BROCKTON TRAFFIC COMMISSION
Thursday, May 28th, 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, May 28th, 2026.
Present were Traffic Commission Members: Traffic Commissioner Captain Mark Porcaro, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph DePasquale, Retired Fire Chief Kenneth Galligan, DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, Director Hooke, James Sweeney, Councillor at Large Carla DaRosa 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 4/23/2026 Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes.
Motion made by James Sweeney and seconded by Director Hooke to take items out of order based upon the Sign in Sheet.
OLD BUSINESS
- PEARL STREET
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. (Continued from April 23rd, 2026 Meeting)
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: Councillor Green stated that I did speak with her and she was fine with the suggestion for that flashing sign that was discussed at the last meeting. So that’s kind of what’s on the table now in terms of our recommendation. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated, what would be on the flashing sign? Like slow or pedestrians? Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that there’s a children’s sign up there right now, about 100 feet north of Sunset Drive. If we put up a flashing slow sign, I don’t know what that would mean where it’s posted 40 MPH. It would contradict each other somewhat. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that the issue with a slow sign is that you have a motorist who’s in a 30 MPH zone and now they’re entering a 40MPH. So the signs are telling the motorist to increase their speed and then they’re being hit with a slow sign. There was discussion about installing a pedestrian sign and Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that we’ve done a number of those and they seem to be successful. Councillor Green stated that he would like to suggest a blinking pedestrian sign. Jed Hresko stated I am on the Commonwealth’s Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Board, which is run out of Mass DOT. Many Mass DOT officials there— I was actually just at a meeting yesterday in Salem with people in attendance, including Tom Marcheseolo, who’s the Assistant Chief Engineer at Mass DOT’s Highway Division, and Francisco Lobera, who’s the Deputy Director of Highway Design. I posed the question about the street and our fear is that it would trigger a speed reduction if we did such a review. And they said quite clearly that the 85th percentile kind of thinking, which was the old thinking, is very much out of vogue with them. And to quote their own, many factors are now considered in setting a speed, including land use, adjacent land use, which would include the schools. Expected road users, safety history. And then, as you know, the law gets a little complicated, but even if it was a statutory speed limit, I would submit to you that it’s a thickly settled area by their own definition and would qualify for the 30MPH. That said, I agree, Mass DOT agrees, the science agrees, that signs alone don’t really slow people down. And so I do think that this flashing thing works. But I just wanted to get on the record that Mass DOT seems to be much more open-minded to our local context and that it would not be arbitrary of us if we did decide to go that route. But I do think the flashing signs, they’ve been pretty great.
VOTED: TO INSTALL TWO (2) FLASHING PEDESTRIAN SIGNS BOTH NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND.
Upon duly motion made by DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, seconded by James Sweeney, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
2. 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: DPW Commissioner Hill stated that this is one of the intersections that’s currently almost in the final design phase. So this crosswalk will be upgraded and handicap accessible hopefully by the fall. Jed Hresko stated the City of Brockton has a list of funding priorities for complete street and this is listed as number 8 on that list. So this is already in preparation. DPW Commission Hill stated that the list came from the Complete Street and some of those Complete Street requests that are in the queue but the funding for this is coming from a local fund, money that we have set aside in a paving fund for projects that the gas company or any of the utility companies take on that we end up paving. Rathan than have them or do some form of joint effort, the city agrees to pave the road and then the financing for paving on the utility side comes back to the city. So we are not duplicating efforts. We have some money set aside and every year we’re going to try to look at some of these pedestrians issues and pick away at them, 3 or 4 of them at a time.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend the request be sent out for an engineering crosswalk study. Further recommend that the engineers contact the Brockton Housing Authority and DPW regarding the proposed BHA housing project for 1380 Main Street (A and B buildings) to see if the project will impact the crosswalk request area.
