North Adams Traffic Commission Considers Protection Ave Parking Restrictions
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Traffic Commission is considering "No Parking" regulations on Protection Avenue.
The commissioners reviewed findings from a site visit Monday and agreed to some preliminary recommendations to be communicated with the residents at a future meeting.
"These were the observations and we want to put together our recommendations and with those recommendations, we would go through the process with residents and explain it to them," Chairman David Sacco said.
Sacco said they have mostly focused on the "s curve" part of the road that often gets congested during sporting events at Alcombright Athletic Complex.
"Even when one car is parked ... when they start parking on both sides of the street it truly gets really awkward there," Sacco said.
The commission felt "No Parking" along the westerly side of the road from State Road to the area near the end of the T-ball field would alleviate some of the issues.
Sacco said there are already "No Parking" signs on the east side, however, they were never adopted correctly. The commission proposed extending "No Parking" from the Greylock Works driveway to the utility pole adjacent to the overflow lot.
This would correct the possible enforcement issue.
It was noted that all residents have their own parking and there was not a need for on-street parking
Sacco suggested adding a date to these restrictions because parking really only becomes an issue during baseball, softball, and soccer season when Alcombright Field is utilized.
"There is really only a certain time of year where this becomes an issue an that is when ... everything is going on at once," he said.
Commissioner Mary Ann King said she felt this would become confusing and City Councilor Eric Buddington suggested a date would only limit the city's parking enforcement in the area.
The commission voted to reach out to the public and have this meeting in January. At that time, the commission will have measurements and site maps.
"They can throw out some thoughts they may have and then we can come together and maybe meet in the middle or not," Commissioner Amanda Chilson said.
In other business, the commission responded to a letter from a Clarksburg resident concerned about speeding between Clarksburg and North Adams.
Although the commission could not act on the Clarksburg-related concerns, it did vote to reduce the speed on Franklin Street to 20 mph from Northern Lights to where the street meets Eagle Street in both directions.
"We can try to get them to slow down," Commissioner Paul Markland said
Markland, the city's highway foreman, said speed limit signs have been placed on Reservoir Road and Notch Road.
The commission also tabled a request to post "No Parking" signs on Forrest Street. The letter stated that the narrow road often gets too congested and there was a fear emergency vehicles could not access some of the homes.
King suggested tabling the item until they could visit the site.
"We can look at it and really see what the situation is," she said.
Tags: parking ban, traffic commission,
