A point of discussion was the proposal to extend the 24-hour resident parking, which is already in place on the lower half of Endicott Avenue, to the upper half. Councilor McKenna highlighted the challenges faced by residents, explaining, “I’ve been hearing from the residents… they can’t park in front of their houses,” due to non-residents using the spaces for leisure activities. This situation has made it challenging for residents to unload groceries and other necessities, and it has also affected bus operations since Endicott Avenue is a bus route. Several residents voiced their support, including Anthony Zambuto from 87 High Street, who stated, “This is really necessary,” and Mary Beth Deazi from 237 Endicott Avenue, who noted the absence of off-street parking and late-night parking difficulties. Long-term resident Jenny Colangelo underscored the problem by describing her struggles due to beachgoers using the residential spaces and raising safety concerns for children riding bicycles and scooters.

Zach Babo, the Director of Parking, supported the request, citing positive outcomes from similar measures in the Beachmont community, which had reduced parking abuse by non-residents. He mentioned incidents where cars were left unattended for extended periods.

Another topic was the need for traffic calming measures near the senior center on Winthrop Avenue. A representative from the senior center presented letters from seniors detailing dangerous encounters with speeding vehicles. One letter recounted a near-miss incident involving a senior, with the writer stressing, “This has got to stop.” Suggestions for improving safety included installing traffic lights and a speed table, as the existing flashing lights and crosswalks had proven insufficient. Commission members agreed on the necessity of enhanced safety measures, noting the high volume of traffic and the presence of vulnerable populations, including seniors and children. Proposals included raised crosswalks and speed bumps, with discussions about implementing a pedestrian-activated flashing light system similar to one used in East Boston. There was also a willingness from attendees to contribute budget resources to make this happen.

The Commission also addressed a request by Councilor G. Soya to relocate no parking signs on Bav Street, which was tabled due to a lack of public commentary and the need for further information. Additionally, a proposal by Councilor Cogliandro to add two crosswalks at the intersection of Kushav and Adam Street was denied due to concerns about the absence of ADA-compliant ramps and the potential for confusion for students needing to cross safely.

In another discussion, the Commission considered amending the schedule of one-way streets to designate Linehurst Road as one-way from Agatha to Route One North. Anthony Zambuto represented local residents who supported this change to improve traffic flow and reduce large vehicle presence. However, concerns about redirecting traffic into the neighborhood and the implications for safety led to a decision to table the item for additional review.

The meeting also covered a request to restrict heavy commercial vehicles on several streets, including Linehurst Road. This initiative, supported by the mayor’s office, aimed to limit truck traffic in residential areas. The Commission discussed the need for a formal voting process to establish these restrictions, with J. Cogliandro providing context about historical efforts to manage truck traffic.

The Commission addressed a request to MassDOT for a designated truck route to alleviate heavy truck traffic in residential areas, particularly North River. The proposal suggested using the Route One on-ramp instead, with a consensus reached on a 30,000-pound limit for heavy commercial vehicles, contingent on MassDOT’s approval.

The meeting concluded with discussions about various traffic calming measures and parking regulations. Requests for speed tables and amendments to traffic regulations were tabled for further study, and the need for clearer parking markings near fire hydrants and corners was emphasized to improve compliance and safety.