Traffic commission approves three parking ordinance changes, moves five items to public hearing

The Revere City Traffic Commission on Aug. 21 approved three routine amendments to Title 10 parking schedules and moved five additional items to public hearings for further consideration.

The commission voted to: add “No Parking Anytime” at 247 Washington Ave to Schedule 8; add a 15-minute parking zone at 910 Bridal (southerly direction) between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week; and remove an unused handicapped parking space at 110 Grandview Ave from Schedule 11. Commission members said the first two signs already are installed and the Grandview change reflects that the resident who requested the permit no longer lives at the address. The commission announced each item passed during the meeting; formal vote tallies were not specified in the record.

Why it matters: the short-turnover 15-minute restriction is intended to support nearby businesses by discouraging daytime long-term parking, and removing an unused handicapped space updates the municipal code to match actual curb markings.

The panel also moved several proposals to public hearings so staff can collect additional information and allow public comment. Those items include: - A request from Councilor Coguanda to make Cary Ave one-way southerly from the Revere High School parking lot to Cary Ave and to add a corresponding “Do Not Enter — Residents Only” restriction on the opposing leg. Commissioners and an audience member said the street is narrow and the one-way designation would improve safety, especially when school buses exit. The visitor explained the sign had been temporarily removed during a drainage project and urged that the regulation be restored so it can be enforced. - A stop sign request at the intersection of Winthrop Ave and Webster (presented on Councilman McKenna’s behalf). The applicant asked that the item go to a public hearing so neighbors can be heard. - A request to add a handicapped parking space at 40 Warren St; staff noted the packet included justification and recommended a public hearing to permit comment and review. - A proposal from Councilor Novoskowsky (presented by Ward 2 Councilor Irena Vasilski) to add “No Parking” at the northwest corner of Beach Street at North Shore Road to improve turning clearance for MBTA buses. Vasilski said the intent is to move parked cars away from the corner so buses have additional turning room; she suggested measuring back to the stop bar or the edge of a new building and described a likely adjustment “probably another 10 feet or so.” - A pair of related changes for the Riverside neighborhood: removal of a 24-hour residential permit-only restriction on a set of streets (Archer, Lawson, Wadley, Beckett, Blanchard, River, Gilbert, Frank, Toppin) and addition of an overnight residential parking restriction from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., seven nights a week (excluding federal holidays). The commission moved these items to public hearing for further public input.

Commissioners asked staff to measure the Beach Street curb and to consult with MBTA operations and safety staff about turning radii and bus clearance. Vasilski said MBTA staff had earlier agreed that pavement markings such as a “don’t block the box” stripe helped, but additional curb clearance could help buses make the turn.

A member of the public who spoke about Cary Ave described the street as “too narrow” for two-way traffic when buses are present and said parked cars have damaged mirrors. Councilor Vasilski, who spoke about the Beach Street item, said the goal is to avoid losing too much parking while still accommodating bus turns.

Next steps: Items moved to public hearing will be scheduled for future commission meetings so staff can provide detailed measurements, obtain MBTA input where relevant, and allow notice and public comment. No implementation dates were provided at the Aug. 21 meeting.