Policy Order O-8

WHEREAS: As part of the Craigie Dam reconstruction, Mass Department of Transportation (DOT)has made the decision to close in-bound traffic from Cambridge to Boston for a period from November 2010 to April 2011; and

WHEREAS: Using the only two functional lanes on the bridge during this phase, Mass DOT will be establishing a 2 lane out and 0 lanes in traffic plan meaning that there will be two lanes of traffic traveling west (exiting Boston) and zero lanes of traffic travel east (toward Boston from Cambridge); and

WHEREAS: Access to Boston, Route 93, and Leverett Circle will be cut off for commuters attempting to exit Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Traffic Parking and Transportation Department, City Officials, and members of the State Delegation have expressed grave concern regarding the negative impact this could have on Cambridge neighborhoods, East Cambridge in particular; and

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge would prefer a 1 in and 1 out traffic pattern that would more fairly spread the burden of this detour to neighboring communities and relieve East Cambridge of bearing the full impact of the project; and

WHEREAS: While the scope and difficulty of this construction phase can be appreciated by all parties the 2-0 decision is not an acceptable option from the standpoint of the City of Cambridge; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in opposition of the Mass DOT traffic management plan which will disproportionately affect the East Cambridge neighborhood comparative to other abutting communities; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Mass DOT on behalf of the entire City Council.