[Amended 6-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-19; 7-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-40]
A. 
The City Council shall not lay out or accept any street or way hereafter opened by the owners of any lands in the City of less width than 40 feet.
B. 
The City Council may accept existing unaccepted streets of widths less than 40 feet, provided that:
(1) 
Such street has been open to public travel for a period of 10 years or longer.
(2) 
Reports of the Planning, Water, Sewer, Traffic and Engineering Divisions indicate that it is in the City's best interest to do so.
C. 
In considering acceptance of streets less than 40 feet in width, the City Council will direct the City Engineer to prepare a preliminary report and recommendations as to proposed width, method of construction and proposed utilities, and a cost estimate of improvements. This report will be forwarded to the Planning Division for review and comment. The report will be delivered to the City Council not later than 30 days after it is requested. When the report is received, the City Council will act on acceptance according to the provisions of Division 3 of this article.
When a street is to be constructed in an area where no street has previously been constructed, sample trench analyses and/or test borings shall be made every 50 feet for the entire length of the roadway. Should an indication of ledge appear, test borings shall be conducted every 10 feet so as to determine the exact amount of ledge present. Construction contracts shall specify a unit price for each cubic yard of ledge removed.
A. 
When reconstructing any City street, a minimum requirement of 12 inches, compacted measure, of subbase materials shall be used. This subbase shall consist of either all-gravel material or a combination of gravel and crushed stone, depending on the classification of the road under construction.
B. 
In accordance with § 66-101 and the existing arterial system of the City, the composition of the subbase material for each class of roadway is as follows:
(1) 
Major arterial: four inches of crushed stone over eight inches of gravel.
(2) 
Collector: 12 inches of gravel.
A. 
In accordance with § 66-101 and the existing arterial system of the City, the minimum requirement for composition of the bituminous layers for each class of roadway is as follows:
(1) 
Major arterial: 1 1/2 inches of top course, 1 1/2 inches of binder course, and three inches of base course.
(2) 
Collector: 1 1/2 inches of top course, 1 1/2 inches of binder course, and 1 1/2 inches of base course.
(3) 
Service road: 1 1/2 inches of top course and 1 1/2 inches of base course.
B. 
Base course bituminous material shall consist of 1 1/2-inch stone with asphalt mix. Binder course bituminous material shall consist of 3/4-inch stone with asphalt mix. Top course bituminous material shall consist of 3/8-inch stone with asphalt mix.
C. 
All materials shall comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges.
[Amended 6-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-19]
A. 
Generally. The resurfacing of a roadway shall be favored to the reconstruction of such roadway if, in the opinion of the City Engineer, the subbase of the existing road is sound and the surface of the existing road has a minimal amount of frostheaves and/or potholes.
B. 
Suitability of subbase. Compaction tests and soils analysis shall be conducted to determine the strength and drainage capability of the subbase materials.
C. 
Curbing reveal. Resurfacing shall not be allowed if the resulting curb will be less than six inches in height.
D. 
Rail tracks. The resurfacing of a road shall not be allowed if there are rail tracks present upon or beneath such road unless there is sufficient depth for the placement of three inches to four inches of crack-relief bituminous material beneath the binder and top course bituminous material such that the six-inch curbing reveal can be maintained. Crack-relief bituminous material shall consist of aggregate crushed stone of 2 1/2 inches to three inches in diameter with the resulting asphalt concrete mix having 25% to 35% interconnecting voids.
All construction materials shall comply with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges. Should the City have reason to believe that the materials are not in conformance with these standards, then the necessary tests shall be done at the expense of the contractor.
The compaction of the subbase material shall be made prior to the placement of any bituminous material. The compaction shall occur in layers not exceeding eight inches in depth compacted measure, except that the last layer of subbase material shall be four inches compacted measure.
[Amended 6-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-19; 7-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-40]
A. 
The contractor shall conduct compaction tests on each six-inch layer of subbase material prior to the placement of any subsequent layer, and on the four-inch layer of subbase prior to the placement of any bituminous material. Compaction tests shall be conducted on each bituminous course prior to the placement of any subsequent course. The test shall be witnessed by the City inspector, and the result of such test will be forwarded to the City Engineer for his files.
B. 
When testing any layer of material for compaction, the inspector shall spot check at two separate locations for every 100 feet of roadway. A minimum of two locations are required for each test.
C. 
The project inspector shall submit to the City Engineer a detailed description of the compaction test locations and test results. All inspection data shall be attached to the project contract prior to filing.
The contractor shall test for compaction through the use of the American Association of State Highway Officials T-99 compaction Test Method C, or a similarly proven test. Test results should indicate 95% compaction at all test sites.
A six-inch curbing reveal must be maintained at all times and shall be provided for in the specifications of any street construction, reconstruction or resurfacing project.
Upon the completion of any roadwork, all driveway entrances, curbing and sidewalks shall be restored to a condition at least equal to their condition prior to such road work.
[Amended 6-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-19]
Prior to the installation of curbing by a property owner, the property owner shall have the line and grade supplied by the City Engineer or, at the discretion of the City Engineer, by a registered land surveyor.
[Amended 6-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-19]
A. 
The Division of Engineering will prioritize all local streets in the City in accordance with criteria to be determined by the City Engineer, and categorize them as follows:
(1) 
Needing no repair.
