A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-5, regarding implementing traffic calming measures on Upton Street

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department 1 IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief Planner To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Joseph Barr, Director, Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Re: Awaiting Report 20-5 (dated January 27, 2020) regarding implementing traffic calming measures on Upton Street. Date: October 13, 2020 The information below is provided in response to Awaiting Report 20-5, dated January 27, 2020, related to implementing traffic calming measures on Upton Street to support safety, as is consistent with the City’s ongoing commitment to Vision Zero and safe street initiatives throughout Cambridge. City staff have been in communication with administrators at the Amigos school regarding issues related to pedestrian and traffic safety, as well as pick up/drop off on Upton Street. In response to these discussions, staff have reviewed the neighborhood context, and specifically street operations, evaluate traffic movement related to this currently two-way street from Magazine to Pleasant, and plan on installing a push button-activated Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB) at the existing crosswalk on Magazine and Upton Street (see example in Exhibit-A). The RRFB is a traffic control device intended to alert motorists traveling on Magazine Street when a pedestrian wishes to cross at the crosswalk. Staff are also evaluating other street operation strategies including the implementation of a one-way traffic operation for Upton Street during school drop off and pick up hours, from Magazine Street to Pleasant Street, which is currently the direction school buses travel on Upton Street. The timing of implementing this change would need to be carefully coordinated with the school, particularly given the uncertainty in school operations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff are planning further discussion and coordination with Amigos School staff regarding these measures and their implementation schedule; and will continue the discussion and review of potential additional measures and/or signage needs in order to address the safety concerns on Upton Street. Staff will also recommend that School administrators reach out and inform the residents of Upton Street and the school community about the traffic calming measures to improve street safety.

Awaiting Report 20-5 (dated January 27, 2020), continued. 2 Exhibit – A An example of push-button activated Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB). Source: https://www.tapconet.com/product/rrfb- pedestrian-crosswalk-system Proposed location of RRFB and proposed operation for limited morning hours for ONE-WAY direction. Partial image of Cambridgeport neighborhood and Amigo School. (Google Earth)