Worcester City Council Preview: Big Y, Busing, Swerving and MBTA

WORCESTER –  The Worcester City Council meets Tuesday night, January 28.

Ahead of each City Council meeting, ThisWeekinWorcester.com [TWIW] will provide a preview to help keep readers informed of the on-goings of the city’s governing body.

Each preview will highlight items from the City Council agenda for that week that haven’t already been covered by TWIW.

In this week’s agenda, Councilor At-Large Gary Rosen asks the council to oppose the DTA’s planned move to the Big Y and wants to take a look at busing Worcester school students using public transport, Councilor At-Large Moe Bergman wants an update on “swerving,” and District 5 Councilor Matt Wally wants to make sure Worcester is well-represented on the MBTA board.

Rosen Asking Council to Oppose Move of DTA

Councilor Rosen is asking the City Council to go on record to “vehemently” oppose the state’s decision to move the Department of Transitional Assistance [DTA] from its current location on Sudbury St. in downtown Worcester to the former Big Y supermarket in the Southwest Cutoff Plaza off of Rt. 20 and Sunderland Rd.

The DTA provides low-income individuals and families with direct economic assistance, food assistance and workforce training opportunities. 

The DTA office in Worcester is responsible for managing and monitoring the delivery of these services throughout the city.

The store space has been empty since Big Y closed in 2011 after nearly 20 years in business.

Rosen Wants to Take Look at School Students Riding City Bus

Rosen is also requesting that the City Council’s Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation — of which he serves on as chair — discuss the feasibility of having WRTA buses transport more Worcester Public School students to and from school.

Last week, City Manager Ed Augustus has appointed Rosen to serve on the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) Advisory Board.

Over the past year, Rosen has been an outspoken advocate for a fare-free bus system in Worcester

Wally Wants Worcester Represented on MBTA Board

Councilor Matt Wally is asking the City Manager to work with the City’s local state delegation to help ensure that there’s someone representing Worcester’s interests on Governor Baker’s proposed MBTA governing board to make sure Worcester-area commuter rail riders are represented. 

Baker has proposed a seven-member board to oversee the MBTA and will include the state’s secretary of transportation, Stephanie Pollack — and safety and transportation operations experts, public or private finance expers. and someone that actually rides the MBTA regularly.  

Bergman Wants Report on Bike “Swerving” Issue 

Councilor Bergman is asking the City Manager for a report concerning the results of the Worcester Police Department’s past enforcement policy against “swerving” — a trend of teens riding their bicycles into oncoming traffic and veering away at the last minute.

In 2017, the WPD created a Bike Patrol Taskforce to help enforce swerving policies.

Bergman is also asking for an update on what the WPD plans to do in 2020 to handle the swerving issue. 

Here’s an example of “swerving” and “rideouts” from 2017:

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