a report from Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Co-Chair and Councillor Dennis J. Carlon Co-Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on September 12, 2018 to discuss the upcoming Inman Square redesign project

Google earth September 12, 2018 Neighborhood & Long Term Planning; Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee Attachment A INMAN SQUARE INTERSECTION SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

design through more and pedestrians • Reduce exposure Minimize conflicts Project Background • Provide separation from moving traffic with turning vehicles compact intersection pedestrian wait times landscaping and • Provide improved crosswalk routing • Reduce length of enhanced amenities Provide more direct environment through crosswalks and signal O Desired Outcomes vehicular delay and lane controls Increase efficiency intersection design • Reduce unnecessary Limit parking impacts • Provide clear guidance through more compact delay bus stops • Reduce bus/transit • Improve location of and access to MBTA

space Project Background experience of plaza • Maximize quality and opportunities through intersection • Maintain truck access Provide business loading O Desired Outcomes (continued) HE 101 100 • Maintain protected firehouse egress/access

Walk Study Initial Note: Fall 2014 And Bike MassDOT Assessment Summer 2015 Transportation Study Project Background June 2016 June 2016 Community, Cyclist Fatality Transportation Presentation to initial findings of installed markings Enhanced pavement August 2016 Inman Separate from the above noted community meetings, the City has Intersection October 2016 met with various stakeholder groups Project Kickoff O Project Timeline Implemented No Left Turns November 2016 Feb 7, 2017 Community Jan 24, 2017; Meeting #1a/1b May 2, 2017 Community Meeting #2, Input, Community July 25, 2017 Meeting #3: Plaza Design Community Meeting #4: New Option, January 30, 2018 Update, Community Meeting #5: Plaza Design March 7, 2018 City Council June 18, 2018 Article 97 Vote, July 31, 2018 State Article 97 Approval,

of transportation Project Background - angle crash Statewide crash rate (exceeds MassDOT avg and vehicles to traverse • Long signal cycle lengths • Review of Crash Data 2008-2012 69 total crashes in 5 years • High volumes of bicyclists • Existing operational deficiencies pedestrian involved crashes 15 bicycle involved crashes, 5 • Layout of crosswalks irregular Large intersection for bicyclists • Complaints of high delay for all modes Most frequent type of crash type Ollnitial Transportation Study

Cambridge St Evaluation of Concepts Plaza Vellucci Antrim St Hampshire St Plaza Vellucci Current Concept Fire House Inman St Springfield St Hampshire St Lot 14 Parking Cambridge St

Cambridge St Plaza Vellucci Project Background Antrim St Hampshire St Plaza Velluci Fire House Inman St Springfield St Hampshire St , Lo Pa Car 1. 2. 1 Updates per Community Input Fire Station southbound • Increases Antrim Street Add pedestrian for safe crossing other crosswalks Maintain direction of crossing to new plaza Considered additional pedestrian delay at pedestrian crossing at • Physical constraints

parking bus stop 4. Modified on-street maximize locations to Project Background Cambridge St Plaza Писсі Antrim St сашен Plaza Vellucci Fire House Inman St" Springfield St T сшен • Updates per Community Input Lot 14 Parking C: mbridge St- T

5. green maintain • Analyzed footprint for added concept to existing Plaza plantings and within nearby infrastructure Consideration Parking Lot 14 Project Background Cambridge St Plaza vellucci Antrim St Hampshir Plaza Vellucci Fire House Inman Stel Springfield St •Updates per Community Input Hampshire St Lot 14 Parking Cambridge St

HAMPSHIRE ST. CAMBRIDGE ST. MOON, Concept 1: Eddy AMBRIDG ALTH Plaza Design MARTI FOOD QUICK Reman Scure | Pise Design Sontmoa | Sosic: 1* - 20-5 | 25 A0 2012 HILI HAMPSHIRE ST. CAMBRIDGE ST UNION MOONA Concept 2: Puzzle UNJABI MART FOOD QUICK

Stair Squares, NY Public Art lue Birds, Cleveland Grand Picnic, Case Western www.markreigelman.com Up River, Down River, Louisville

NEXT STEPS (October 2018) Public Art Concepts Community Meeting Final Plaza Design and Tree Walk Neighborhood (October 2018) Next Steps Planning Mitigation (September 2018) Begin Construction Art. 97 City Council (Sep. 17, 2018) Acceptance Vote for Bids (December 2018) Advertise Contract (March 2019) Pre-Construction Community Meeting Start April 2019 Construction

