Traffic commission delves into Lowell Street safety and parking on private ways

The Traffic Commission discussed a safety plan for Lowell Street and plans for parking on private ways during their Thursday meeting.

Based on a 36-page proposal submitted by Mayor Jeanette A. McCarthy, city engineer J. Michael Garvin presented his opinion on a variety of traffic solutions to make Lowell Street and the intersecting streets safer for both pedestrians and drivers. This area has been concerning for South Side residents due to the volume and speed of traffic as well as the lack of sightlines available for those turning onto Lowell Street.

Ward Eight Councilor Cathyann Harris presented briefly on the proposed plan, saying that more than 300 of her constituents had signed the plan as presented by the mayor. Harris also led commission members through examples where she had to drive past the stop line, into a crosswalk and even slightly into the roadway to make turns from intersecting roads. 

Mayor McCarthy told the commission she believed the data collected by Garvin was incomplete as it didn’t clearly indicate what days or times the traffic volume data was collected. She also said she didn’t think the data painted the full picture, as there were a lot of near misses on the street that didn’t necessarily result in full collisions.

“I don’t know when you have to be convinced,” Mayor McCarthy said. “If you physically watched [the traffic on the street] you would know you wouldn’t want your mother, your brother or your sister walking on that street.”

City Parking Clerk Thomas Magno motioned to table the matter and submit all data on the area to the mayor for her review. The motion was approved.

Private way parking restrictions

The traffic commission heard comments from Garvin on parking regulations on private ways, a matter tabled from Feb. 26. Garvin covered each of the 32 private ways and shared his recommendations for managing parking on those ways. Many private ways he determined needed no action. 

For public portions of Circle Drive, Mt. Walley Road and Marguerite Avenue, the commission voted to put in place Garvin’s recommended parking restrictions. For Evergreen Avenue, Farnsworth Avenue, Hawthorne Road, Summit Avenue and Wight Street, the parking restrictions needed to be approved by all abutters to be put into place. 

For Charlesbank Way and Sagamore Way, which are within apartment complexes, Garvin requested that No Parking signs put up by the owners of the complexes be submitted for approval to the commission.

The commission motioned to approve the parking restrictions suggested for the public way portions mentioned and requested that Garvin work with city councilors to figure out a way forward with the private way restrictions presented.

In other business, the commission made the following motions:

• To change the maximum allowable length of a commercial vehicle parked on a roadway from 24 feet to 20 feet.
• For Garvin to study the possibility of a stop sign where Sherwood Lane meets Temple Road.
• For Garvin to review the placement of flashing crosswalk beacons along the Charles River Greenway. Ward Nine Councilor and Council President Robert G. Logan was concerned that the buttons for the beacons were difficult to access not only for pedestrians but for people on bikes.
• For Garvin to perform a study based on a request by Logan to prohibit street parking within five feet of a driveway.
• To approve a request for some sort of signage to inform visitors of Waltham parking regulations, specifically the 24-hour maximum parking regulation, which states that a car cannot be parked in the same street spot for more than 24 hours without being moved.
• To approve a request for no parking signs to be placed across the street from 141 Hammond St.
• To approve a request for a blind driveway sign to be placed where Bacon Street meets Totten Pond Road.