CMA 2016 #145 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 6 2016

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Traffic, Parking and Transportation 344 Broadway Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 www.cambridgema.gov/traffic Joseph E. Barr, Director Phone: [phone removed] Brad Gerratt, Assistant Director for Parking Management Fax: [phone removed] Brooke McKenna, Assistant Director for Street Management MEMORANDUM To: Richard C. Rossi, City Manager From: Joseph E. Barr, Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Date: June 1, 2016 Re: Policy Order/Resolution 143 – Improving Safety for Trucks, Update on Putnam Avenue Fatality, and Analysis of Inman Square This memo is in response to Order 4 from the May 23, 2016 City Council Meeting, requesting that the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department report on a number of issues: 1. Measures that can be taken to improve the safety of large trucks, particularly in relation to conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists. 2. Update on the status of the City’s pilot program on truck safety improvements. 3. Update on the investigation into the cyclist fatality that occurred on Putnam Avenue last year. 4. Analyze ongoing congestion in Inman Square during the evening peak period. In response to this request, we have the following information to report: 1. There are a number of measures that the City can take to improve the safety of large trucks, including encouraging and/or requiring the use of improved safety equipment such as side- guards and blind-spot mirrors, improving education for all users regarding potential conflicts and safety concerns, implementing improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, and enhancing enforcement activities, among others. Some of these actions are completely under City control (although many have a budget impact), while others require approval from or action by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As part of adopting Vision Zero and developing our draft action plan, we will have a significant focus on improving safety for trucks, given the disproportionate impact that trucks have on road safety. As we develop the Vision Zero Action Plan in greater detail over the coming months, we will consult with the City Council, key stakeholders, and the general public to make sure that the plan reflects the priorities of those groups. In addition, we are planning to undertake an urban goods delivery study starting this summer, focused on a variety of issues surrounding deliveries. One key issue for this study will be safety, and how we can better manage goods delivery approaches to improve safety for all users.

Page 2 of 2 2. In May of this year the Department of Public Works (DPW) received the final report from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center on the “Cambridge Safer Truck Initiative.” The report concentrated mainly on two areas, truck side-guards, and blind-spot mirrors. Through this report, specifications were developed for both of these items, which will become standard on large City vehicles. DPW is currently in the process of putting assembling bid documents for the fabrication and installation of approximately 40 side-guards and has begun ordering blind-spot mirrors which will be installed by in-house mechanics. 3. Regarding the fatality on Putnam Avenue in the vicinity of the Whole Foods Market, the Cambridge Police Department has indicated that that the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police and the Cambridge Police, have completed their investigation and are awaiting a determination by the District Attorney’s Office as to whether charges are warranted. That decision is expected to be announced by the end of June. 4. We are in the process of completing our initial draft of the study of Inman Square that was initiated last year, which is intended to address congestion, safety, and mobility issues for all modes over the course of the day. To present the draft results of this study, we have scheduled a public for the evening of June 22, 2016, at 6:00pm at the Cambridge Hospital. The meeting will take place in the Second Floor Auditorium of the Macht Building, 1493 Cambridge Street and will include a presentation and a question and answer period.