Tom Skrowski, Revere’s chief of planning and community development, laid out the city’s Harris Street and Route 16 intersection redesign and a short‑term pilot meant to reduce regional cut‑through traffic through a neighborhood.

"The intent of this project is not to bring more people into the neighborhood. It's to bring less people into the neighborhood," Skrowski said in presenting a plan tied to Suffolk Downs off‑site mitigation and MEPA/Section 61 findings. He said the configuration will convert the immediate Harris Street approach to a one‑way for the first block, simplify a five‑leg intersection to four phases and add additional left‑ and right‑turn lanes to improve traffic flow.

Skrowski said the pilot will begin with baseline data collection (24‑hour turning movement counts and 48‑hour ATR speed/volume counts), run a 90‑day evaluation period and allow data‑driven tweaks including possible reversion of Sewell Street to one‑way, added signage, neck‑downs or permanent diverters. HYM, the developer tied to the Suffolk Downs project, will contribute $35,000 toward neighborhood improvements related to the post‑implementation adjustments, Skrowski said.

Several councilors and residents told the council they had not been adequately notified. "The lack of communication to the residents and to the ward councilors is unacceptable," Councilor Cogliandro said, asking that a vehicle‑count device be placed on Sewell Street before the Dec. 6 change to establish a baseline. Cogliandro warned the pilot could shift cut‑through traffic onto Sewell, Bixby, Library, Butler, Elm and Lowell streets.

Councilor Loclianro raised concerns about parking loss on Sewell/Bixby and asked where displaced cars should park. Skrowski said outreach and targeted flyers are underway in multiple languages and that the traffic commission retains authority to review the pilot after 90 days. He also said the police department will provide dedicated details at launch to aid enforcement and compliance.

Residents speaking during public comment expressed strong, split views. A resident identifying as Terrell of 70 Sewell Street said neighbors felt "unheard" and warned about emergency access for elderly residents: "I don't have any confidence in this plan. Absolutely none." By contrast, property owner Rich Fiscay said he believed the plan could make the neighborhood safer but recommended adjustments such as moving a bus stop on Beach Street to improve lane capacity.

Skrowski placed particular emphasis on the plan’s link to regional mitigation and longer‑term Bell Circle work. He said the Bell Circle improvements are a larger, $7+ million project expected only after a full build‑out threshold of the Suffolk Downs development is reached; an interim slip lane at Bell Circle is being advanced in the near term and 75% design comments were returned by MassDOT.

What happens next: Skrowski said baseline counts were intended to start immediately but were delayed by weather; city staff now expect baseline data collection in early December with a 45‑day midpoint in January and a 90‑day review in March. Any formal decision to change the pilot’s configuration after the trial period will be made by the traffic commission, Skrowski said.