The Traffic Commission's Role

The Traffic Commission is appointed by Mayor Curtatone and has final say on all traffic and parking related issues. Regarding the May 21st votes we are concerned about:

• The votes were put on the agenda the afternoon of the day of the vote. The details of the vote were not advertised until after the vote was taken.
  

• One resident who had heard about this issue was notified of the vote, and she brought others to the hearing with her. Five residents were at the hearing to comment on this issue. All five spoke out against the plan.
  

• Those who spoke against the plan and the process were verbally chastised for questioning the Traffic Commission's ability to make these decision on their own.
  

• The Traffic Commission members stated their rationale about the problem with Somerville parking issues as:

-->Unregistered cars,
-->Residents who can’t find parking in permit only neighborhoods
-->Having a consistent plan for the City
-->The potential impacts of the Green Line extension slated to open by 12/31/14

• The Traffic Commission was asked if they were making these changes to address the budge gap but they denied that claim repeatedly. It has since been made apparent that the major reason for the parking changes was to fill the budget gap