Commission tackles list of traffic-related tasks, requests

The Waltham Traffic Commission at its Thursday meeting directed Michael Garvin, the city’s traffic engineer, to conduct multiple studies. 

Below is a summary of these studies and other actions the Traffic Commission took:

• Directed Garvin to conduct a safety study for the intersection of Oak and Cedar streets following a request from Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan, who said residents are concerned about not being able to see oncoming traffic when traveling through or turning out of the intersection. 
• Directed Garvin to conduct a study on improving dumpster access for Chepe’s Bakery 2 at 428 Moody St. and La Chapincita at 424 Moody St. Annette Orlando, an employee of the businesses, said that cars parked on the street prevent the garbage trucks from accessing the dumpster for the businesses. Orlando said this has forced the owner to pay extra fees to have the truck come back another day.
• Directed Garvin to study the potential removal of parking spaces on Moody Street near Chestnut Street. Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris and Logan requested the removal of these spaces following complaints from constituents. Logan said residents driving westbound on Chestnut Street have complained about cars parking in the hash marks next to accessible parking spaces.
• Approved the fourth annual Moody Street Car Show. The event will take place on Aug. 16 from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. All cars that are not part of the event must leave Moody Street by 8 a.m. The portion of Moody Street between the intersections of Maple and High streets and Pine and Crescent streets will be closed for the event.
• Directed Garvin to draw up schematics for a plan to switch on-street parking from one side of Crescent Street to the other between Brown and Orange Street. This move comes in response to a traffic study that examined ways to increase visibility for drivers turning left onto Crescent Street from Robbins Street.
• Approved installing parking signs that show that there are municipal lots west of Moody Street. Part of this approval includes asking the Traffic Engineering Department to look for quotes to potentially install larger wayfinding signs along the street.
• Tabled a discussion of improvements to the intersection of Moody and Maple streets for the next meeting.
• Tabled a discussion about adding a speed bump to Wellington Street.
• Approved a request to study creating a dedicated bike lane between Bentley University and downtown Waltham through Beaver Street or Lyman Street. The petition was submitted at the request of multiple Bentley students and presented by Mark Vdovychenko.
• Approved the Waltham Police Department’s request to study the loading zone on Spruce Street. According to the request, when large trucks park in the zone it disrupts the flow of traffic from both directions.
• Denied Mayor Jeanette A. McCarthy’s request to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Trapelo and Abbot roads. Garvin recommended the denial because the traffic volume at the intersection does not meet the requirements set by the Federal Highway Administration under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Approved changing the traffic lights at the intersection of Main and Appleton streets.
• Tabled a discussion about proposed policies on how residents and elected officials can request vertical traffic calming devices such as speed bumps, speed tables and raised crosswalks. The policies also set parameters for what guidelines need to be met for these calming devices to be installed. Following a conversation about what policies should be amended, City Clerk Joe Vizard motioned to table the matter. The commission voted 4-2 to table the matter, with Tom Magno, the city’s treasurer, and Fire Chief Andrew Mullin opposed. After it was tabled, Mango continued discussing the matter to which Vizard objected.