Policy Order O-24

WHEREAS: One of the goals of the Cambridge City Council is to "promote public safety and address the challenges and opportunities for multiple modes of transportation to safely share roads and sidewalks"; and

WHEREAS: For many years a situation has existed in which Western Avenue crossings at Kinnaird Street and Pleasant Street especially have been dangerous for children crossing Western Avenue to get to their school bus stop; and

WHEREAS: This situation is expected to be addressed by the completion of the Western Ave Reconstruction Project which begins September, 2012 ; and

WHEREAS: One of the main goals of this reconstruction project is to reduce traffic speeds and create safer crossings; and

WHEREAS: During this two-year reconstruction process, neighborhood parents are eager to have temporary but effective solutions for safe street crossings; and

WHEREAS: There are multiple challenges for safe crossings -- unmarked school bus stops along Western Ave -- some with crossing guards but most without; several crosswalk Yield Signs are placed in locations that are obscured by trees; and the vehicle speed limit of 25 mph is frequently observed to be exceeded; and

WHEREAS: More than 125 parents have signed a petition

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to communicate to the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department the resident's request that the city take strong measures to improve the pedestrian yield sign locations. Suggestions are to place brightly colored Yield Signs in the center of several crosswalks, relocate obscured pedestrian yield signs and post speed limit signs on Western Avenue; and be it further

ORDERED: That a report on this request be shared with the entire Cambridge City Council.