That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department, the Community Development Department, and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to determine whether the City could provide incentives for residents who do not have cars

O-4 FIRST IN COUNCIL March 25, 2024 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN WHEREAS: In 2016, the Cambridge City Council unanimously adopted Vision Zero to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries in the city, and two years later the City released the Vision Zero Action Plan; and WHEREAS: Since 2014, Cambridge has had a goal of reducing the reducing the ratio of cars owned by residents by 15% from the levels in the city in 1990 but had not reached that goal as of 2020; and WHEREAS: One way to help reach these goals would be to provide incentives to residents who forgo car ownership and Cambridge residents who currently do not have a car to continue being able to live without one, including residents who cannot afford car ownership; and WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has emphasized that municipalities are “local community laboratories” for advancing innovative public health measures and have significant authority to pilot new approaches; and WHEREAS: Incentives to reduce car usage in the city would help reduce traffic deaths and fatalities, lower emissions and pollution, and lessen the damage to and wear on city roads—which are both public health improvements as well as public benefits; and WHEREAS: Cambridge has accessible records of car ownership through motor vehicle excise tax and parking permit data; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department, the Community Development Department, and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to determine whether the City could provide incentives for residents who do not have cars, including an MBTA pass, a BlueBikes membership, or others; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.