Fall River Traffic Commission approves parking and safety changes, orders caution sign at High/Lincoln

The Fall River City Traffic Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 15 approved a set of parking- and traffic-safety measures including two 15-minute pickup/drop-off parking spaces near a downtown childcare provider, an 8 a.m.–5 p.m. loading zone on Lindsey Street, several on-street handicap parking spaces, and installation of a solar-powered flashing “slow/dangerous intersection” sign at High Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The commission, chaired by Stephanie McArthur (director of traffic and parking), said the measures respond to resident requests and operational concerns raised at the meeting and through earlier applications to the commission. The items won majority support after brief discussion and motions recorded in the meeting minutes.

Commission staff reported that a request to remove a three-way stop at Florence and Reading streets was approved after staff said there had been no crashes at that intersection in a three-year review. Resident speakers and applicants described specific safety and parking problems: Gerald Ness, a long-time resident, said sections of Bigelow Street have steep grades and vehicles are “just flying down the road these days,” and residents at High and Lincoln described repeated instances of cars speeding near a resident who uses demand-response transit.

On the High Street/Lincoln Avenue request, resident Susan Diaz said she was concerned about speed and the safety of a household member who uses on-demand transit; she said, “I don't want something to happen to my daughter.” Staff told the commission a three-year crash analysis for that intersection showed no reported collisions, but recommended additional countermeasures rather than an immediate stop sign because stop signs can shift crash patterns if drivers do not comply. The commission approved a motion to install a solar flashing caution sign that will display “slow/dangerous intersection” and to post regular caution signage immediately while a flashing unit is ordered; staff estimated a regular sign could be installed in about one week and a solar flashing unit might take about two weeks to procure and install.

The commission also approved a request from the Little League Learning Center at 55 North Main Street for two 15-minute parking spaces for morning and afternoon drop-off/pick-up. Because the spaces in front of the building are metered by a kiosk, staff and the applicant agreed to place the two 15-minute spaces on nearby Bank Street instead; the commission voted to install the signs Monday–Friday during school hours. The applicant said the program serves roughly 35–38 children during peak times.

At 126 President Avenue (Lindsey Street), the commission approved an 8 a.m.–5 p.m. loading zone on the west side of Lindsey Street close to President Avenue to reduce truck blocking of the narrow street. The decision requires removal and relocation of an existing handicap parking space; the commission directed staff to revise the ordinance measurements and move the handicap place farther north on the same block so the loading zone can be established.

On handicap parking requests the commission approved on-street accessible spaces at 140 Stafford Road, 118 Wilcox Street and 45 Grant Street (paperwork confirmed), tabled or accepted withdrawal for several others (79 Ewitsch and 202 Cambridge were tabled; the resident at 79 Ewitsch verbally requested to withdraw and the commission awaits written confirmation), and denied a request at 198 George Street after staff found an off-street driveway available at that address. The commission also approved the traffic department's request to rescind a previously assigned handicap space on Crawford Street because the permit holder no longer uses it.

Other administrative items included tabling earlier miscellaneous requests where applicants were not present and formal motions to dismiss or table those items. Where motions and seconds were recorded, the body noted the mover and seconder during the meeting but no roll-call vote tallies were read into the record.

The commission closed the meeting after the items above; staff said signs and ordinance changes will be scheduled and that most handicap sign installations require ordinance processing and can take roughly 12 weeks for manufacture and placement.

Votes at a glance: - Remove three-way stop at Florence/Reading: motion to remove approved (motioned by Natalie Mallow, seconded by Helen Rigo); outcome: approved; note: staff reported zero crashes in a three-year review. - Two 15-minute parking spaces for Little League Learning Center (to be placed on Bank Street, Mon–Fri): motion approved (first by Natalie Mallow, seconded by Helen Rigo); outcome: approved. - Stop-sign request at High Street/Lincoln Avenue: commission approved installation of a solar flashing caution sign and regular caution signage; motion to rescind installing a stop sign was made and carried (motion by John Will Pointe, seconded by Natalie Mallow); outcome: solar caution sign approved, stop-sign request rescinded. - Loading zone at Lindsey Street (west side, closest to President Ave) 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; removal/relocation of existing handicap space: motion approved (first by John Will Pointe, seconded by Natalie Mallow); outcome: approved; note: proposed loading zone length ~60 feet per discussion. - Change to Vivere School parking prohibition (prohibit only during school hours rather than at all times; relates to ordinances 70-371 and 73-72): motion approved (motion by Natalie Mallow, seconded by John Will Pointe); outcome: approved; note: staff will draft ordinance language tied to arrival/dismissal times. - Handicap parking approvals: 140 Stafford Road (approved, first by John Will Pointe, seconded by Natalie Mallow), 118 Wilcox Street (approved, first by Natalie Mallow, seconded by Helen Rigo), 45 Grant Street (paperwork confirmed; approved), 79 Ewitsch (resident requested withdrawal; commission awaiting written confirmation), 202 Cambridge (tabled), 198 George Street (denied; motion to deny by Helen Rigo, seconded by Natalie Mallow), Crawford Street rescind (approved).

What happens next: Traffic staff will schedule sign installations and ordinance updates. Staff estimated standard signage can be posted within about a week; solar flashing units may require ordering and take closer to two weeks; handicap sign installations and the accompanying ordinance updates generally require a longer lead time (staff estimated about 12 weeks).