VOTED: TO TAKE NO ACTION
Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
NEW BUSINESS
3. 1 JONATHAN DRIVE
Requested by: Ethan Coulson, CEO/President of GTR Manufacturing
Request/Issue: We are a local business, GTR Manufacturing, and we have been growing. We would like to have the NO PARKING signs in front our building on 1 Jonathan Drive removed to allow employees to legally park in the street. (Nearest Poles # 4, 5 & 6)
Discussion: Ethan Coulson was present and stated that kind of sums it up, but we are trying to grow our business, we have to do some work in the parking lot, which is going to tear up a couple of our existing parking spaces. We’ll be putting in some bulk nitrogen tanks for some expansion that we’re going to be doing. And we’re already at max capacity, so basically every parking spot in our driveway is occupied. And so we’re looking for the ability to park on the street. He further stated my understanding is in the past people did park in the street, and at some point, in the past some signs were put up that said no parking. I believe that was because at the time there was a neighbor company who had a lot of fleet of vehicles that parked in the street all the time, and things had gotten a little bit hectic there. But that is no longer the case, and the street is primarily empty all the time. So the request, is that we are able to park in the street. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that I think it was at least 10 to 12 years ago we went up there posted the no parking. And the problem for your company at the time was the trucks couldn’t make the turn to get in and out of the driveway. So with cars backing out. Mr. Coulson stated so actually what I would recommend that we would do is take down the no parking signs for the majority of the area, but maybe have either a marked off area or a sign that says no parking here the corner in that one spot where the trucks have to get into the back. Retired Fire Chief stated if I remember right there’s like two driveways and there’s no parking between the two driveways. Mr. Coulson showed the Traffic Commission members a few photos of what the area looks like. DPW Commissioner Hill asked if this was only for during the construction? Of which Mr. Coulson stated, no, it would be for beyond the construction. So the construction that I’m referring to is putting in a bullet catcher system and that’s going to occupy several spaces permanently. DPW Commissioner Hill stated isn’t it a lot at the corner of the street available and Mr. Coulson stated that it is, and actually we talked to the landlord and it seemed like a lot of added expense to go in. Mr. Sweeney asked how many spots are you losing? Mr. Coulson stated we’re going to lose between 5 and 7. We’ve got to put in a concrete pad, I think it’s 15 feet by 60 feet. Mr. Coulson further stated that I guess the other thing I’ll add, you guys probably already all know this, it’s a very industrial area. There are no residential houses on the street. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that it almost seems like if we take all that parking out, and parking is allowed, if something develops in the future that needs to be addressed or amended, you could come back. Mr. Sweeney stated that it’s a wide street too. Easily 40 feet. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that I think the deal was a while back, parking on both sides of the street so when the trucks tried to turn to get into his property, the trucks couldn’t make the turn to get in.
VOTED: SEND TO SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW
Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
4. 292 AMES STREET
Requested by: Councilor Lally
Request/Issue: Would like to extend the existing guardrail on the northwest corner of the intersection of N. Cary Street and Ames Street to help prevent accidents and protect the back yard of 292 Ames Street.
