BROCKTON TRAFFIC COMMISSION
Thursday, April 23rd , 2026
6:00 P.M.
MINUTES
The Traffic held its monthly meeting at the Arnone School Little Theater, 135 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301, at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026.
Present were Traffic Commission Members: Traffic Commissioner Captain Mark Porcaro, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph DePasquale, Retired Fire Chief Kenneth Galligan, Director Hooke, James Sweeney and Councillor Marlon Green.
There being a proper quorum, the meeting was called to order by Traffic Commissioner Captain Porcaro at 6:00 p.m. Upon motion made by James Sweeney, seconded by Director Hooke, to waive and approve the reading of the 3-26-2026 Traffic Commission Minutes and the 4-8-2026 Special Traffic Commission Minutes.
OLD BUSINESS
Requested by: Councillor Green on Behalf of Sheila Welch
Request/Issue: Requesting that the speed limit from the corner of Pearl St./Pearl Way to the corner of Sunset Dr./Pearl St. be lowered from 40mph to 30mph. (Traffic Commission members see attached email)
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommendation 1: Take no action at this time as no identifiable speed-related issues (crashes, etc.) have been brought to our attention.
Recommendation 2: Explore lowering the speed limit. According to the CDM Smith Engineering Quick Reference Guide (Brockton edition), dated September 2023, under the section titled “Part 4. Process for Establishing New Speed Limits, ” and engineering study and Mass DOT approval will be required to do this.
Discussion: Councilor Green was present and he was curious about recommendation number two. Have we gone through this process before with Mass DOT in terms of lowering the speed limit? Of which Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated to my recollection, we have not altered a speed limit in the city since I’ve been Traffic Commissioner. But if that’s something you, we want to do, this is the process for doing it. Councilor Green stated do we have any idea what the budgetary impact is for such a study? Of which Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated I don’t. He further stated if you want, we don’t have to decide tonight. If you want to talk to Ms. Welch or have some time to think about this, we could always continue it to next month and then figure out what we want to do with it then. Councilor Green stated agreed and wished to continue this item to next month.
VOTED: CONTINUE TO MAY MEETING
Upon duly motion made by Director Hooke, seconded by Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative
Requested by: Jorge Bettencourt
Request/Issue: Would like a Do Not Park sign at the end of my driveway.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. Install a NO PARKING HERE TO DEAD END sign on the utility pole between 17 and 21 Rufus Street (westside of the street).
B. Install a NO PARKING BOTH SIDES sign, with signpost, in front of 21 Rufus Street.
VOTED: TO ACCEPT SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon duly motion made by Director Hooke, seconded by James Sweeney, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative
- PROSPECT AND WARREN AVENUE
Requested by: Councilor Shirley Asack on behalf of Peter Georgantas and Senator Brady
Request/Issue: The traffic light at Prospect and Warren Avenue (east & west) heading towards Main Street. Adjust signal as at peak hours mainly in the afternoon between 3-5 p.m. traffic gets backed up to Cross Street. (Sent letter to Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale- continued for an update)
Discussion: Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated on March 16th, the time on the Prospect movements were 18 seconds. The signal was able to move up to 25. Now, for the Prospect east to west is now at 35 seconds, and for Warren Ave north to south, that was a 28 second cycle, and we were able to keep it at 28. So, hopefully that alleviates some of the backup that they were looking for. But the 35 was the maximum we could go. With anything higher than that, we’d have to get engineering. And the other thing to keep in mind, is the way that intersection is, you have a lot of cars that come up Prospect and want to take a left onto North Warren Ave. and they back up traffic because they can’t make the left.
