A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-30, regarding traffic safety concerns on Madison Avenue

MEMORANDUM To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Joseph E. Barr, Director Date: October 28, 2019 Subject: Awaiting Report 19-30 Traffic Safety Concerns on Madison Avenue This memo is in response to Awaiting Report 19-30 (Order #4 from the March 4, 2019 City Council Meeting) requesting a report on traffic safety concerns on Madison Avenue related to vehicle speeds and volumes. To assess existing traffic safety conditions, Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department staff visited Madison Avenue during the weekday AM and PM peak periods as well as midday when traffic volumes are typically lower. Staff collected data on traffic volumes and speeds during all three time periods which are outlined in the table below. AM Peak (8:00am-9:00am) Midday (11:00am-12:00pm) PM Peak (4:00pm-5:00pm) Traffic Volume 20 vehicles 22 vehicles 29 vehicles Average Speed 21 mph 17 mph 21 mph 85th Percentile Speed 24 mph 21 mph 26 mph The data indicate that a very low volume of vehicles are traveling on Madison Avenue during the peak periods, with volumes averaging one vehicle every two to three minutes. Speeds for the vast majority of drivers were at or below the citywide speed limit of 25 MPH. Madison Avenue will be subject to the local-access safety zone program that will soon be deployed on residential streets throughout the City of Cambridge, which will reduce the speed limit to 20 MPH. The new limit will be posted with a SAFETY ZONE sign at the Whittemore Avenue end of the street, providing a visible indicator for all drivers about the need to drive at a safe speed through the neighborhood. Given the otherwise low volumes and speeds on Madison Avenue, we do not recommend the installation of additional traffic calming elements at this time.