Attachment B Statement of John Pitkin, 18 Fayette St., Cambridge At the Cambridge City Council Committee on Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning September 12, 2018 I want to thank Councillor Zondervan other members of Committee, and aide Dan Totten for organizing this hearing. A public discussion of this project with all community stakeholders around a table is welcome and long overdue. As a 20-year veteran of service on the old Cambridge Board of Traffic & Parking and frequent meetings with previous Traffic Directors, I also want to acknowledge the professionalism and work of Joe Barr & Patrick Baxter with whom Ed Woll and I met this morning. The Friends of Inman Square and other petitioners urge the City Council, Staff and other members of the community to give serious consideration to the Modified plan put forward by the Friends at City Council in June. This plan has since been further developed and vetted by three independent traffic engineers. SEE SLIDE OF MODIFIED PLAN [at end of text] Key features of this plan are that it moves the bend in Hampshire Street east from where it is in the Current City Plan, thereby avoiding Vellucci Plaza and compressing the middle of the intersection. It maintains separated bike lanes throughout, providing for equivalent bicycle and pedestrian safety to the Current Plan. This is not the time to go through the details of this proposal, others may comment on them, but l ask you to consider how it meets the design goals for the project used by the City in January of last year when it was comparing different design options. SEE SLIDE OF UPDATED DESIGN OPTION SUMMARY [at end of text] These criteria are the following. The scores are those given by the City last January and updated based on information that has come out in the subsequent review of the design. • Improve bicyclist safety IMPROVED IMPROVED • Improve pedestrian safety IMPROVED • Reduce vehicular delay IMPROVED • MBTA bus route efficiency • Impacts on Vellucci Plaza as open space NEGATIVE

• Impacts on other open space CHANGE FROM IMPROVED TO MIXED At the Tree Hearing in April there was unrebutted testimony that the Current Plan will require the removal of established street trees in front of the former Quik Mart, Urgent Care and Inman Pharmacy. Also, at the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission hearing in May, there was unrebutted testimony that much of the new plaza to be created on the east side of Hampshire Street will be devoted to a pedestrian through way because no sidewalk will be provided. • Impacts to truck access CHANGE FROM IMPROVED TO NEGATIVE At the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission hearing in May there was testimony that the driveways through the new plaza to Moona's and Cambridge Health Alliance will require extra maneuvers by trucks and other vehicles and that replacement loading and patient drop-off zones could be as far away as Antrim Street. • Signalized intersection for firehouse access NO CHANGE • Construction time THIS IS AN ADDED EVALUATION CRITERION Two or more years of construction disruption will have negative impacts on abutting businesses and residents as well as everyone who passes through the Square, including cyclists. We feel confident in saying that the Modified Plan provides equivalent benefits in the following areas: • Bicycle safety • Pedestrian safety • MBTA bus route efficiency • Firehouse access in addition, the Modified Plan • preserves Vellucci Plaza, allowing for improvements such as those proposed in the Inman Square Dispatch in June, • preserves established street trees, and • retains current service vehicle access to Moona's and the Cambridge Health Alliance. More consideration and detailed engineering evaluation is needed to estimate vehicular delay for the Modified Plan. We expect that construction time would also be reduced because the area of construction is smaller, but further evaluation is needed here as well. Ed Woll will comment later on the technical traffic issues.

After over two years and numerous meetings on this project, Councilors and others are justifiably impatient with the process and eager to make a decision and see progress. Yet credible stakeholders remain split among three very different options, the Current Plan, the Modified Plan and no build with other improvements. I urge everyone to resist this "process fatigue," because the project will have impacts that are likely to be irreversible. There is no guarantee that the mature trees and ecosystem in Vellucci Plaza can ever be restored. The ecosystem of established community-serving businesses in Inman Square, including the pharmacy, hardware store, credit union and S&S Restaurant, is also at risk and also irreplaceable. Impacts of a lengthy disruption during construction and poorer service and customer access will sap the vitality and in the worst case the survival of these businesses that are the core of a vibrant urban village. "Bringing back" a retail center in today's business environment is extremely difficult and may well be impossible, as we can see from the situation in Harvard Square. As president of the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Association, I led the effort to bring Darwin's to replace a laundromat on Cambridge Street and conceived of the collaboration of the Broadway Marketplace brought a food store back to Mid-Cambridge after the Broadway Market closed. The environment for local retail businesses is much more challenging today than it was 10 and 20 years ago. The impacts of the any project in Inman Square on the established, going businesses need to be fully weighed. This project and process has divided our community among supporters of the three options. Whatever we decide to do, we will all have to live with the results and hopefully come together as a community. The conversation and listening at this hearing are the kind of open, civil process we have not had so far and that we need more of to restore unity. Thank you.

PHARMACI PLAZA VELLUCCI UNION NAVEC CREDIT MOONA LAZ URGENT CARE HEALTH ALLIANCE CAMBRIDGE P.D. MODIFIED PLAN Floating Bus SAVINGS CAMBRIDGE Attachment C

Construction time intersection for access firehouse Signalized truck access Impacts to Attachneent Negatively impacts other open Impacts on space as open space Vellucci Plaza Impacts on Minimally changes MBTA bus route efficiency Reduce vehicular delay - Improves UPDATED DESIGN OPTION SUMMARY Inman Square Intersection Improvements Project pedestrian Improve safety Legend : GO Improve bicyclist safety Plan Plan Current Modified DESIGN OPTION

