[Ord. 2010-6, passed 2-9-2010]
(A) Curbing standards. To provide a barrier between the roadway and pedestrian
sidewalk and its adjacent planting strip, all materials for curb installation
shall conform to the following standards. In areas where curbing is
installed, parking on any portion of the sidewalk or planting strip
will not be permitted.
(1)
All curbing hereinafter installed for full depth reconstruction roadway projects shall consist of granite curbing, unless otherwise directed by the Superintendent of Public Works under §
55.01(D)(3) .
(2)
Curbing for roadway resurfacing projects not included in division (1) shall consist of asphalt "bread loaf" curb, with a vertical face and non-mountable, except that sections of the curb at intersections and adjacent to handicap ramps and sections of existing granite curb shall be granite, unless otherwise directed by the Superintendent of Public Works under §
55.01(D)(3).
(3)
When roadway improvement projects extend for less than a full block, the installation of new curbing will be at the discretion of the Superintendent of Public Works under §
55.01(D)(3).
(B) Roadway classification. Curbing will be installed when adequate lane
width is available for each roadway component, based on roadway classification.
Roadway classification shall consist of the following:
ARTERIALS
Roadways that "service statewide travel as well as major
traffic movements within urbanized areas or between suburban centers"
or "link cities and towns in rural areas and interconnect major arterials
within urban areas". "Arterials" have high or moderate mobility and limited
points of access.
COLLECTORS
Roadways that "link arterial roadways and provide connections
between cities and towns" or "connect local roads to major collectors
and arterials. "Collectors" have moderate mobility and moderate to high
access.
LOCAL STREETS
Roadways with low speeds, a high degree of local circulation
and access, and are not intended for regional connectivity.
The following table contains a partial listing of Watertown
roadways and their functional classification. Roadways that are not
listed are assumed to be local roads. For purposes of this chapter,
the Mass Highway classification shall be used, except as noted. Changes
to the listed classifications shall be considered, based upon the
classification criteria, and will be brought before the DPW Subcommittee
of the Council with a recommendation from the Superintendent of Public
Works.
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Table 1: Functional Classification of Watertown Streets
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Road
|
DPW Classification
|
AASHTO Classification*
|
Mass Highway Classification
|
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Arsenal Street
|
Arterial
|
Minor Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Belmont Street
|
Arterial
|
Minor Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Galen Street
|
Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Greenough Boulevard - MDC
|
Arterial
|
Minor Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Main Street
|
Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Mount Auburn Street
|
Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
North Beacon Street
|
Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Pleasant Street
|
Arterial
|
Collector
|
Principal Arterial
|
Watertown Street
|
Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Principal Arterial
|
Arlington Street
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Charles River Road - MDC
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Common Street
|
Connector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Minor Arterial
|
Coolidge Avenue
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Howard Street
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Irving Street
|
Connector
|
Local
|
Minor Arterial
|
Lexington Street
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Nonantum - MDC
|
Connector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Minor Arterial
|
School Street
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Waverley Avenue
|
Connector
|
Collector
|
Minor Arterial
|
Acton Street
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Local
|
Bigelow Avenue
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Local
|
California Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Church Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Coolidge Hill Road
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Collector
|
Dexter Avenue
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Grove Street
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Collector
|
Highland Avenue
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Collector
|
Nichols Avenue
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Orchard Street
|
Primary
|
Minor Arterial
|
Collector
|
Spring Street
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Collector
|
Summer Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Sycamore Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Walnut Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Waltham Street
|
Primary
|
Collector
|
Collector
|
Warren Street
|
Primary
|
Local
|
Collector
|
(1)
Adequate travel lane width is deemed to be 11 feet on principal
and minor arterials, and 10 feet on collectors and local roads. Adequate
parking lane width is deemed to be seven feet in residential areas
along all classes of roads, and eight feet within commercial areas.
(2)
A principal or minor arterial, or a collector, with two-way
traffic must have a minimum of two separate travel lanes.
(3)
"Local roads," which are considered roads not having the DPW
classification of arterial, connector or primary, may have a single
shared travel lane for two-way traffic, provided there are periodic
opportunities for passing.
(4)
A minimum street width of 18 feet, curb to curb, shall be adequate
for the following roadway configurations:
(a)
A one-way street with one travel lane and with one side on-street
parking.
(b)
A two-way local street with one travel lane and one side of
on-street parking, with provision for periodic spaces of restricted
parking at least every 100 feet for vehicles to pull over to the side.
(c)
A two-way collector or local road with two travel lanes and
no on-street parking.
(5)
The curb-to-curb pavement width will then determine if there
is adequate room for on-street parking on one side or both sides of
a street. Resulting parking issues shall be referred to the Traffic
Commission for consideration.
