Thorne Street One-Way Petition
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions and the posted minutes; names and details may be misheard.
- What: Robert A. Bilotta's petition (CC item 7s, June 16, 2026) to make Thorne St. one-way east to west.
- Where it stands: held 3-0 on 2026-08-31 for more study by Transportation and Mobility.
- Next: Stephen S. Rolle expected to report back at the September meeting.
Why
- Bilotta described a narrow, busy street beside Friendly House and an adult day program, near an assisted-living/rehabilitation site (the captions garble the names), with vans needing room to unload.
- Supporters (a program director at the adult day health center and a Friendly House staffer) described side-swipes, drivers going onto the sidewalk and arguments in the street.
Opposition
- A longtime neighbor opposed it, citing emergency vehicles, school transport, restaurants and valet parking nearby, new apartments on Franklin St., the Grafton St. rotary and winter sliding on the hill. She said she often shovels the street herself.
Department findings
- 24 feet wide: too narrow for parking on both sides even one-way (a 9 to 10 foot lane left against a 12 foot requirement).
- About 1,500 vehicles a day; 65% travel west to east, opposite the proposed direction.
- 13 crashes in 5 years, roughly half the Gage St. rate but still about ten times the statewide norm.
- Open question: Chrome St. already runs one-way from Plantation St. toward Wall St., so there is no good return route.
- Next steps: talk with the day program and Friendly House; Bilotta also wants resident input; Luis A. Ojeda asked about snow removal being covered in the study. Bilotta cited one-way streets near WPI as a model and the 300+ new units on Franklin St. as a pressure.
Discussion time
About 18 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 - Traffic and Parking Committee | 18 |
Log
- 2026-08-31 - Traffic and Parking Committee — Heard with supporters and an opponent; Rolle recommended a hold to study circulation and consult stakeholders; held 3-0, due back in September.