Council approves Eversource work, parking changes, stop signs, easement and city EV chargers
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Summary
Councilors approved an Eversource gas-line replacement petition, removed daytime no-parking restrictions in East Forest Park, made temporary stop signs permanent, accepted an easement for a detention basin at West Crystal Brook, and approved four city EV charger sites vetted with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
At its regular meeting, the Springfield City Council approved a series of public-works and transportation items including an Eversource gas-line replacement, multiple traffic-sign changes and city-backed electric-vehicle chargers.
DPW Director Chris Signoli described four petitions from Eversource for retiring a medium-pressure gas line and installing about 2,400 feet of 2-inch plastic pipe on Roanoke Road, Mayflower Road, Quaker Road and Pilgrim Road in East Forest Park to improve neighborhood pressure. He said the work will require trenching and urged coordination on surface restoration. "In order to increase pressure in the neighborhood for all of the streets in the neighborhood," Signoli said, the work is needed; the council approved the petition and asked staff to meet with Eversource about repaving standards.
The council also approved removing daytime no-parking restrictions on several side streets near schools in East Forest Park after residents petitioned the traffic commission. The traffic-commission trial of two 4-way stop signs on Forest Park Ave was made permanent after the commission reported lowered speeds and neighborhood support. Both changes were approved by roll call.
On a development matter, councilors granted a maintenance easement at West Crystal Brook so a developer can retain ownership of a detention-basin parcel while granting the city access for maintenance; the council voted to accept the easement.
Tina Quaglietto Sullivan presented four publicly sited EV chargers being funded under a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center program in which the center provided a technical consultant and will oversee installation and five years of maintenance. The approved locations include Myrtle Street Park/Appramont Triangle, Pearl Street/Appramont Triangle, Saint James Boulevard near Marshall Roy Park, and Main & Jefferson Avenue. The council approved all four installations.
Votes on the items were taken by roll call with most items passing unanimously or with the usual absences noted in the clerk’s record. Councilors asked staff to coordinate with Eversource on roadway restoration and to brief committee members on implementation steps for the chargers.