The Fall River Traffic Commission held its monthly meeting on July 15, 2026, chaired by Director of Traffic and Parking Stephanie McCarthy. The commission quickly approved the minutes from the previous month and moved through its agenda, which included a mix of new and tabled items. A request for a curb cut extension at 89 McDonald Street was approved based on a favorable review from the engineering department. The commission also approved a new loading zone for the Azores Market at 303 William Street and a parking prohibition on a 425-foot stretch of Brightman Street to improve traffic flow over a narrow bridge.
Several items that had been previously tabled were addressed. A proposal to make Field Street one-way was tabled again to await input from the fire chief. However, two other tabled items—a one-way request for Oliver Street and a stop sign request for Hope Street—were denied after the petitioners failed to attend the meeting for a second time. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to resident requests for handicap parking spaces. The commission approved seven new spots at various locations throughout the city after confirming the applicants met the necessary criteria. The meeting concluded with the approval to rescind eleven outdated handicap spots that were no longer needed, followed by a motion to adjourn.
Topics discussed
- 0:02 · Opening Procedures
The meeting was called to order, the open meeting law was read, and a roll call of commissioners was conducted. - 0:52 · Approval of Meeting Minutes
The commission approved the minutes from the June 17, 2026 meeting. - 0:52 · Approval of the 17 June 2026 meeting minutes. — approved
Approval of the 17 June 2026 meeting minutes. - 0:52 · Motion to adjourn the meeting. — passed
Motion to adjourn the meeting. - 1:51 · Curb Cut Request – 89 McDonald Street
A request from Nelson Cabral to extend a curb opening by 14.6 feet at 89 McDonald Street was approved, as the engineering department had no objections. - 2:28 · Approval of a curb cut extension at 89 McDonald Street. — passed
Approval of a curb cut extension at 89 McDonald Street. - 2:43 · One-Way Street Proposal – Field Street
A proposal to make Field Street a one-way street near Holy Trinity School was tabled for a second time to allow for input from the fire chief. - 3:30 · Motion to table the one-way street proposal for Field Street. — tabled
Motion to table the one-way street proposal for Field Street. - 4:28 · One-Way Street Proposal – Oliver Street
A previously tabled request to make the narrow Oliver Street a one-way was denied because the petitioner was not present. - 4:51 · Motion to deny the one-way street proposal for Oliver Street. — denied
Motion to deny the one-way street proposal for Oliver Street. - 5:01 · Stop Sign Request – Hope Street
A request for stop signs on Hope Street at Fountain and Eagle Streets was denied after the petitioner failed to attend the meeting for a second time. - 5:24 · Motion to deny the stop sign request for Hope Street. — denied
Motion to deny the stop sign request for Hope Street. - 5:34 · Loading Zone Request – Azores Market
Eli Reese, owner of Azores Market at 303 William Street, successfully requested a loading zone sign to facilitate deliveries. - 5:34 · Approval of a loading zone for Azores Market at 303 William Street. — passed
Approval of a loading zone for Azores Market at 303 William Street. - 8:32 · Parking Prohibition – Brightman Street
The commission approved prohibiting parking for 425 feet on the north side of Brightman Street to ensure safe passage over a narrow wooden bridge. - 9:42 · Approval of prohibited parking on Brightman Street. — passed
Approval of prohibited parking on Brightman Street. - 9:49 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 274 Cambridge Street
A tenant’s request for a handicap spot at 274 Cambridge Street was approved. - 9:49 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 183 Trip Street
A request for a handicap spot for a tenant at 183 Trip Street was approved. - 9:49 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 52 Snell Street
A request for a handicap spot at 52 Snell Street for a legally blind resident was approved. - 9:55 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 84 Stanley Street
A resident’s request for a handicap parking spot at 84 Stanley Street was approved. - 10:22 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 84 Stanley Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 84 Stanley Street. - 10:46 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 691 Charles Street
A homeowner’s request for a handicap parking spot at 691 Charles Street was approved. - 11:12 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 691 Charles Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 691 Charles Street. - 13:07 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 274 Cambridge Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 274 Cambridge Street. - 13:07 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 183 Trip Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 183 Trip Street. - 13:07 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 52 Snell Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 52 Snell Street. - 14:20 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 122 Whipple Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 122 Whipple Street. - 14:32 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 224 Plain Street
A tenant’s request for a handicap spot at 224 Plain Street was approved, with a letter from the property owner confirming no off-street parking was available. - 14:59 · Approval of a handicap parking spot at 224 Plain Street. — approved
Approval of a handicap parking spot at 224 Plain Street. - 17:49 · Handicap Parking Spot Request – 122 Whipple Street
A request for a handicap spot at 122 Whipple Street was approved due to an extraordinary situation involving multiple co-owners and limited off-street parking. - 18:01 · Rescinding of Handicap Parking Spaces
The commission approved the removal of eleven handicap parking signs across the city as they were no longer needed by residents. - 18:43 · Approval to rescind eleven specified handicap parking spots. — approved
Approval to rescind eleven specified handicap parking spots.