(C) Accommodating a defined curb. In cases where curbing is proposed,
but no curbing currently exists, and where the resulting street width
is not great enough to allow both adequate travel lanes and parking
shoulder widths per division (B), every effort should be made to accommodate
a defined curb.
(D) Curb installation requirements.
(1)
Whenever the owner of a parcel abutting a public way desires
that curbing be installed abutting such parcel, the property owner
may pay for and install granite curbing at their full expense, subject
to the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works, and subject
to the conditions as herein defined. Such installation shall also
include appropriate transition to adjoining curbing and walkways,
including handicapped ramps and access as required.
(2)
Any new development project shall include the installation of
granite curbing and concrete sidewalk with planting strip, across
the entire project's public street frontage at the property owner's
expense, subject to the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works,
and subject to the conditions as herein defined, including the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Superintendent of Public Works.
(a)
Such installation shall also include appropriate transition
to adjoining curbing and walkways, including handicapped ramps and
access as required.
(b)
As used in this section, "new development project" shall mean
any project where there is a new building foundation, either because
there was no preexisting building or the previous foundation has been
removed.
(3)
No curbing shall be installed under this section at those locations
where the Superintendent of Public Works determines that the installation
of curbing is not feasible due to public safety, site constraints,
budget constraints, or conflicts with future plans for the area. In
such cases, the Superintendent of Public Works shall receive the concurrence
of the City Manager and provide written notice to the Council.
(4)
The Superintendent of Public Works is authorized to promulgate
rules and regulations, consistent with the curb and sidewalks ordinance,
which shall implement the provisions of this chapter.
(5)
In addition to the provisions of this chapter, all curb installations
shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Superintendent
of Public Works.
[Ord. 2010-6, passed 2-9-2010; amended Ord. 2016-58, passed 9-27-2016]
(A) All materials for sidewalk construction or repair shall consist of
concrete unless exempted under divisions (B), (C) and (E) below.
(B) In accordance with DPW regulations, the material used at street tree
locations may include asphalt in order to address tree root issues.
(C) The material used as a temporary utility repair, where deemed necessary
by the Superintendent of Public Works, may include asphalt. In accordance
with DPW regulations, temporary repairs shall be permanently replaced
with concrete.
(D) Sidewalks constructed hereinafter may extend the full length of the
public way at the discretion of the Superintendent of Public Works,
and shall have a preferred clear walking surface of five feet, not
including curbing with a minimum of four feet, and shall conform to
Americans Disability Act (ADA) and Massachusetts Architectural Access
Board (MAAB) guidelines, unless otherwise exempted under division
(E).
(1)
A minimum clearance of three feet shall be provided around obstructions
in the sidewalk such as utility poles, street trees, and hydrants.
(2)
In residential areas, the sidewalk width shall be a maximum
of five feet.
(3)
A minimum width of two feet shall be provided as a planting
strip.
(4)
Whenever the owner of a parcel abutting a public way desires
that a sidewalk be installed abutting such parcel, the property owner
may pay for and install concrete sidewalk at their full expense, subject
to the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works, and subject
to the conditions as herein defined and in compliance with other DPW
regulations. Such installation shall also include appropriate transition
to adjoining curbing and walkways, including handicapped ramps and
access as required.
(E) No sidewalks shall be installed under this section at those locations
where the Superintendent of Public Works determines that the installation
of sidewalks is not feasible due to public safety, site constraints,
budget constraints, or conflicts with future plans for the area. In
such cases, the Superintendent of Public Works shall receive the concurrence
of the City Manager and provide written notice to the Council.
(F) Any new development project shall include the installation of granite
curbing and concrete sidewalk with planting strip across the entire
project's public street frontage at the property owner's expense,
subject to the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works, and
subject to the conditions as herein defined, including the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Superintendent of Public Works.
(1)
Such installation shall also include appropriate transition
to adjoining curbing and walkways, including handicapped ramps and
access as required.
(2)
As used in this section, the term "new development project"
shall mean any project where there is a new building foundation, either
because there was no preexisting foundation or the previous foundation
has been removed.
(G) The Superintendent of Public Works is authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations, consistent with the curb and sidewalks ordinance,
which shall implement the provisions of this chapter.
(H) In addition to the provisions of this chapter, all sidewalk installations
shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Superintendent
of Public Works.
(I) In the case of selective sidewalk repairs, where there is no curb
to create a barrier, and addition of a curb is not planned and where
there is currently no grass planting strip, the default treatment
is to create a planting strip, however, the Superintendent of Public
Works shall have discretion on whether to plant grass or restore asphalt
(or other similar treatment) as the border between the sidewalk and
the street.