VOTED: SUPPORT ACTION ALREADY TAKEN BY BFD SIGNAL DIVISION
Upon duly motion made by James Sweeney, seconded by Director Hooke, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative
- 242-246 MAIN STREET
Requested by: Philip Cohen
Request/Issue: I am requesting the installation of several additional bollards on the sidewalks in front of the building of 242-246 Main Street (continued from 3/26 meeting)
Discussion: Phil Cohen was present. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that we continued this to tonight so that I could reach out to Bartlett Consolidated, which is the guardrail vendor that we use to install guardrails, to see if bollards is something they do, and if so, is it something they recommend. The field representative who I deal with got back to me. He said yes, they do install them, but he does not recommend them for along the roadside, and they’re also not Mass DOT approved. Mr. Cohen stated so the bollards that are there now are not Mass DOT approved? Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that however they were installed. He further stated that Mass DOT is the state transportation department that oversees what we do, to make sure that we comply with the federal and state rules when it comes to traffic issues. If these bollards, if what the vendor’s telling me, that the bollards are not Mass DOT approved for this type of a purpose, then we can’t install them. We really shouldn’t be installing bollards as a traffic commission. It’s more of a DPW thing like the Commissioner had said. I just figured I’d have you come back here since we helped you a few years ago. The DPW Commissioner is not here tonight. I was hoping maybe you could follow up with him with some ideas on it. But as far as this commission approving bollards, it’s not going to happen. Mr. Cohen stated so if that’s the case, even if it was at my expense, I could not even put bollards down? Of which Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that would be between you and the DPW because they control the sidewalk. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that other than bollards, take a ride up to off the North Montello Street side of St. Edward’s Church. They put a playground out there, and they put bollards around the playground to protect the kids on their property. They are very attractive looking. It looked like, when we went and looked at it, that one of those bollards could be dropped right in where the tree used to be, where the dirt is. Mr. Cohen stated so that way we don’t even have to break any cement. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro showed Mr. Cohen a picture of it. Just to give you an idea of what they look like. It will be between you and the DPW. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that this is the rear Saint Edward’s Church. If you go in through the North Montello street back there to the school. I don’t know what they’re made out of. Like the Chief had said, it almost looks like that they have just, with a crane or something, just dropped them in place. They almost look like they’ve been interlocked too. It might be something to mention to the DPW. Mr. Cohen stated, so you recommend that I contact DPW and see what they can do of which Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated, yes, I would recommend you follow up with the DPW on that, especially where our guardrail vendor is telling us not to install them. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated just to add to that. One of the things you may run into is being too close to the road. The engineers don’t like to see anything that’s immovable that close to traffic because if somebody hits it and it doesn’t give, they can get hurt. Whereas guardrails give. Everything that’s designed for roadways is designed to give, to absorb the impact where bollards are not. They’re designed to protect the property, not the traffic. There are other options you could explore, but you’d have to talk to the DPW. He further stated that the neighborhood health center on the corner asked for bollards and they were told that they couldn’t. The other thing you’re going to run into is the infrastructure on the ground as well, so Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that I would follow up with the DPW Commissioner because he’ll have some knowledge on this.
VOTED: TO TAKE NO ACTION
Upon duly motion made by Director Hooke, seconded by James Sweeney, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative
NEW BUSINESS
- 80 PLAIN STREET
Requested by: Steve Williams
Request/Issue: Need a crosswalk moved for wheelchair safety. A person was hit in a wheelchair by the Campello Highrise when trying to cross the street in January.
Discussion: Steve Williams was present and stated that my brother-in-law was heading over to the T to go see his girlfriend and the crosswalks that are there now have no curb cuts, and also the sidewalk has a telephone pole in the sidewalk. The sidewalk’s about two feet wide, and it’s got a telephone pole right in the middle of it. And then the other part of the sidewalk on the other side of the entrance to the T has a fire hydrant. Then another telephone pole right in the street. So there’s no curb cuts. There’s no way to cross the street safely, even for anybody that’s even walking. We went and took pictures and my idea was to move it to where you come out of the Campello High Rise. You’re on one side of the river, and there’s no way to cross there. But if you cross that little bridge, it’d be better to have a crosswalk right there that would hit directly in line up with the sidewalk that goes into the T. So it’s only one crosswalk, one shot, and there’s nobody crossing the street more, more than once to get where they need to. Mr. Williams passed around pictures that he had taken to all the Traffic Commission members to see.
