a communication from Councillor Craig Kelley, regarding Lexington Avenue speed observation

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 [email protected] Craig A. Kelley Phone: [phone removed] City Councillor Fax: [phone removed] Lexington Ave Speed Observation On Tuesday, December 5, we recorded the speeds of all vehicles traveling south on Lexington Ave between Huron Ave and Brattle St. The observation was made during morning commuting hours, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. There were 59 speed observations made during the time period, or roughly one every 30 seconds. The posted speed limit on Lexington Ave is 25 m.p.h., but residents have complained that vehicles using the popular cut-through regularly drive at speeds exceeding the legal limit. Observation of December 5 only offer one data point, but they seem to support the residents' claim. Of the 59 vehicles that were observed, the average speed was 26 m.p.h., as was the median. Thirteen drivers were observed traveling 5 miles or more over the speed limit, about 22 percent. Four drivers were recorded traveling at the highest observed speed, 33 m.p.h. Number of Vehicles Observed Traveling at Various Speeds 35 30 30 25 20 15 10 13 13 5 0 20-24 MPH <20 MPH 25-29 MPH 30+ MPH • Number of Vehicles Presented with this data point, how and when should the City respond to similar complaints from residents in a manner that is cost effective, does not lead to real or perceived over-policing, and properly contextualizes speeding-minor or excessive-in the larger duties of the Traffic and Parking and Police departments. Drivers who sped were likely to travel an average of 3.4 miles over the posted limit for that neighborhood street. What should the neighborhood and institutional tolerance be for such infractions? Please include this letter in Communications from City Officers for the December 11 meeting.