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Truck Ban - Hamilton Street and Lake Avenue

At a glance

  • What: John P. Fresolo petitioned for truck bans or weight restrictions on through truck traffic on Hamilton St. and Lake Ave.
  • Where it stands: adopted by the full City Council 11-0 on 2026-09-08. On 2026-09-29 the Council funded a $21,000 exclusion study (8.36C) from CSX community funds.
  • Next: on 2026-10-13 Rolle said the study report should go to the state shortly after the new year. Whether MassDOT approves a full exclusion is not stated in the minutes.

The proposal

  • Residents describe heavy truck traffic and speeding.
  • Fresolo raised camera enforcement using CSX funds and working with mapping providers to change suggested truck routes.
  • A night-time exclusion is the fallback if MassDOT will not approve a full exclusion.

Committee hearing

  • Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility Stephen S. Rolle cited truck exclusion studies for both streets, their street classifications, radar speed feedback signs, speed limit signs, Lake Ave. and Bigelow Davis Pkwy. intersection improvements and the long patch program.
  • A police sergeant explained how residents can document violations to support enforcement.
  • Recommended for approval 2-0 on 2026-08-19 (to the full City Council).
  • Rolle said camera enforcement is not legal in Massachusetts; enforcement would fall to the police commercial vehicle team, which is a person down. Police need to witness violations, but resident footage with times helps target patrols.
  • Rolle explained that MassDOT makes the final call, the city must do an engineering study (24-hour vehicle counts, zoning, alternate routes such as Grafton St.), exclusions apply only to through trips (local deliveries are still allowed), and Lake Ave. is classified a principal arterial, which makes approval an "uphill climb". A re-classification request is under way. Mapping providers reroute only for a legal or physical barrier.
  • Residents' complaints: shaking houses and foundations, 3 a.m. noise, speeding, collapsed manholes and ruts. The one business owner opposed (Hamilton St.) receives trailer deliveries.
  • Parallel fixes: Lake Ave. long patch (Coburn Ave. to Sunderland Rd.), radar speed signs, a state-funded redesign of the Lake Ave. and Hamilton St. intersection starting this fall.
  • Thirteen speakers: eleven in favor, two opposed.

Discussion time

About 61 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-09-29 - City Council 6
2026-08-19 - Traffic and Parking Committee 55

Log

  • 2026-10-13 - City Council — Rolle said the heavy-vehicle exclusion study for Hamilton Street and Lake Ave. (funded 9/29) has its scope back from the consultants and a contract is being assembled; traffic counts and neighborhood data will be collected this fall, with a report likely ready for the state shortly after the new year. John P. Fresolo also asked about the Lake Ave. long patch (City Manager Eric D. Batista: contractor expected to mobilize about the end of October, work this calendar year) and the Lake Ave. and Hamilton St. intersection public meeting (expected around December). See Belmont Street and Lake Avenue Traffic Safety.
  • 2026-09-29 - City Council — Item 8.36C: $21,000 from the CSX Community Fund/Gate Fees for a heavy vehicle exclusion study on Lake Ave. and Hamilton St. adopted 11-0. John P. Fresolo thanked the City Manager, said residents packed the Traffic and Parking meeting, and wants trucks routed via Route 20, 146 and 290 to the exit across from CSX. Khrystian E. King asked about the old CSX Neighborhood Improvement Fund advisory committee; Eric D. Batista said the two district councilors chose different ways of getting input and no committee exists; King's order for a report on the prior committee was adopted 11-0. The Council also authorized $35,000 from the CSX Shrewsbury Street fund for radar speed feedback signs on Belmont and Plantation Streets (8.36D).
  • 2026-09-08 - City Council — Committee reports (19d, 19e) adopting the Hamilton St. and Lake Ave. truck ban/weight restriction orders accepted and adopted 11-0 in a block.
  • 2026-08-19 - Traffic and Parking Committee — Both truck ban petitions recommended for approval 2-0 on Rolle's recommendation after about an hour of testimony (thirteen speakers). Rolle said cameras are not legal, MassDOT decides, and the study has no funding yet; Robert A. Bilotta supported the petitions.
  • 2026-07-22 - Traffic and Parking Committee — Related truck exclusion signage approved for Ararat St. and supplemental signage for Mount Ave.
  • 2026-07-21 - City Council — Items 7w and 7x: John P. Fresolo's truck ban/weight restriction petitions for Hamilton St. and Lake Ave. referred to Traffic and Parking.