This is where you come out of the high rise now. And the crosswalk that’s here, there’s a telephone pole here. Over here, there’s a fire hydrant. And This crosswalk does not exist, even though the map– Google Map says it does. There’s a complete sidewalk all the way down here. There’s no crosswalk or sidewalk down this side. And then where the bridge– You come out of here, there’s a curb cut here. There’s a curb cut here to go over to this side. But if you come out of the high rise here, and you go to go across the bridge, you can see the four-inch bump. My chair can go over a three-inch bump, but that’s just over three. Director Hooke stated so you’re saying put the crosswalk here? Mr. Williams stated on this side of the bridge. Repair both sides of the bridge, where this asphalt meets the concrete. Repair that and then put the crosswalk here with one of those button things that flashes the lights in the crosswalk. And then just the two curb cuts is all you need. Paint it and then put the little solar-powered light things like they just put in front of the old Safe Help. Retired Fire Chief Galligan asked if there is a crosswalk there right now? Mr. Williams stated there is one here, yes, but there’s no curb cut on either side. It’s a six-inch curb. Mr. Williams further stated that there’s a crosswalk but no curb cut on this side. There’s none there. And then there’s the telephone pole in the sidewalk and logistically stupid to try to move something like that. So there’s the telephone pole there, and then from this side– that’s where the bridge is there. So if the crosswalk was on the other side of the bridge, it would take you right to that, which has a crosswalk there and then a sidewalk right there to go into the T. So leaving there, you can see how big that bump is and these are the old original granite curbs that are bigger. They’re not as sharp. They’re massive on that end. So this is the entrance to the T here. So as you can see there’s no sidewalk here once you turn this corner. But this is the sidewalk there where there’s no curb cut? And then you can see the telephone pole. But on the other side, where the bridge is, this side here, the dip isn’t that bad off the bridge. But coming from the other side, it’s almost a four-inches. So the asphalt would fix that right up to the concrete. And then like I said, the flashing light thing with the button makes sense. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated and the new project’s not changing that entrance at all, right? Of which Mr. Williams stated I don’t think so. Mr. Sweeney stated that wasn’t in the plan at all. Mr. Williams stated that on Main Street, they put in that flashing light there for the crosswalk. He further stated coming out of Building B here, this crosswalk here, there’s no curb cut on either side. It’s real huge. I’ll show you the pictures. Mr. Sweeney stated you’re suggesting swinging it over to this side? Mr. Williams stated yes, fixing the bridge on each side to the asphalt up to the concrete, because the concrete’s not going to move. It’s a bridge. And then just fixing that little bit there, and then adding a crosswalk here because the sidewalk’s only present on this side of the entrance to the gate. Putting it here, because that’s already cut there. So they only have to put the curb cut on the other side. That’s coming out of there. As you can see, that crosswalk has nothing. See there’s a telephone pole here, and then so adding just the curb cut here, and then it puts you right on that sidewalk. Which is what you were just looking at there. And then that’s the part of the bridge you would just put the little bit of asphalt. That makes it smooth and gets you to the other side of the bridge. And then the little flashing buttons like they have all over the place in Boston. Mr. Sweeney stated yes, it’s called an RRFB. Mr. Williams stated the he goes into Boston quite a lot, and they have them all right near Harvard and the schools. Because everybody’s always just running in front of traffic and they are also solar powered and they just hit the button. Of course, the button breaks because they hit them so much. I think it was West Bridgewater or Bridgewater that just put some in and they have a bunch that are constantly flashing. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that I am going to make a motion to send this to sub with the recommendation that we have to have a conversation with the new Campello High Rise Construction company to see what’s going to happen with that driveway. And probably in the end, we’re going to send this to the engineers to take a look at it. Because one of the concerns I would have is putting that side of a crosswalk too close to Meadowbrook Road. So I think there’s a lot to consider there at that intersection, but I think it would be foolish for us to do something there and then find out in the final construction of the high-rise that that driveway may be changed from where it is now. James Sweeney stated on the motion Chief would we want to talk to the MBTA on this? It’s within the entrance essentially of the station. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated as far as like trying to get funding? Of which James Sweeney stated exactly. That’s something that they could probably do in order to upgrade their own station. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that the housing authority funded that flashing light on Main Street. James Sweeney stated or a combination of both of which Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated yes.
VOTED: TO SEND TO SUBCOMMITTEE
Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by Director Hooke, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative
Motion was made by James Sweeney, seconded by, Director Hooke to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Yaffe
Michelle Yaffe
Secretary to the Traffic Commission
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, May 28th, 2026 AND ALL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THURSDAY, MAY 21st, 2026.