Parking & Traffic committee files, approves and holds a slate of street‑level petitions

The Worcester City Parking and Traffic Committee voted on a large batch of parking and traffic petitions at its Sept. 17 meeting, approving some requests, filing others and holding several for more information or re‑advertising.

The committee front‑loaded routine approvals for on‑street handicap parking, installed and planned crosswalk upgrades, and a set of traffic‑calming changes recommended by a MassDOT consultant. Commissioners and residents debated more contested items, including an accessible‑parking request in the District 120 development and a petition to remove a left‑turn restriction on Otsego Road; the committee ultimately filed the Otsego petition (keeping the restriction in place) and accepted staff recommendations to advance traffic‑signal and stop‑control work where independent studies recommended action.

Votes at a glance

- Item 3b (4th Street, 3–5 Fourth Street): Recommendation to file accepted. Outcome: filed. Roll call: Councilor Priscillo: Yes; Chair Councilor Donna Calorio: Yes.

- Item 3c (20 Strathmore Road): Recommendation filed (petition filed by the applicant). Outcome: filed.

- Item 3f (District 120 area, Theodore Toner Way/Green Street): Petition for three on‑street handicap spaces — committee accepted staff recommendation to file. Outcome: filed.

- Item 3g (Washington Street, 171 Washington): Petition to install a handicap space — committee voted to hold and re‑advertise because the proposed space would be located on the odd side of the street and would affect neighbors across the street. Outcome: held/re‑advertise.

- Item 3h (5½ Bluff Street): Request for a…