Attachment E Crane, Paula From: Mark Boswell <[email removed]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 11:11 PM To: Crane, Paula Subject: 12 September NLTP Meeting Comments Cambridge Bicycle Safety is a local all-volunteer bicycling advocacy group whose mission is urge the City to build the entire Bicycle Network as defined in the 2015 Bicycle Plan Network Vision. We raise awareness of safety issues, upcoming projects, perform widespread outreach to residents, and occasionally celebrate new installations as they are built. As a representative of that group, including its principal members and its following of over 3500 people, the majority of which are Cambridge residents, I am here to say we fully support current Inman Square plan as proposed. Additionally we have seen hundreds more supporters who attended all the public process meetings and also want the project to move forward. Why do we want this project to move forward? Three main reasons: 1. Safety. Currently Inman Square intersection has one of the highest bicycle crash rates in the City. (Crashes with automobiles). It has a crash rate that exceeds the statewide average. This is not surprising since it is aiso one of the most heavily used bicycle corridors in New England. At weekday AM peak travel time on Hampshire Street, the bicycle mode share is 26%, according to the City's presentation in Jan 2017. The current proposal offers nearly complete separation from motor vehicle traffic, which will be a safer, more comfortable ride through the current, very wide, intersection which many find chaotic and uncomfortable. (See crash map). 2. Comfort. We know from extensive outreach, that most bicyclists prefer separation from motor vehicles, and nearly all of those people in the "Interested but Concerned" category, who would very much like to travel by bicycle but don't because they do not feel safe mixing with motor vehicles on the street, prefer separation. By separating bikes from cars, this project will encourage more people to consider making trips by bike. 3. Benefits everyone: Pedestrians will have more crossings with shorter wait times. Bicyclists are protected from cars. Transit riders benefit from better bus lanes. Drivers do not need to worry about coming into close contact with people on bicycles. This project has been through the longest and most thorough public process most of us have ever seen. The home rule petition has made it all the way through the Massachusetts legislature. At this point in the process we feel that to suggest we remain at the status quo with no changes except for signage and paint, without proper infrastructure would be deeply disappointing Again CBS and the community for which it speaks, is fully committed to supporting this project. We will always be looking for the right leadership to build out the bicycle network overall and this project in particular, and based on the overwhelming demand from residents that we see for this kind of facility, we honestly do not see that support going away. Respectfully, 1

Mark Boswell 105 Walden Street, Cambridge

Attachment F Charles Franklin 162 Hampshire St There's been a lot of misinformation circulation about the Inman Square redesign. As disheartening as that is, I'm going to try and dispel some of it. First and foremost, the square is as is not safe, even with the no left turn signs. As an Inman resident, not once have I been to the square without seeing at least one person illegally turn left, usually it's more than one. Yes, that is anecdotal, but here's something that isn't. The intersection is so long that the light can be green when entering at one end and red with pedestrians by the time a car gets to the other end. There's nothing safe about that. Even right turns around the south end of the square can cause conflicts between drivers and pedestrians. Don't believe me, go sit at 1369 coffee house and watch for 10 minutes. I've also heard that some think that the new design is too complicated and will confuse drivers. Think about modern cars. They're more complicated than ever, yet they are the safest vehicles to ever drive down the streets. They're also simpler to operate. It used to be that you had to change gears manually. Now you don't even have to start the engine or unlock the door. There's nothing simple about the mechanism that lets you start your car with a single push of a button, yet it's dead simple to operate. The intersection looks complicated on paper, but with proper signage and signal timing it will be easy to navigate, making it safer and more efficient than the current intersection. Let's not fall into the trap of letting perfect get in the way of good. If my engineering background has taught me anything, it's that life is full of tradeoffs. Anyone who's had remodeling done will know this too. Fast, cheap, or quality, pick two. The options are different, but the principle is the same. I choose safety. I choose efficiency. What are you choosing? ~Charles

Attachment G Testimony of Edward Woll Jr., 79 Dana Street, Tel [phone removed] Regarding the Reconstruction of inman Square Public Comment Period of the City Council Subcommittee Meeting-Sept. 12, 2018 John Pitkin and I met with Joe Barr and Patrick this morning in a very cordial, respectful, enjoyable and informative session. We discussed the City Plan and the modified Plan differences in the context of ten pertinent design criteria, including cost and duration of construction and parking. We learned that an original criterion of preserving Vellucci Plaza was modified when the Traffic Department was informed that Vellucci could be changed - moved. Once it was decided that moving Vellucci Plaza was OK, the design options broadened considerably and have resulted in a design that effectively has eliminated a neighborhood friendly Vellucci Plaza - driven principally by two of the ten design criteria - which deal with vehicle traffic and pedestrian crossing time. The Cambridge community needs a full-blown analysis of the Modified Plan to determine whether it is at least equal to or better than the City Plan - or not. The result is not intuitive but requires detailed modeling. The Traffic Department is reluctant to do that without a request from the City to do so. The Risks: So, what is the risk of the City Council asking the Traffic Department to assess the Modified Plan as it has assessed the City Plan. The answer is, in the context of a $6 million or more project cost, very little. Cost: $30,000 to $50,000. Time: 1.5 to 3 months. Project start time: Probably no delay in a Spring 2019 construction start time Healing community rifts: A detailed analysis has the potential to heal deeply felt divisions in the community and respective constituencies.. Project improvement: Highly likely. The Detail: The City Plan and the Modified Plan are roughly comparable regarding 4 of the 10 criteria: Bicycle safety. Pedestrian safety. Bus traffic. Signalizing intersection for firehouse access. The Modified Plan is decidedly better on 3 of the 10 criteria: Parking.

