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Worcester outlines City Hall security upgrades, converts public garage to restricted access and adds on‑street accessible parking
Summary
City officials described planned security upgrades at City Hall, including adding security officers and a visitor screening area, converting the public parking garage to restricted city‑vehicle use, and creating two new on‑street ADA‑compliant spaces on Franklin Street to improve access.
City of Worcester officials described a package of security and parking changes for City Hall, saying they will add security officers, create a visitor check‑in and screening area at the main vestibule, move public parking to Main Street and convert the underground parking garage to restricted use for city vehicles, and install two new ADA‑compliant on‑street accessible parking spaces on Franklin Street.
"We will be doing some security upgrades at City Hall, which include adding security officers, which began this week or begin next week, as well as a visitor check‑in area, a screening area at the front vestibule entrance where security will screen visitors coming into the building," Charles Goodman, commissioner for the Department of Emergency Communications and Emergency Management, told the Accessibility Advisory Commission. Goodman also described signage and patrols to help direct visitors and manage safety concerns.
Steve Rowley, Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility, said the public parking lane in front of City Hall will be converted into regulated on‑street parking, with a short passenger drop‑off zone and roughly 10 spaces set aside for 30‑minute parking to prioritize high turnover. After reviewing curb widths and the new PROWAG guidelines, Rowley said the two best locations for on‑street accessible (HP) spaces are on the deeper parking lanes on Front Street and Franklin Street and that the administration proposes adding two full‑length compliant spaces on Franklin Street adjacent to the City Hall approach.
Rowley said the Main Street curb lane is only about 7.5 feet wide and therefore not ideal for a fully compliant on‑street accessible space; the team instead identified Franklin Street (about 13 feet deep) and Front Street (about 12 feet deep) as better options. Assistant Director Todd Crane confirmed PROWAG dimensions discussed by staff during the meeting, noting the on‑street specification includes a 24‑foot length requirement and an approximately 13‑foot width for curbside spaces.
Commissioners and public participants raised concerns about whether new on‑street accessible spaces would be used by non‑City visitors, potentially limiting access for people visiting City Hall. Rowley said there is no administrative tool that will permanently prevent an off‑site visitor from parking in an on‑street accessible space, but that proximity to City Hall, the short‑term parking regulation, and other nearby accessible spaces should help prioritize City Hall users. Rowley also said spaces in the garage would remain for authorized city employees who require them.
No formal vote or ordinance change was taken at the meeting; staff described the planned operational changes and a design and implementation process that will be monitored and adjusted as needed.
