Chelsea traffic commission adopts bicycle and e-scooter rules; tables Silver Line signal plan and several parking requests

Chelsea City Traffic and Parking Commission members adopted a new ordinance regulating bicycles and electric scooters and took action on several parking-related requests during their March 2025 public meeting.

The commission approved regulations and mapped districts intended to restrict certain bicycle and electric-scooter activity on sidewalks and other specified zones, following a communication dated Nov. 20, 2024, from counsel Leo Robinson. Commissioners said the ordinance is intended to give the Chelsea Police Department a clear enforcement mechanism and that the city will publish the map and ordinance text as part of its official code. Councilor Robinson said the expanded map and language are timely, given the expected increase in summer sidewalk use: "I agree with the changes he made ... the sooner we can advertise this," Councilor Robinson said.

Why it matters: the rules create defined areas where personal mobility devices and certain wheeled conveyances are restricted, and the city said signage and an online map will be used to notify the public. The ordinance cites state definitions for nonmotorized and personal mobility devices (referring in the discussion to MGL provisions used to define covered modes).

The commission acted on multiple parking and traffic items. A contractor request from Circle Earth Excavation for temporary on-street parking and staging was continued to a future meeting after staff and commissioners said they need a proposed layout, specific parking-space locations and a street-occupancy permit from the Department of Public Works before authorizing use of the right-of-way. Commissioners noted narrow turning movements on nearby Pine Street and that adjacent private parking lots should be considered; the matter was tabled for additional documentation.

The commission reviewed a communication from MBTA project staff and consultant Bowman about signalizing the Silver Line (SL3) busway exit onto Central Avenue. Itpara Cayeno, MBTA project manager for the Silver Line 3, described the objective as allowing buses to exit the busway and proceed to the Chelsea Street Bridge without an additional stop, reducing delays for riders. Gary McNaughton of Bowman Consulting described the design and said the new bus phase would be short — about 14 seconds — and would return unused time to Central Avenue traffic when no bus is present: "If the buses don't come up, that time just goes back to Central Ave," McNaughton said. Commissioners expressed support for the safety and operational aims but voted to table the item so project staff can confirm outreach and coordination with the nearby hotel and other local stakeholders and complete the MassDOT/Massport permitting coordination.

On handicap-parking applications, the commission approved a space for Leah (Lydia) Solares of 125 Grove Street after she said she has knee problems and lacks off-street parking. The commission also approved a previously removed curbside handicapped space to be restored for the applicant at 33 Eden Street (application filed Feb. 5, 2025) after hearing that the driveway there is frequently blocked and the applicant described recurring access problems. Commissioners noted that approved curb spaces remain available to any driver displaying a valid disabled-parking placard.

A request from Geraldo Mate (44 Kimball Road) for a curbside handicapped space was tabled. Commissioners said the property has a shared driveway and asked staff to seek guidance from Inspectional Services, the assessor's office or other records to clarify the legal status and functional use of the shared access before deciding. Commissioners cited comparable recent cases and asked staff to return with documentation showing whether the garage/driveway is functionally available for vehicle parking or is being used for storage.

Other business: Commissioner of Public Works Kate Fox Lund reported that the Downtown Broadway utility project remains on schedule for Phase 1 completion in December 2025; crews will install sewer lines and Third Street will be closed during most of March for Eversource work. The commission also voted to send a request from City Manager Bridal Moltez to hold a public hearing on the discontinuance of a paper street (Merritt Road between Webster Avenue and Stockton Street) under Chelsea Code of Ordinances section 24-85; staff said the discontinuance would trigger abutter distributions under the city’s procedures.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved minutes from prior meetings; adopted the bicycle/e-scooter regulations; approved two curbside handicap spaces (125 Grove St. and 33 Eden St.); tabled the Circle Earth Excavation parking request, the Silver Line signalization plan (pending stakeholder coordination), and the 44 Kimball Rd. handicap request (pending review of shared-driveway status); and voted to move the Merritt Road discontinuance to a public hearing.

The commission asked staff to return items with requested clarifications at a future meeting. The session adjourned after the March agenda was completed.