Discussion: Councilor Jack Lally was present and stated I filed this before, I brought this before the commission. The applicant did not appear with me. He didn’t realize he had to, but this time he’s unable to. 292 Ames is at the corner of Ames Street and North Cary. There is a guardrail on that corner, it is the northwest corner of the intersection. The gentleman would like the guardrail as it wraps around the corner and heads north up North Cary Street, he would like that guardrail extended. He feels that his property is at risk from people who are failing to make the corner to go into his backyard. It is a hill; his property is lower. So a lot of his property and his home are at risk from somebody driving too recklessly or too fast down a hill, which people want to do. So he is requesting that the commission vote to extend the guardrail north, further up North Cary Street. Mr. Sweeney asked how far of an extension? Councillor Lally stated as the counselor, I leave that up to the commission to determine. Obviously, this gentleman’s worried about the property. He’d like it to go to his property line. If it needs to go further, leave that up to the Commission. But the request is from the constituent, the request is to extend it to the end of this property. There was a brief discussion amongst the Traffic Commission members about how long one section of guardrail is. DPW Commissioner Hill stated one section is approximately 5 feet. The existing guardrail is about 50 feet. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that the guardrail goes up to the telephone pole that’s there now. DPW Commissioner Hill stated it stops right before the pole. Councillor Lally stated that I think it was my first term as a Councillor, I came with a request to the Traffic Commission for no parking on Ames Street, a street that had no parking signs for forever. But at some point, in time, whenever the commission originally decided to put the signs up, they did not record the record of it. So we had to go through the whole charade, actually voting on it again, because they never actually recorded the vote initially. He further stated that there’s a lot of stuff from that, that area that we’ve been able clean up over the years. But the guardrail and the pole, moving that around is a bit of a lift. DPW Commissioner Hill asked if they have had any issues with the existing guardrail? It looks like the pole’s probably been hit a few times. Councillor Lally stated I would have to check the crash data. But if somebody’s going to get in an accident on this gentleman’s property, they’re probably not going to get away. I’d have to check the crash data to see how many vehicles have impacted his property. He indicates that it’s not irregular, but in terms of city action, most of the calls that I make to you, Commissioner, are for the guardrail on the other side of the street, on the east side facing Ames. That one gets wiped out regularly. DPW Commissioner Hill stated that the one on the opposite corner, the one he’s talking about, gets wiped out quite a bit too.
VOTED: SEND TO SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW
Upon duly motion made by Director Hooke, seconded by James Sweeney, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
5. 41 UPTON STREET
Requested by: Brynell Francis-Smikle
Request/Issue: My seven year grandson who I am legal Guardian is diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and ODD. He’s a runner, ran away twice, wears an ankle tracker which is monitored thru the Brockton Police Dept Program. He has the tendency to ride his bike and run in the street. Would like a traffic sign across the street. (Received medical documentation)
Discussion: Brynell Francis-Smikle was present and stated I have a grandson and he does have autism. He’s in a therapeutic school. He wasn’t doing well in the Brockton public schools and so he’s a runner. He runs away all the time. Twice I had to call the police. The first time they came they suggested an ankle bracelet, but I didn’t do it. The second time, they suggested it again. So now he’s in a program with the Boston police, and he wears an ankle bracelet and they monitor it. Every month they come out and charge the bracelet. They make sure it’s working. I have to watch him like constantly. I can’t leave him alone. Even when he was in the Downey School, he used to always try to take off. He’s a runner. The cars drive very very fast. So I’m just requesting to have something. I’ve seen the sign that say children slow at play or slow down. Just something so they’re aware that there’s a child with disabilities that lives on the street. Councillor Lally stated that I can confirm that Upton has a lot of problems with people trying to, sort of cut through if they’re going somewhere. It is a place where people do kind of go through fast. Jed Hresko, Brockton Transportation Safety Coalition was present and stated what I’m seeking is safety. And I’m also not trying to start a big speed bump debate, but I just want to put on the record that we would support, as a safety coalition, speed bumps, speed humps. I know the Commission has a longstanding resistance to that. We recently saw data out of Somerville. Somerville’s experimenting different heights. So they found like, like a 3-inch height, 17% of the vehicles would then speed after it, but a 5-inch height, almost none.
