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Residents and city officials clash over Grafton Street parking ban near Roosevelt School
Summary
Residents and parents told the Traffic & Parking Committee that a temporary parking ban on Grafton Street near Roosevelt School has created congestion and safety concerns; city transportation staff and councilors said it shortened long queues and recommended more coordination with the school to improve drop‑off procedures.
The Traffic & Parking Committee approved maintaining a parking prohibition on portions of Grafton Street near Roosevelt School after a contentious public hearing in which residents and parents said the rule had made afternoon traffic worse and created hazards for children.
"The traffic is stuck in 5 and 6 and 7 minute. Stuck," resident Luis told the panel, saying he has video showing cars queued and drivers turning around. Another caller, Kayla, said she submitted three videos and that "the parking ban... is making it worse" and was blocking business access in the area.
Committee members and Department of Transportation & Mobility staff disagreed with the characterization that the change made conditions worse. Councilor John Frasolo said the previous problem involved parents parking and queuing on Grafton Street for an hour; he called the new pattern "10 minutes as opposed to an hour." DOT staff described a multiagency response that included the school, police and Mass Safe Routes to Schools to make on-site pickup more efficient and reduce roadway queuing.
DOT staff said the shoulder in parts of Grafton Street is too narrow to function as a safe parking lane and recommended prohibiting parking on the west side of the driveway to reduce driveway conflicts and blocked travel lanes. The department also said it has observed shorter queues after the change and plans resurfacing this year that will widen a parking lane near the driveway.
The committee approved the order with a chair's direction that DOT, the school and council offices continue to work on operational tweaks and outreach to parents to make drop-off and pickup safer. Department staff said they will return in the fall with additional steps and that some on-site procedures at Roosevelt School will again be reviewed when school resumes.