Preservation of Vellucci Plaza as a neighborhood park. Increased open space on the retail side of Hampshire. It does not dedicate 30% of the park area for pedestrian sidewalk functions incompatible with Article 97 parkland. The Modified Plan is potentially better on 1 more of the 10 criteria: Construction cost and duration. The remaining 2 criteria center around vehicular delay and pedestrian crossing time, such as Traffic efficiency, i.e., dead time when lights are red. Space for stacking of cars between green lights. Pedestrian street crossing time, dependent on number and location of crosswalks. Truck geometry for turning and access. None of those have been modeled for the Modified Plan - but should be. These criteria should not be the ones that mandate elimination of a neighborhood park, disruption of a residential neighborhood and destruction of a local business community.

Testimony of Edward Woll Jr., 79 Dana Street, Tel [phone removed] Regarding the Reconstruction of inman Sguare Public Cute othe St Coi 38, 2018 Calling It a Park but Making it a Sidewalk - Is Still a Net 30% Loss of Parkland Yes, the City Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department's plan for Vellucci Plaza and Inman Square simply turns 30% of the Vellucci Plaza Article 97 parkland into public sidewalk - and did not show that in any plans - or to the public. The attached Modified Plan solves the sidewalk issue and preserves the safety and basic traffic capacity of the City Plan, and as well increases public gathering space by preserving Vellucci Park and adding a second plaza across the street. The original Vellucci Plaza taking of 6,462 st did not include the existing public sidewalk around Vellucci. The City's current plan (City Plan) has 6,480 sf of Article 97 parkland, and keeps 2,679 sf on the west side of Hampshire Street and disperses the remaining 3,801 sf to the east side of Hampshire Street. The City plan also abandons about 4,000 square feet (sf) of existing pedestrian public sidewalk within the Cambridge and Hampshire street layouts around Vellucci Plaza. The City Plan does not designate an area as a public pedestrian sidewalk or even a pedestrian pathway for either segment. Instead the City Plan identifies non-permeable paving blocks that cover about 1,900 sf - about 1,200 sf of the west segment and 700 sf of the east segment. ^ This 1,900 sf is imposed on the Article 97 land to function as a public sidewalk use. But the City then calls that sidewalk a park - but it is a public sidewalk by any other name. That leaves only 4,580 sf of actual park - or about 30% less than the existing Vellucci Plaza and a net loss of Article 97 park land of the existing Vellucci Plaza? Public sidewalks are usually included in the road layout, are referred to in City ordinances at times as abutting a park, and are treated differently under the City ordinances and regulations than public parkland and pedestrian pathways in a park. And yes, every park has pedestrian pathways for the public to use. Look at Cambridge Common? But Cambridge Common has sidewalk along its surrounding streets and is so much bigger. Here, the "main pedestrian paths of travel" through the new park segments are the only available options to go from point A to point B on the other side. No alternative public pedestrian sidewalk is available. Therefore these de facto Inman Square "main pedestrian paths of travel" may not be calculated as Article 97 land and are a net loss. ' The rest of the 4,000 sf is used for bicycles, buffers and roadway. " The math is as follows: Vellucci Plaza: 6,480 st Park area lost: 1,900 sf or about 30% Total net Park area: 4,580 st West segment: 2,679 st East segment: 3,801 st Sidewalk: Sidewalk: 1,200 st 700 sf Net park area: 1,479 st Net park area: 3,101 sf

But ... but ... but ... stutters the City - Cambridge counts a sidewalk as "open space." This is not Cambridge's call however; it is a state law issue. A city zoning ordinance is different. The City cannot abandon a truly public sidewalk in the street layout and just press it onto Article 97 land. But ... but ... but ... the legislature approved the plan. However, the plan approved by the 6 to 3 City Council vote and submitted to the legislature did not on its face disclose use of Article 97 land as a public sidewalk or even as aa pedestrian pathway. It says instead only, "There will not be a net loss of public open recreational space as a result of the traffic reconfiguration work referenced in Section 1, above, and the dedication of land referenced in Section 2, above, for public open recreational uses." So on its face the use of Article 97 land as a public sidewalk was not disclosed by the Home Rule Petition and therefore that issue was not before the legislature - even if it was brought to our elected officials attention after the filing. In sum, the neighborhood is programmed to lose about 30% of its parkland. The City's City Plan abandons public sidewalk around Vellucci Plaza, imposes on 30% of a park main pedestrian public sidewalk but calls it a park anyway. The neighborhood and its residents - and thus the City - are the losers. The Modified Plan solves those issues.

