The Chelsea Traffic and Parking Commission took a string of votes at its October public meeting, approving minutes and several traffic and parking changes while tabling or requesting more study for other neighborhood requests.

The most consequential votes reinstated the protected left‑turn signal at the intersection of Marginal, Pearl and Williams Street and approved a new truck route affecting Crest, Hillside, Willard and Clark avenues. The commission also approved targeted parking‑restriction changes to improve sight lines at Webster Avenue and Lock Street, authorized signage and vegetation trimming after a Winthrop Road speed review, and moved the city’s Vision Zero safety action plan to public hearing.

Why it matters: the actions are intended to change how vehicles, trucks and pedestrians use several busy or constrained streets in Chelsea, affect curbside parking availability for nearby residents and businesses, and set the agenda for the city’s broader street‑safety plan.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes, June 3 and September 2, 2025 — motions carried on voice votes.
- Adoption of proposed amendments to Article 13 of the citywide parking program (as submitted by the clerk) — motion carried on voice vote.
- Reinstatement of protected westbound left‑turn signal from Marginal onto the McArdle Bridge (Marginal/Pearl/Williams intersection) — motion to reinstate carried (voice vote) after consultant presentation and public comment. The commission cited resident outreach and a consultant analysis of traffic impacts and mitigation options.
- Truck route designation (Hillside Ave from Summit Ave to Illinois; routing to Eleanor to serve Soldiers’ Home deliveries and prevent problematic turns on Crest/Willard/Clark) — motion carried (voice vote). The engineering consultant presented turning movement analysis and recommended the route to reduce truck turn conflicts.
- Webster Avenue / Lock Street — motion carried to restrict parking on both sides of Lock Street approaches (approximately 55 feet east of Lock and 75 feet west of Lock in plan figures) to improve sight lines for drivers emerging from Lock Street; signage and minor pedestrian warning signage also recommended.
- Winthrop Road petition status — consultant found posted speeds generally below city limit after a stop sign installation; commission voted to trim vegetation, freshen markings and post a “no parking near corner” sign to improve sight lines (motion carried on voice vote).
- Vision Zero Chelsea Safety Action Plan — motion carried to advance the Vision Zero report to a public hearing for broader community comment.
- Handicap parking applications — multiple staff‑handled case votes: the commission denied or tabled some applications for missing information and approved others (see full minutes for itemized list below).
- Adjudicatory appeal (visitor parking pass revocation) — appeal granted with conditions (see separate article on the hearing).

Items tabled or given additional study
- Speed hump request on Pine Street (request from Linda Dube) — staff asked to gather speed data and discuss with Fire, DPW and traffic engineers. The commission agreed to table the item to the November meeting so staff can report back with a plan that minimizes emergency vehicle impacts.
- Essex Street speed‑hump request (Councillor Giovanni Recupera) — commission agreed to table to the December meeting to allow additional consultation with the fire department and consider alternative calming devices narrower than standard humps.
- Hawthorne Street one‑way petition — tabled pending interdepartmental review and stakeholder consultation; applicant will return with a vetted proposal.

What the votes mean now
The commission directed staff and consultants to implement the short‑term measures approved (signing, vegetation trimming, limited parking restrictions, truck‑route signage) and to continue outreach and technical study where the commission tabled items. Several approvals carry follow‑up steps: traffic engineers will propose mitigation measures where signal timing or lane reconfiguration is required, and staff will notify residents and businesses where parking restrictions will be posted.

Votes and formal motions referenced the following authorities during discussion: MGL Chapter 30A Section 14 (adjudicatory hearing rules) and the city’s Article 13 (citywide parking program). Formal vote tallies were recorded as voice votes in the meeting transcript; individual roll‑call counts were not provided in the audio record.

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after a public‑information update on the Downtown Broadway utility project and set follow‑up items for the November and December agendas.