The Westfield City Council Legislative and Ordinance subcommittee met on March 14, 2019 to discuss and vote on a proposed 24 Hour truck exclusion on Paper Mill Road. The vote was 2-1 in favor on a 24-hour truck exclusion with my vote being the lone vote against the proposal.
While originally supporting a 24-hour truck exclusion on Paper Mill Road, residents on Holyoke Road advised me of their displeasure because the majority of the trucks, mainly dump trucks, would now be routed away from Paper Mill Road and onto Holyoke Road. The Holyoke Road residents have a valid point and I reconsidered my support of a 24-hour exclusion and now support a 13-hour truck exclusion.
Truck exclusions are a multistep process. This vote was a recommendation to City Council for a 24-hour exclusion. The City Council will vote on March 21 to determine whether or not to recommend a 24-hour exclusion to the state. Ultimately, it is the state that decides to accept or reject the 24-hour truck exclusion. The state has already approved a 13-hour truck exclusion from 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM on Paper Mill Road which only awaits a final vote from the City Council.
Residents of Holyoke Road, Paper Mill Road, and East Mountain Road are very familiar with the dynamics of the area although other city residents might be unfamiliar. Lane Quarry is located on East Mountain Road and has been there for many, many years. With the quarry comes dump truck traffic to ship materials to road and construction sites. There are four routes for dump trucks to leave the quarry area, East Mountain Road South (underpass by Walmart), East Mountain Road North (at corner of Holyoke Road with train and MassPike underpasses), Paper Mill Road, and Holyoke Road. East Mountain Road South and North are limited by the height of the underpasses and only some trucks can make it through. That leaves Paper Mill and Holyoke Roads for the remainder of dump truck traffic.
The residents of both streets are 100% correct in why they feel trucks should not travel their road. Paper Mill Road has a school and a playground. Holyoke Road has a narrow bridge and difficult left turn onto North Elm Street.
I will continue to support the 13-hour truck exclusion from 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM for Paper Mill Road but feel it is unfair to shift the entire day of truck traffic to the residents of Holyoke Road.
William Onyski
Ward 6 City Councilor
