A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-34, regarding a report on traffic calming on Museum Way

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov MEMORANDUM TO: Louis DePasquale, City Manager FROM: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Joseph Barr, Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation SUBJECT: Awaiting Report 18-34 dated 3/19/18, regarding Museum Way traffic calming DATE: July 24, 2018 In response to the Council’s request to review what traffic calming actions can be taken to discourage the speeding of vehicles along Museum Way, we report the following. Staff from the Community Development Department (CDD) and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department (TP&T) have reviewed the request for traffic calming measures for Museum Way. Speed data collected on June 6 and 7, 2018 on Museum Way showed that the 85th percentile speed was 26 mph. The speed limit on the street is 25 mph. The 85th percentile is the speed below which 85 percent of the vehicles travel and is the standard for measuring vehicle speed in traffic analysis. The Average Daily traffic (ADT) on Museum Way is 5,800 vehicles, which is a significant number of vehicles. Traffic calming measures are intended to reduce traffic speeds and do not reduce traffic volumes. Since most vehicles on Museum Way are traveling close to the speed limit, traffic calming on this street would not be a high priority. We will continue to monitor traffic speed and evaluate the potential for traffic calming measures if Museum Way is scheduled for roadway work in the future. An additional issue that was noted in observations was that some vehicles increased their speed approaching Charles River Dam Road (Rt. 28) in order to catch a green signal. To reinforce lower speeds we will request selective enforcement at this location from the Police Department. We will also review changes to the pavement markings by maintaining two turning lanes at the intersection but reducing the two approaching lanes to only one which should help slow vehicles approaching the traffic signal.