A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-112, regarding a report on requesting DCR to take measures to reduce vehicles blocking the exit from the Fresh Pond Mall to Alewife Brook Parkway

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Traffic, Parking, and Transportation 344 Broadway Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 www.cambridgema.gov/traffic Joseph E. Barr, Director Phone: [phone removed] Stephanie McAuliffe, Assistant Director for Parking Management Fax: [phone removed] Brooke McKenna, Assistant Director for Street Management MEMORANDUM TO: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager FROM: Joseph E. Barr, Director DATE: February 6, 2019 RE: Awaiting Report 18-112 – Request the Department of Conservation and Recreation Take Measures to Reduce Vehicles Blocking the Exit from the Fresh Pond Mall to Alewife Brook Parkway This memo is in response to Awaiting Report 18-112 (Order 8 from the October 29, 2018 City Council Meeting), requesting that we work with staff from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to determine if there are actions that can be taken to reduce the occurrence of vehicles on Alewife Brook Parkway blocking the exit from the Fresh Pond Mall. Based on this Policy Order, staff from the Traffic, Parking, + Transportation Department have consulted with staff from DCR on this issue, and sent the attached letter to DCR Commissioner Leo Roy on this issue. Based on these discussions, DCR has indicated that they will try to determine if there are any actions that they can take to address this situation. However, they did note certain specific challenges associated with this location: • Because this intersection consists only of highly channelized right turns on to and off of Alewife Brook Parkway and a pedestrian crossing, this is not a typical intersection where it is possible to clearly install the type of “don’t block the box” markings and signs that are often used in these situations. • During the peak periods, Alewife Brook Parkway experiences significant congestion in this area, meaning that the blocking of the exit from the Fresh Pond Mall is often unintentional, since drivers may realize too late that they will be unable leave the intersection and avoiding blocking the exit. Notwithstanding these challenges, DCR has indicated that they will continue to look at this location to determine if there are any physical solutions to this issue, and to coordinate with the State Police on potential enforcement activities. Staff from Traffic, Parking, + Transportation will follow up with DCR staff and provide the City Council with an update if any additional information becomes available.