Attachment H Crane, Paula From: Sharon deVos < [email removed]> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 3:11 PM To: Crane, Paula; City Councit Subject: Modified Plan for Inman Square - Please include this in the record for the September 12th Hearing Attachments: ModifiedCityPlan_Sept_ 2018.jpg; ModifedPlanAdvantages_Sept_2018.docx September 12, 2018 RE: Modified Plan for Inman Square Dear Ms. Crane and Members of the Cambridge City Council: Please find, attached, a copy of the Modified Plan prepared by the Residents, Neighbors and Friends of Inman Square. We are proposing this plan for consideration by City Council. As Cambridge citizens, we strongly believe that the Modified Plan improves on the City's current plan in a number of ways. Also, attached is a list of the significant advantages the Modified Plan offers. Please note that the proposed Modified Plan is based on the City's Current Plan. The main difference between the two is that in the Modified Plan, the Hampshire Street bend is moved in an easterly direction. The Modified Plan has been developed and vetted with three reputable traffic engineers all of whom are familiar with the Inman Square Intersection. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Respectfully, Sharon deVos for the Residents, Neighbors and Friends of Inman Square. 1

SAVING CAMBRIDG Floating Bus Stop Floating Bus 1369 P.D MODIFIED: PL ALLIANCE HEALTH CAMBRIDGE: AS PLAZ URGENT CARE MOONA UNION NAVEO CREDIT STREET Stop 330 SHIR "LAZA ETTER AND SAFER INMAN SQU

MODIFIED PLAN ADVANTAGES MODIFICATION TO THE CITY'S "CURRENT" PLAN FOR INMAN SQUARE The proposed modified plan is based on the existing City plan. The main difference between the two is that in the modified plan, the Hampshire Street bend is moved in an easterly direction. The modified plan has been developed and vetted with three reputable traffic engineers who are familiar with the Inman Square Intersection. The MODIFIED PLAN presents a number of advantages over the "Current" plan, among them: • NO TAKING OF ARTICLE 97-DESIGNATED LAND. The existing Alfred E. Vellucci Community Plaza is protected in its entirety with this plan • NO NET LOSS OF PEDESTRIAN SPACE as compared with 2,000 sf of sidewalk space removed with the "current" plan. Existing sidewalk widths remain as per current conditions. • CYCLISTS ARE GIVEN PROTECTION THROUGHOUT THE INTERSECTION. Cyclists are at road level rather than at sidewalk level, greatly reducing points of potential cyclist/pedestrian conflict. • PLAN MESHES WITH PROTECTED BICYCLE LANE TREATMENT currently being deployed all along Beacon Street in Somerville leading into Inman Square. • MATURE TREES WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ARE RETAINED. This includes the 6 mature trees in Vellucci Plaza, the two large street trees in front of the former Quik Mart, as well as the two trees in front of Urgent Care and the trees in front of Inman Pharmacy. • THE INTERSECTION IS SIMPLIFIED by removing a set of traffic signals. • THE NINE EXISTING PARKING SPACES ALONG VELLUCCI PLAZA ARE RETAINED. • DRIVEWAYS TO CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE AND MOONA ARE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD and maneuverable. Driveways are clearly differentiated from the new plaza space. • THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON RESIDENTIAL ABUTTERS. • CONSTRUCTION IS LESS COMPLICATED & CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE LOWER. The construction timeline is reduced, lessening the overall impact of the project on local businesses, residents, commuters and visitors. • THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IS INCREASED. Vellucci Plaza, is upgraded to serve as an attractive park-like green space; the new plaza east of Cambridge Street offers a more commerce-friendly open space option. FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS OF INMAN SQUARE GO TO: www.saveinmansquare.com

Attachment I From: Susan Markowitz <[email removed]> Date: Fri, Jun 1, 2018, 12:30 PM Subject: Inman Sq business support To: <council@cambridgema.gov>, Lopez, Donna <dlopez@cambridgema.gov> Cc: <citymanager@cambridgema.gov> Dear Cambridge City Council members, We support the redesign of Inman Square and recognize that small businesses will be affected during redesign/construction. To support our local businesses continued success we offer a few suggestions we'd like you to consider, and we offer to work with other residents and the city to help implement them. During Construction: • Have a shuttle that picks up employees/customers from a parking lot; possibly coordinate with Union Square as well? • Work with the chosen construction company to create project phasing that has the least possible interference on local business operations. Monitor phasing and city mitigations throughout construction to help business expectations get met. • Create a tax abatement. • Give a subsidy/grant to small businesses that are showing losses. • Reach out to owners of nearby parking lots (East Cambridge Savings Bank, Naveo, Urgent Care) and ask if their parking lots can be used outside of business hours, or if some can be leased out during • Members of Inman Square Neighborhood Association will meet regularly with local businesses to plan and promote weekly and monthly special events. • Create a parking match-maker, that connects residents who own private parking spaces such as driveways and garages and are willing to offer that space to a local business employee for specific * hours during the day. Contenaer availalichity besses U Thank you. Sincerely, Members of the Inman Square Neighborhood Association • Phyllis Bretholtz, Matt Cloyd, Nate Fillmore, Charles Franklin, Richard Krushnic, Susan Markowitz Brett Matthew, Ali Ringenburg, Laurin Stoler

stachment I 4) as Fave left to talk. There was no fine I signed up but ave pace... diviseness politics of simple as Pens Daw-" Sts as my daughtles life, in cludiy long townis us techie. 10) suggest to good decision doctor all forms are following the deaths, it is time to make a • angine with the stil • I support this plan as a 2 bicycle riders in 'noughts gome in to this has the bikecommitee 7) respect incredible e fats t milemnid one yeu on my commute • john Ellersick 48 Fair Field St. Th. rp •walk, bite, drive"re fren - When we build ejets we lins towe We ore bikers.