(2) 
Needing full depth reconstruction.
(3) 
Needing resurfacing and major construction.
(4) 
Needing resurfacing and minor construction.
B. 
Those streets falling under Subsection A(4) of this section (needing resurfacing and minor construction) will again be prioritized. The City Engineer, through the Planning Director, will then recommend to the City Council the streets to be rehabilitated during a specific construction season. Upon approval by the City Council, projects will then be placed in a report to be called the "Local Transportation Improvement Plan."
C. 
The Local Transportation Improvement Plan will list the projects and will assign the years that the projects will be rehabilitated. In it, work scheduled for a three-year period will be listed, along with an estimated cost. The plan will be revised yearly, removing projects completed and adding projects approved by the City Council.
A. 
The City Engineer is authorized to make certain temporary repairs to private ways in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 6N. Such temporary repairs shall be limited to the following:
(1) 
The installation of gravel and grade, overlay with asphalt, trash collection, snow plowing and sanding;
(2) 
Minor work on drainage problems;
(3) 
Those temporary repairs which are required by public necessity as determined by the City Engineer, taking into consideration the necessity of access by the general public and fire, police and other emergency vehicles;
(4) 
Those private ways which have been open to public use for a period of at least three years.
B. 
At least 10% of the abutters must petition for such repairs. The City assumes no liability on account of damages caused by such repairs. Cash deposits shall not be required. No betterment charges shall be assessed.
[Amended 5-3-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-7]
A. 
No person shall repair or construct a private way without first obtaining permission as provided for in this section. All applications for repairs or construction of a private way shall be filed with the City Engineer, and shall be accompanied by a fee as provided in Chapter A110, Fee Schedule, of the City Code. Such work shall be performed by a licensed contractor approved by the City Council. The City Engineer may, in his discretion, grant permission to complete minor repairs to a private way. Any application for major repairs, construction or reconstruction of a private way shall be forwarded by the City Engineer with his recommendation to the Planning Board. Before approving such application, the Planning Board shall hold a hearing and give notice of such hearing to all abutting property owners. The design and construction process shall meet the requirements as specified in the Planning Board's Subdivision Rules and Regulations.
B. 
If any provisions of this section shall be determined by the Planning Board to be in conflict with the Subdivision Control Law, the provisions of the Subdivision Control Law shall be in full force and effect.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 41, §§ 81K through 81GG.
[Amended 2-24-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-4]
A. 
Purpose. This section establishes a process and criteria for consideration of a request by a member of the public to name or rename a public (or private) street, a public park, public building, or other real or personal public property located within the City's limits. This process also includes a request for an additional name or sign to be added to an already existing name.
B. 
Petition. Any request for naming or renaming a street, park, building or other property within the City limits shall be initiated in writing from one or more residents, business owners or tenants (or by a homeowners' association or similar common ownership organization) within the City of Fall River by completing a petition for naming or renaming which should provide the following information:
(1) 
Name of petitioner(s).
(2) 
Type of request.
(3) 
Reason the request to name or rename is being proposed.
(4) 
Detailed description of the building, park, street or other property (real or personal).
(5) 
Location within the City (requests for naming or renaming a street must have an attached street map).
C. 
Filing. The petition shall be filed with the City Clerk's office by 12:00 noon no less than 10 days prior to the next meeting of the City Council in which the petition will be presented. The City Clerk shall provide copies of the petition and supporting documents to the City Council, the Mayor, Corporation Counsel, City Engineer and Planning Director prior to the Council meeting.
D. 
City Council initial action. The City Council shall receive the petition and refer it to the Planning Board for its recommendation.
E. 
Planning Board action.
(1) 
Research. The Planning Board will evaluate the petition and supporting documentation and shall base its recommendation on what is in the best interest of the City. If the request is for the renaming of a street, park, building or other property, the board shall research the historical significance, if any, of the current name and how any renaming shall affect the abutting property owners.
(2) 
Public hearing. The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing, at which time all interested parties shall be heard. Notice of the public hearing shall be mailed via regular mail to all property owners abutting the affected building, park, street or other property, at least 15 days prior to the date of the hearing, and shall be posted for the general public in the City Clerk's office, on the City's website, and the City's cable network and other local media.
(3) 
Recommendation. The Planning Board may recommend approval, denial or approval with conditions of the request. The recommendation of the Planning Board shall be forwarded to the City Council for its consideration. The petitioner(s) shall be given written notice of the decision of the Planning Board prior to Council consideration.
F. 
Council action. Upon receipt and review of the recommendation received from the Planning Board, the City Council may accept the recommendation or rule otherwise.
G. 
Approval/Assessment of costs. If the petition is approved, the petitioner(s) shall be provided an estimate of the cost determined to implement the naming or renaming, which costs are the responsibility of the petitioner(s). Upon receipt of all costs, the City shall implement the recommendation. At the time of granting, the City Council may, at its discretion, waive any or all costs to be incurred.
[Amended 2-24-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-4]
The name of any public building, street or area named after any individual who is convicted of a felony or pleads guilty to a felony must be replaced by the board, department or officer having jurisdiction thereof, with the name of another individual or a general descriptive title, subject to MGL c. 85, §§ 3, 3A and 3B.