City Council Transportation Sub Committee

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Transportation SC Minutes Date: January 7, 2019 Time: 5:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA PRESENT: Present on Roll Call were C. Elliott and C. Conway. 1 absent (C. Cirillo). Also present were Natasha Vance (Transportation Engineer), Representative Nangle, C. Milinazzo, C. Mercier, Manager Donoghue and C. Kennedy. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: C. Elliott called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber noting those in attendance and motion response. ORDER OF BUSINESS: Ms. Vance noted the process and commented on the public hearing regarding design of project. Ms. Vance provided history of the project and noted the scope was all the way along Route 38 and the project was done to increase safety in that whole area. Ms. Vance noted that of all the four options available for the project this was safest design. Ms. Vance noted that MassDot would see this project has being done as whole and not broken apart. Manager Donoghue noted that project has been in development for several years and is a multi-million dollar project at one hundred percent design. C. Kennedy questioned Laurel Street options as well as possibility of breaking project into different phases. Ms. Vance noted why these types of projects are done as a whole. Rep. Nangle commented on length of time MassDot has been involved and that it is an ongoing process. Ms. Vance provided crash history of the site. C. Kennedy questioned traffic effect on other areas after completion of the project. C. Conway noted avenues to prevent cut through concerns. Ms. Vance noted three possible assists for cut through; enforcement, speeds bumps and increases of parking. C. Mercier noted the process has been going on for some time and if changes need to be made they should be made. Manager noted that inquiries can be made to MassDot and that delays would result if changes were to be made. C. Milinazzo noted that it was welcomed news that Laurel Street would City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 2) remain two-way. C. Elliott opened meeting up to public comment allowing the following to address the subcommittee: Brian Meade; Tracy Keeler; Mr. Patel; Mike Doucette; Brian Marhan; Jon Geer; and Ms. Erickson. C. Elliott noted it was a State project and that their notice requirements were followed. Manager Donoghue commented public input process. C. Kennedy noted that moving forward the subcommittee should be informed of traffic improvement situations as it relates to State projects. Ms. Vance noted that this project had a twenty four month construction schedule for the entire corridor and that MassDot would approve a traffic management plan during that construction time frame. Manager Donoghue commented on possible sequence of construction and further noted the challenges with notice and traffic in general. Rep. Nangle noted that GIS is bringing more traffic into the neighborhoods. Ms. Vance provided update regarding improvements to the Kitteridge Park corridor. Manager Donoghue noted the scope of MassDot work in that area. Ms. Vance clarified how peak hours are measured and that all design takes into account future traffic projections. Motion by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Conway request that the City Manager contact MassDot to explore possibility of separating out certain aspects of the project; request that the Traffic Engineer review possible traffic restrictions if there is an increase to traffic diverting to side streets and lastly request that the Traffic Engineer explore traffic calming measures for Fairmount Street. So voted. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn by C. Conway, seconded by C. Elliott. So voted. Meeting adjourned at 6:38 PM. Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov