By Richard Price
Grafton News Editor –
Parking around the Common has always been a challenge to motorists who visit for an event and Selectmen took a stab at making an improvement along George Jordan Jr. Boulevard.
On Tuesday night, the Board asked for the assistant town engineer to modify a first draft plan that would create six parallel spaces plus a sidewalk behind One Grafton Common.
After a lengthy discussion that also included traffic flow, Selectmen weighed the options drafted by Assistant Town Engineer Brian Szczurko of creating either six parallel parking spaces behind One Grafton Common or seven angled spaces plus two parallel. In the end, the angled parking idea was eliminated because motorists would have to back into it since Jordan Boulevard is one-way facing Worcester Street. Szczurko said backing into an angled space was necessary because the town could be liable if an accident occurred when someone pulled out against traffic. By deciding on parallel parking, the boulevard could return as a two-way street, an appealing option to town officials.
Less than a year ago, the town decided to make it a one-way street as part of a Grafton Common improvement plan. “We have to do something, they’re parking all over the place,” said Selectman Craig Dauphinais adding he believed that parallel parking made more sense.
A resident, who is also an advocate for people with disabilities, told the Board the town also needs to consider a sidewalk that connects to Worcester Street so those with disabilities have clear access to the back of One Grafton Common where an elevator is located. Selectmen and Town Administrator Tim McInerney asked Szczurko to return at a future meeting with a modified draft.
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