Attachment K Lopez, Donna From: Lynn Cetrulo < [email removed]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 7:49 AM To: Lopez, Donna Subject: comments The city manager and the city council are in tandem making decisions about Cambridge that should be voted on by the citizens of Cambridge. Now you will wreck Inman Square. Lynn Cetrulo

Attechment L Lopez, Donna From: Dix, Ann K <[email removed]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 9:54 AM To: Lopez, Donna Subject: Inman Square redesign cannot make it to the meeting tonight but would like to comment that I am OPPOSED to the Inman Square redesign. I believe the project is too expensive, will be disruptive to the neighborhood and the businesses, and will result in a traffic pattern that is more dangerous and less pedestrian friendly. Can't we simply upgrade and improve Velucci Park with its existing footprint and be done with this discussion? Ann K. Dix 34 Maple Avenue Cambridge MA

Attachment M Crane, Paula From: Lopez, Donna Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 10:32 PM To: Crane, Paula Subject: Fwd: Inman Square Redesign meeting today (Wednesday) at 6:30 PM Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Robert Donovan" <[email removed]> Date: September 12, 2018 at 9:38:53 PM EDT To: <DLopez@Cambridgema.gov> Cc: <[email removed]>, <[email removed]> Subject: FW: Inman Square Redesign meeting today (Wednesday) at 6:30 PM We completely agree with Craig Kelly's position. The traffic control modifications that were made are sufficient and the problem is solved. The traffic flow going through the square is now more safe and efficient. The redesign plan is overkill and will be a waste of resources that can be directed at other unsafe streets, crosswalks and intersections. Philomena Donovan Robert Donovan Lisa Donovan George From: Kelley, Craig [mailto:ckelley@cambridgema.gov] Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 12:25 AM Subject: Inman Square Redesign meeting today (Wednesday) at 6:30 PM Hey Everyone: There will be a City Council subcommittee meeting starting at 6:30 tonight (Wednesday) about the Inman Square redesign. Please note that modifying the City's planned design is not on the table. The City Manager has been clear that the Council as a body asked the Legislature for the Home Rule petition to alter Vellucci Park in a certain way, which will result in a number of trees being removed, and the City is going to move forward with that plan (subject to very minor changes) or not move forward at all. I think the City's proposal will be a complicated mess, most notably with more turning movements that will create more opportunities for bike/car/pedestrian conflicts and make the intersection far more dangerous than it is now. At this point, illegal left turns onto Cambridge and Hampshire Streets are fairly infrequent and there are limited opportunities for car/bike conflicts during right turns so collisions from turning movements, by far the largest noted

source of bike/car collisions in Cambridge and elsewhere, has already been considerably mitigated. I hope the City shelves this dangerous, poorly designed project and instead focuses on clearly marking the various traffic restrictions from doing "No Bikes On Sidewalk" stencils to installing better "No Left Turn" signage to completely redoing the confusing mess of striping where Cambridge and Hampshire Streets cross (to include more clearly indicating that drivers are not allowed to make a left onto Springfield Street- you'd have to be a clairvoyant to understand what the current poorly placed sign stating that restriction means). These relatively simple changes, and making sure the various navigation apps used by Uber and Lyft reflect the current 'no left turn' restrictions, will make this intersection far safer than this poorly thought out, lengthy and disruptive multi-million dollar project will. Additionally, working with cyclists to minimize cyclists' running red lights through the intersection and using lights at night would increase cyclist safety. You can learn more about the project here: http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/CityProjects/detail.aspx?path=%2fsitecore%2fconten t%2fhome%2ftheworks%2fcityprojects%2f2016%2finmansquare Here is the notice about the meeting. If you can't make it but would like to submit comments, you may email them to the City Clerk at DLopez@Cambridgema.gov. 6:30 PM Wednesday, September 12, The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public 2018 Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee will meet to discuss the upcoming Inman Square redesign project (Sullivan Chamber) Thanks a lot. Craig All emails to and from this City address should be considered to be subject to Massachusetts's Public Records laws. To be removed from this list, click here. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in it. Also, I have scheduled office hours in Central Square on Monday's from 1-3 PM and Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 AM, but please email CKelley@ Cambridgema.gov before coming to confirm before showing up. 2

Attachment N Crane, Paula From: Lopez, Donna Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2018 12:39 PM To: Crane, Paula Subject: Fwd: Inman square redesign Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Caroline Lowenthal <[email removed]> Date: September 13, 2018 at 9:33:46 AM EDT To: DLopez@cambridgema.gov Subject: Inman square redesign Hello, I can't make tonight's meeting but I wanted to write to express my support of the Inman Square redesign. As a cyclist who regularly rides through Inman Square, I think it will be great to have increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Thanks, Caroline Lowenthal East Cambridge

