Revere Traffic Commission Roundup

By The Advocate

The Traffic Commission worked through a long agenda of public hearings and motions for traffic and parking improvements at their meeting last week.

77 Reservoir Ave.

The commission began with a public hearing request for a handicapped person parking space at 77 Reservoir Ave. The request was approved unanimously.

Ensign Street parking

A public hearing on whether to prohibit parking on Ensign Street, from Hauman Street to Sullivan Street, was continued so the commission could collect more information. Parking director Zach Babo said typically parking would be restricted for the entire length of a street. Babo said his department would conduct a wo-week study on parking enforcement and violations to present at the next Traffic commission meeting.

Stop signs for Centennial Avenue

The commission approved two isolated stop signs for Centennial Avenue. The first is to slow eastbound traffic to Campbell Avenue. The second stop sign is for westbound traffic on Campbell Avenue.

Stop sign for Shirley Avenue

An isolated stop sign on Shirley Avenue, for eastbound traffic to Thornton Street was unanimously approved.

Resident parking only on Prospect and Reservoir Avenues

The commission approved a request to make Prospect Avenue, from Northeast Broadway to 74 Prospect Avenue Resident Sticker Parking Only 24 Hours a Day 7 Days a week. Also, Reservoir Avenue from 6 reservoir Ave. to 46 Reservoir Ave. was also approved for resident parking only. Residents from the neighborhood were at the meeting to explain how people heading for the airport park in their neighborhood taking spaces for days. Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio said it wasn’t a parking problem; it was a housing problem. The influx of residents is making parking tight.

Limiting parking permits

The commission took up a motion presented by Ward 5 City Councillor Angela Guarino Sawaya that they consider establishing a regulation limiting the number of residential parking permits issued per address or unit to four with the stipulation that residents may apply for additional parking permits through an appeal process administered by the Parking Department.

Parking Director Zach Babo said he did not believe the commission had enough information to approve the proposal. Babo said additional data was needed to provide a good working system. Babo also questioned if the motion would include hard caps or fees. He suggested the motion be sent to the traffic working group for review and the commission agreed.

Handicapped Person Parking

The commission voted unanimously to hold public hearings on requests for handicapped parking spaces at 84 Florence Avenue and 178 Constitution Avenue.

School parking restrictions

The commission discussed a group of requests to restrict parking to staff only at city schools including Beachmont, Garfield, Hill, Lincoln, Paul Revere, Revere High and Rumney Marsh Academy. The restrictions would run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vehicles will be Towed at the owner’s expense and there is no parking before, during or after snow events.

Police Chief Maria LaVita said the restrictions do not include summer. Commissioners understood the need for staff parking but suggested the restricted hours could be trimmed back and allowances made for parking during snowstorms. The commission will hold a public hearing on the proposals.