Um, well, the husband passed away, so I'm the one.
12:49I just— whatever, whatever she needs to do, right?
12:53But she also owns the house?
12:54Yes.
12:55Right.
12:55But you also need one?
12:57Yes.
12:57So I did go by there.
12:58There was a very small sliver of a spot that there was one car there.
13:02It was not your vehicle that was parked there.
13:04You were parked on the street.
13:07Typically, we shy away from providing a homeowner with a parking space to have a handicap spot on the street.
13:18I think this is probably an extraordinary situation.
13:21They do pop up, but I didn't see any issues with your application.
13:26Other locations.
13:28So it would be up to the board at that point if somebody wants to make a motion.
13:32So the co-owner parks there, I think it's 3 there.
13:36I thought I saw 3 people on the deed there.
13:38Is that right?
13:40It's, it's 4 people.
13:41It's 4 people.
13:42Okay, so 120, it's Carlos, 120, 122, 120, 122.
13:46Yeah, no, the first one, she— the first, even the first one, because she don't have a deck.
13:51So that's why the reason why should I have that handicap?
13:53A few years ago, I applied for the handicap down a little bit down the street, but because you already have one, that spot— there's one over there, right?
14:03Not anymore.
14:04Not anymore.
14:05Yeah, the signs were empty.
14:07Um, all right, so for the board, I did go by there.
14:10There's a very small sliver.
14:12Um, the house is owned by 4 people according to the, uh, according to the taxes.
14:17And I just think this is an extraordinary situation here.
14:20So you approve the first by Helen, second, and seconded by Chris.
14:24You'll be all set, sir.
14:25Uh, 10 to 12 weeks, somebody will go out there, they'll do some measurements, and it's not your spot.
14:30Thank you, sir.
14:32224 Plain Street.
14:39Mr. Mitchell, the applicant does drive, has a Valid plaque and registration providing applicant is a tenant, and a letter from the property owner that there is no off-street parking for him.
14:51Again, sir, I did go by there.
14:52I don't see any issues with your application or, uh, or that area for you.
14:59Motion first by Natalie, seconded by John.
15:04Again, sir, 10 to 12 weeks, and we'll go out there and measure.
15:08And it's not your spot, so you're all set.
15:10All right, thank you, sir.
15:11Thank you.
15:13183 Trip Street.
15:15The applicant does drive.
15:17183 Trip Street.
15:18Yeah, you skipped Cambridge.
15:20Oh, did I?
15:21What happened to 5?
15:23Oh, I'm sorry.
15:24Apologies.
15:25274 Cambridge.
15:28Hi.
15:29Very good, yourself?
15:31The applicant drives and has a valid and the registration provided.
15:36The applicant's a tenant and there is no off-street parking available to her, and she's correct about that.
15:40I did go by your place and you don't have anything there.
15:45Motion.
15:46Motion by— first by Natalie, seconded by Chris.
15:49That's all set.
15:52Again, man, 10 to 12 weeks and it's not your spot.
15:55Okay, you're all set.
15:56Thank you.
15:57Now on to 183 Troop Street.
16:01Mr. Charles, how you doing, sir?
16:04183 Trip.
16:05Applicant drives, has a valid plaque and registration provided.
16:08The applicant's a tenant.
16:10Letter from the homeowner that states tenant does not have access to the driveway.
16:14And that's correct.
16:15Again, I went over your application.
16:18Oh, that's not him.
16:21Oh, just come in.
16:23This was on behalf of someone, is that correct?
16:28I did go by that area.
16:30I don't see any issues with your application.
16:32Motion approved.
16:35First by John.
16:37Second.
16:37Seconded by Natalie.
16:43You're welcome.
16:4510 to 12 weeks.
16:47Okay.
16:48And anyone with an active placard can block that.
16:5352 Snell Street.
16:58That's tight over there as well.
17:00The applicant is legally blind and does not drive.
17:02This was on behalf of somebody, right?
17:04I got ahead of myself there.
17:06The applicant is legally blind and does not drive and has a valid placard.
17:09Significant other is, uh, the licensed driver, and their registration provided.
17:15Yeah, but Kim is also tenant with no off-street parking, and there is no off-street parking there.
17:24So again, this is on behalf of somebody else.
17:34Typically, with— typically with these, it's— it's— we don't— we don't legally agree.
17:41Yeah, I think that was— we had an exception before with that, and that went through.
17:45Yeah, ma'am.
17:47So, uh, there's nothing wrong with the application.
17:49There is no off-street parking for her.
17:52Motion to accept, first by Natalie, second, and then seconded by John.
17:57Um, ma'am, you're going to be all set with that, 10 to 12 weeks.
18:00Okay, thank you.
18:01All right, rescinded handicap spots.
18:07Request from the traffic department to have the following handicap spaces rescinded due to individuals no longer living no longer utilizing the space because they've either moved, they no longer drive, or they passed away.
18:18I'll read through them.
18:18John Street from 2015, St. Mary Street from 2020, Cambridge Street from 2007, Tecumseh Street 2011, Linden Street 2024, Division Street 2011, Orchard Street 2012, Baker Street 2019, South Beach Street 2016, William Street 2025, and Garfield Street from 2019.
18:43There's a motion to have these removed.
18:45Motion first by Natalie, seconded by Chris.
18:48It's all set.
18:49Is there any other business?
18:52Motion to adjourn.
18:53Motion to adjourn.
18:55First by John.
18:58Second by Natalie.
19:01Thank you, sir.