Atlechment In support of the Modified Plan As an abutter who resides in the bull's eye of Inman Square at 240-248 Hampshire St., I am concerned that the current plan poses new confusion and increased satety issues for all persons, whether on foot, bicycle, car or in a wheelchair. The modified plan addressed the Zero Vision ideal, because it maximizes safety for bicyclists, who won't be competing with pedestrians on a parallel collision course. The planned busy roadway turning sharply through Vellucci Plaza will come dangerously closer to the edge of our building, increasing hazardous conditions and reducing vital pedestrian pathways to businesses on Hampshire and Cambridge Streets. The modified plan leaves the Plaza intact as an open space, while creating opportunity for its transformation. Picture an improved well-designed park that will add beauty, calm and shade to the neighborhood and attract more visits and new traffic to nearby shops and restaurants. It will celebrate the message that Cambridge preserves and showcases nature and promotes sound environmental practices. The reverse is true of the new plan, which will destroy nature and create more pollution and heat. Businesses will win with the modified plan because precious parking spaces will be preserved and make it easier for families and persons with disabilities to enjoy Inman's Square's diverse shops and attractions. The plan also supports the envisioned plaza on the other side of the street, adjacent to popular eateries. A lengthy construction process is very problematic. It will create a complex risky traffic situation and impede people from getting to Inman Square. Businesses and residents will suffer. It will be a place to avoid, and other parts of Cambridge will feel the effects of increased traffic. The modified plan is a sensible viable option for a safer Inman Square. Thank you for reviewing it carefully and considering it as the better option for all Cambridge residents, businesses and its visitors for the long term. I represent my building and speak for business owners with whom I have spoken. Sincerely Yours, Debra H. Mandel 242 Hampshire St.

Attachment P Crane, Paula From: Lopez, Donna Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 12:04 PM To: Crane, Paula Subject: FW: Inman Square redesign From: B. Ricker <[email removed]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 11:56 AM To: Lopez, Donna < dlopez@cambridgema.gov> Subject: Inman Square redesign Hello, As a long term resident and homeowner in the Inman Sq. area, I hope the city decides not to go ahead with the plans for the redesign of the square. Now that people have gotten used to the no left turn regulations things are moving along pretty nicely and Velluci Plaza is a lovely oasis with its mature trees. it seems like an expensive and very disruptive undertaking for little or no actual gain. Let's leave Inman Square alone! Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, Elizabeth Ricker 358 Windsor st Cambridge, MA 02141

Atlachment Q Crane, Paula From: Lopez, Donna Wednesday, September 12, 2018 8:03 PM Sent: Crane, Paula To: Fwd: Inman Sq. Plan Subject: Attachments: Untitled_Artwork.pdf; ATT00001.htm Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Adam Rothberg < [email removed]> Date: September 12, 2018 at 6:49:25 PM EDT To: "Lopez, Donna" <dlopez@cambridgema.gov> Cc: "Kelley, Craig" <ckelley@cambridgema.gov> Subject: Inman Sq. Plan Hello Clerk Lopez and Craig, I am unable to attend tonight's meeting re the Inman Square redesign, but a wanted to share a blended concept that I think may improve upon the most recent proposal (I know, everybody has an opinion). Attached is a marked up rendering from one of the many proposals. Many of the elements from each of the four concepts have merit. I believe the key to saving lives however, will be in keeping the construct simple. Rather than a multitude of long and nebulous intersections, focus on creating two very distinct 4-way intersections, and deter additional traffic (Springfield St, Antrim, and Inman St.) away from these intersections to further reduce complexity. The placement of Velucci Plaza will both simplify the intersection AND make a more useful public space. Thanks for your time. Adam Rothberg 215 Norfolk St. Unit 4 Adam M Rothberg Musician/Graphic Designer/Art Director [email removed] Portfolio: www.adamrothberg.net Music: www.AMRsounds.com http://linkedin.com/in/adammrothberg

$ 87% - ecled Round 6:21 PM cambridgema.gov Fire •Preliminary Concepts Alternatives Evaluation I Bend Cambridge § Bend North iPad -

Attachment R Crane, Paula From: Wescoat <[email removed]> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 9:25 PM To: Zondervan, Quinton; Carlone, Dennis; Kelley, Craig; Toomey, Tim; Siddiqui, Sumbul; Crane, Paula Subject: Letter in support of the "Modified Plan" in Inman Square for N&LTP Committee meeting, September 12, 2018 Letter in support of the "Modified Plan" for Inman Square Dear Co-chairs Carlone and Zondervan, and Committee members Kelley, Siddiqui, and Toomey, I'm writing regarding the redesign of Inman Square. I believe that the Modified Plan achieves the City's goal of improving safety at the intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge Streets, while efficiently moving cars, cyclists and pedestrians through inman Square. It has the additional benefits of increasing the amount of open space because it preserves Vellucci Plaza and adds a second retail plaza across the street. It preserves pedestrian space, and it is a simpler, more intuitive plan. It saves the grove of 50yr. old. Honey Locust trees that shade and cool the intersection. These mature trees have survived in a harsh, ever-hotter, windy location by shading each other, and sharing resources underground. If they are cut down the loss is not easily "remediated" by a number of young trees. The Honey Locusts are not at the end of their usefulness; instead, the larger they grow, the more they will cool the area and sequester carbon. Young trees would take over a decade to provide equivalent benefits, assuming they thrive. How much hotter will the intersection become while we wait for new trees to grow? As the City knows, trees too are a health and safety issue, and worth every effort to protect if we expect to have a livable city. These Honey Locust trees are not in decline, having decades of life ahead of them, and they are loved by the neighborhood. City leaders have said that preserving these trees would put "trees above safety". My husband and neighbors commute to work by bicycle. Safety is not negotiable. If there is a viable way to both achieve safety and protect our green infrastructure, please chose that one. These two goals are not mutually exclusive. I urge you to seriously and transparently review the Modified Plan put forward by Friends of Inman Square before a vote is taken by City Council to approve the Inman Square redesign. The Modified Plan is the one that would satisfy a broader range of concerns, including safety, environment, and business interests. Sincerely yours, Florrie Wescoat 33 Market Street 1