VOTED: APPROVE SIGNAGE AND SEND TO SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW
Upon duly motion made by DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, seconded by Director Hooke, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
- E. NILSSON AND MAIN STREET
Requested by: Susan Byrne
Request/Issue: They need a light and a crosswalk on East Nilsson and Main Street
Discussion: Traffic Commission Porcaro stated why this item was on the agenda. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated that it’s in design right now. Jed Hresko stated that he had the Road Safety Audit from 2021 and that it says it warrants a 4-way traffic light and in the interim measure would be a 4-way stop flashing. So there’s some other measures recommended on here. It’s also OCPC and the Safety Action Plan, which is part of Safe Streets for All funding, their top 50 region-wide projects, which is almost all of Plymouth County. This is ranked number 5. DPW Commissioner Hill stated that this was also awarded a demonstration grant by SS4A through the feds. There’s 3 intersections with temporary arrangements. Councillor Green asked what the timing is on this? DPW Commissioner Hill stated that once the design is finished, we have a contractor on board, T.L. Edwards that will construct all these things. It’s just a matter of getting the finalized drawings and meeting with T. L. Edwards out in the field. These things don’t take long to construct. Usually a week or so from start to finish, as long as weather permits. About a week per intersection, depending on the level of effort that has to take place. This one may take a bit longer and where it’s in the demonstration grant I don’t know that all of the recommendations, in order to stay within grant, will happen. Meaning that I don’t know that we’ll be sifting all the curbing. It’s something we are going to have to look at and make a decision because to stay within the grant funding, we have to do the demonstration portion of the award and the demonstration portion of the award calls for temporary measures not permanent measures. We do have a call into Federal Highway to try to get an answer on that because if we do a full-scale renovation of the intersection, it will likely cost more. They did some temporary line painting but the way that the intersection is, if you look at the west side of the street, the recommendation is to pull the curbing out, extend it out into the roadway a little bit to narrow the road a little bit, to eliminate the fog line on the northbound lane on Main Street from the church parking lot entrance all the way up to the intersection. He further stated that we accepted the grant under the condition that we were going to do the temporary measures, however, we fully designed it. We are trying to get an answer as to whether or not we can use a portion of the funding for the temporary measures for the permanent measures.
VOTED: TO TAKE NO ACTION
Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by James Sweeney, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
7. 27 THATCHER STREET
Requested by: Jacquelyn DeGrace
Request/Issue: Requesting a handicap sign for myself and my husband (handicap placard received)
Discussion: Jacquelyn DeGrace was present and stated I have new neighbors. That moved in about 3 or 4 weeks ago, They live 4 and 5 houses down from my house. They take up the whole side of the street. My husband has 2 women that come in Monday through Sunday now, and I just found out the other day that his doctors are going to be coming to the house to service him rather than him go out. My problem is there’s no place for them to park. So I figured if I got a handicap across the street, I could park there, and then the two nurses could park in my driveway. Because right now there’s nowhere to park, and I don’t dare go out and say anything to any of them. Retired Fire Chief Galligan as if the resident lived at 27? Of which the resident stated yes. He further stated so going up Thatcher Street, you’re on the right? You’re asking for the handicapped spots to be across the street? Of which the resident stated yes. He also stated on the north side of the street. So you are not asking for these to be directly in front of your house? Mrs. DeGrace stated, no, I don’t mind going across the street. I don’t even know if you can park on my side. DPW Commissioner Hill stated there’s a sidewalk there. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated I don’t think it’s regulated anywhere on that street. I’m just thinking that we go to look at this, are we looking to put these signs in front of your house? Of which Mrs. DeGrace stated no, across the street because that’s where everybody parks, is across the street. My problem is there’s nowhere for the people that come in for my husband to park. They park way down the street. There was a brief discussion as to whether or not parking is prohibited on Mrs. DeGrace’s side of the street due to the traffic and speed of the traffic on Thatcher Street.
VOTED: TO SEND TO SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW
Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by Director Hooke, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
8. SUMMER STREET
Requested by: Joe Campbell and Rob Jackson
Request/Issue: There is no crossing markings on Summer Street from Perkins to the BPS School property at 596 Summer Street. No crosswalk bollard with LED lighting designating the area as safe to cross and alerting traffic along either Perkins or Summer Street. Requesting a crosswalk, School Zone, etc.
Discussion: Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated they would like to continue this item to the June Agenda.
VOTED: CONTINUE TO JUNE MEETING
Upon duly motion made by DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, seconded by Director Hooke, the motion carried by a hand vote; 8 in the affirmative
Motion was made by James Sweeney, seconded by, Director Hooke to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Yaffe
Secretary to the Traffic Commission
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEXT TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 25th, 2026 AND ALL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THURSDAY, JUNE 18th, 2026.