Welcome back to our weekly update that highlights some of the cases appearing on 311 in the North End/Waterfront neighborhoods. All 311 cases are public information and can be found at 311.boston.gov.
End Handicap Spaces in The North End?
“My overall complaint is that there are far too many unused handicap spots all over the north end. When I drive around to find parking after work I drive by an average of 6 unused handicap spots. The streets where I find this most often are on charter street, henchmen, snow hill, Salem, Fleet Street, Prince, Hanover and North Bennett. Commercial street also has a few that go unused as well, specifically on the side closest to Charlestown where half the street isn’t occupied by residents and the buildings on the other side, don’t have elevators. Often when you do see these spots filled it will be with a car that is from out of town, like in the picture I included. I don’t think it’s right to adhere to the needs of town guests prior to the neighborhood’s residents. There are more parking permits issued by the city than there are actual spots in the north end. Given all these unused spaces it is not fair to tax paying residents. Please look into all of the handicap spaces in the North End if possible.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 21st, 2017. As of November 22nd, 2017, the case is still open.
Atlantic Avenue Lane Markings
“Cars are driving on the wrong side of the road due to inadequate lane markings following the new paving. The west bound lane from Joe’s to the Greenway is one lane however it is not clear as the street has not yet been lined. There is serious risk of a head on crash occurring until double yellow lines are laid down.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 17th, 2017. As of November 22nd, 2017 the case is still open.
Comcast Truck Knowingly Parks in Resident Parking
“Xfinity truck in resident only section of north end. Driver advised that it is illegal to park there and said he didn’t care and would do it anyway. Registration #: L34892 (commercial plates).”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 16th, 2017. It was then closed later that same day with the following message: “Closed with status: Case Resolved. clear.”
Street Light Out on Commercial Street
“There is an ornamental LED street light out on Commercial Street. This light is directly across the street from the 7-11 at the corner of Hanover Street and Commercial Street.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 15th, 2017. As of November 22nd, 2017 the case is still open.
Traffic Light on Hanover and Commercial Streets
“Traffic light from Hanover onto Commercial St, green light barely lets 2 cars get by.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 15th, 2017. It was then closed on November 16th, 2017 with the following message: “Closed with status: Case Noted. In order to run the intersection more efficiently loop detectors were installed on Hanover Street so if there are only 3 cars on the street the street will only get enough time for those 3 cars but it will extend if there are more cars.”
Remember, to report a claim with 311, you can call 311, go to the 311 website, tweet at 311, or download the app. What do you think about these 311 cases? Follow our “What’s The 311?” tag to see past week’s postings!
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Re:the Comcast guy, it is legal for commercial vehicles to park in resident spaces for up to 3 hours. They assume that they are performing a service for a resident. Sucks, but it’s allowed.
So true about the number of handicap parking spaces in the North End. Too many go unused or are abused with space savers by certain residents who think they own them. The city really needs to take an inventory of existing handicap parking spaces, eliminate those that are not required (probably because a resident who requested one has since moved on), and crack down on those residents who have them installed in front of their buildings and then put orange cones in them every time they move their cars. Hopefully our new city council woman will address this issue.
There are a lot more serious issues. What about the restairant restrooms that were on the street floor & the City allowed
them to put their restrooms down the basement of the establishment? When the city officials were questioned
about this, they out & out lied & said the restrooms were always down the basement. We all know for a fact,
the restrooms were on the street level. Lies & Payoffs.
Look at our handicap ramps, a disgrace for a City that is taking in the revenue they are taking in. The City
got the same tar from the street & brought in up to the sidewalks & call them handicap ramps. My friend who
is in a wheelchair almost feel off that ramp, because it is a cheap way out. It is a disgrace, along with other
issues that are thrown under the rug. The neighborhood is filthy. The city hired people to clean that do not
want to clean the sidewalks or the streets when trash falls over sidwalks & gutters. The city has gotten
several complaints & the fines are a joke. The problems will continue to exist unless we the people of this
neighborhood speak up in great numbers, not just 1 or 10, but hundreds.
Why should the average resident care if restaurant bathrooms are on the first floor or in the basement? Serious question.
The reason is because every restaurant is suppose to have HP accessibility & they Don’t. It is a very serious
question because someone out there made it one. Do have friends that are in wheelchairs? I do & they need
HP accessiblity & should have it. We are not all that fortunate to walk up & downstairs, and the fact that
they existed & were taken out, is shameful to Me & others.
Thanks for the explanation. I agree with you.
If you have a problem with the hp parking spots you have a problem with yourself that you are mad that you cant find a spot ok btw two things
First you are blessed that you are not handicapped ok
Second when u are coming home that person is out for some reason ok they don’t need too be there at that time for you too let you know they are using it ok
One more thing when a spot is open anyone can use it even out of state cars ok
Grow up
i do not think anyone has an issue with handicap spots in general. instead ,the legitimate concerns are that there are is an unnecessary excessive number of them and that numerous ones are being constantly abusively hoarded by the same residents. at least three people on henchman and charter believe they have exclusive use of three handicap parking spaces.
Sorry Frank but it is ILLEGAL to save a parking spot UNLESS the city has declared a snow emergency and you shoveled out your space, THEN you can save a space for 48 hrs (longer if the Mayor declares an extension). The point is that people keep handicap placards long after the handicapped person moves or passes away. The family members get a free pass until they get caught. If the people who got the spots near their building are no longer in the building then the spot needs to be reclaimed by the city for resident OR visitor parking .
BTW who the hades are you to tell someone to grow up just because you are not the one driving around looking for a LEGAL place to park your car and notice that handicapped spots are ALWAYS empty and in a location where it appears unlikely that a handicapped individual would be able to live?
I wonder if this bill will reduce the abuse that occurs with disability placards. https://www.boston.com/cars/car-culture/2017/10/25/massachusetts-bill-targets-drivers-who-abuse-handicapped-parking-placards
Our city government should be held responsible for any accidents that take place on Commercial street/Atlantic ave. or any place where public safety has been replace with bicycle lanes. It is a shame that our city’s transport arteries are clogged and obstructed by the luck of proper planing and the ignorance of our local government, our congested streets are now an obstacle course of irrational lane changes, all in the name of stupidity.
There are never an excess of handicapped parking n the area between Atlantic Avenue and Hanover Street. I know because I live there. The Governor just signed a bill to impose strict fines on abusers of these placards. It should be easy to examine all placards held by North End residents and do a census if they still live there and even are still alive. Take away spaces “held” by these people who do not live here.
Placards are not assigned to spaces. They are assigned to people. So you can have 100 handicapped placards assigned to 100 North End handicapped residents. That doesn’t mean there are 100 handicapped spaces. Moreover, a family can use a placard when the handicapped person comes to visit in the North End but that specific placard could be associated with a person who doesn’t live here. That’s a perfectly legitimate use of both the placard and a space.
A survey should be done on whether the people who requested the handicapped parking spaces be placed in front or near their residence still actually live at that address.
It’s not a perfect system and never will be.
My comment was deleted as a duplicate. Tjhis is the first time I submitted it.
Survey the placards held by NE residents. See if they still live here or are even alive. Delete the spaces held for those who are not here.
I agree with everything all of have said, even Frank. I want to know why nobody is addressing the issues of
restaurants who had HP accessbility restrooms on the street floor & the owners were allowed to put these
restrooms down the basement making it impossible for a Handicap Person to even go in the restaurant.
How did city officials allow such a thing. Can anyone answer this? They LIED.