Attechment s From: Sara Mae Berman [email removed] Subject: Fwd: Opinion to The Cambridge Chronicle Date: September 10, 2018 at 9:00 AM To: Larry Berman [email removed] Begin forwarded message: From: Sara Mae Berman <[email removed]> Date: September 10, 2018 8:44:57 AM EDT On Sept 5, I was listening to WGBH-FM, Jim Braude and Margery Eagan were talking about bikes and bikeways in Holland and Denmark. I wondered if they were aware of a bike issue in Inman Square, a couple of streets from where Jim lives. I also live near inman Square, and bike around the city for errands and to visit. THE FUTURE OF INMAN SQUARE IS AT STAKE The Cambridge DPW has proposed a redesign of Inman Square (where Hampshire Street crosses cambriage Street) to "help traffic flow" and make it "sater for bikes", a proposal which will take up to 3 years and cost an estimated $6 million dollars. Many of my neighbors aren't convinced that the city's plan will be sater for bikes or better for car traffic-ot even for pedestrians. In the process of achieving their plan, the City proposes to turn Hampshire Street, from the north, to hit Cambridge Street (east-west) at a right angle. To do this they plan to reduce the size of Vellucci Park, which is at the intersection, and cut down 4 of its 6 trees that are approximately 50 years old. Their plan proposes to replace some of the park space by adding it to the eastern side of Hampshire near the Cambridge Health Alliance offices and the Punjabi Dhaba restaurant. Hampshire Street which comes from the south and Kendall Square will have to bend west at the intersection, and then northerly around this new piece of park. Our measurements show that the space replaced doesn't equal the space which will be lost to the street. And the reduced park doesn't allow very much pedestrian space. My neighbors see several potential problems: less sidewalks for pedestrians, more pedestrian/cyclist conflicts, new obstacles for handicapped people and others with limited mobility, including people in wheelchairs as well as parents with young children. Organized cyclists are so eager for any improvement, that they seem to have muscled the City Councillors into approving this pian, with implicit threats of working against them in the next election. A well-connected bike organization with lots of members keeps in touch via the internet, even though many of them don't live in Cambridge, and use Hampshire Street and Beacon Street in Somerville to commute. They are understandably interested in safety, and remind us that two years ago a cyclist was killed near the intersection (after cutting across the plaza and riding into the street from between parked cars). No death can be taken lightly, and hers was a tragedy. But may I point out that I've lived here for 60 years, and this is the only major accident i can remember. My neighbors and I have talked to local businesses. They fear the loss of business from the construction disruption--for up to 3 years. And they say they haven't been consulted about the project. Some say the park isn't used. It doesn't attract large crowds, but on any day people sit and enjoy the shade. Even for those just passing by, it provides a leafy oasis in our densely built-up area. Occasionally, the park hosts holiday celebrations, e.g., inman-ween at Halloween. A MODIFIED PLAN: LESS CONSTRUCTION TIME, LESS COST My neighbors and | have been working together to get the City to consider a Modified Plan that would shift the "newly turned" Hampshire Street more easterly, improve pedestrian ways, and reduce somewhat the

proposed piece of new park in front of the Cambridge Health Alliance building and Punjabi Dhaba. And the Modified Plan would preserve most of Vellucci Park and its trees--and be safer for bicyclists and pedestrians than the City's proposed plan. We want to get the City to conduct and make available a serious analysis of the Modified Plan, which has been reviewed by three professional traffic engineers, who have concluded that the modified plan meets satery and tranic tow standards and is sater tor all concerned. We also believe that our Modified Plan would take less construction time, cost significantly less money than the City's plan, and reduce the extent and period of disruption of local businesses. We do not believe that the city staff has been required—-or even asked---to review the Modified Plan. Because Vellucci Park was originally approved in 1980 under the State's Article 97 law that protects the creation of park space, this summer the City Council had to request the State Legislature to approve reconfiguring the park, by turning most of it into a road running right through it. The Council approved this request on June 4, by the minimum 2/3 required vote: 6-3. The State Legislature followed its usual practice of okaying such petitions. Now, the City Council can vote at its next meeting, on September 17, whether to move forward with that plan. we want the City Counci to consider seriously our Modified Plan, and have it evaluated point by point. The future of Inman Square as a vital neighborhood center is at stake Thank you for your attention. Sara Mae Berman, 23 Fayette St, Cambridge also associating with these sentments. Edward Woll, Jr. | John Goodson, MD