TheCambridge Record
Agenda ItemsCity Manager's Agenda

CMA 2020-14

The Manager's report back on idling vehicles enforcement

How it started
Jan 27, 2020 · Submitted by Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager: his response to the Council’s order about idling vehicles enforcement (AR 19-120).
What happened
Jan 27, 2020 · 📨 Response received. The City Manager's report came back and was entered into the record. (Placed on file)
What’s next
🚪 End of the line: the request is closed.
Placed on fileJan 27, 2020
Referred for reportAR 2019-120Sep 23, 2019
Administration answeredCMA 2020-14Jan 27, 2020 · answered in 126 days

The item's path through the council, every recorded step. How the request pipeline works

The document Agenda item attachment · 2 pages

The leadership of the Patrol Division has reminded all uniformed personnel about the laws regulating idling and the importance of enforcement. Working with the Department’s Traffic Analyst, we are in the process of developing a list of additional locations that have a large volume of idling commercial and TNC vehicles. Including, but not limited to, the following locations:

o Massachusetts Avenue in Central, Harvard and Porter Square o Cambridge Street from First Street to Inman Square o Kendall Square o Huron Avenue o Concord Avenue

This information will be shared with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department for additional “No-Idling” signage consideration in the most concentrated areas. Directed Enforcement assignments are being incorporated into the department's "Park and Walk" program and officers will be dispatched at various times between other calls for service. The department will utilize officers conducting enforcement under Highway Safety grants to incorporate idling enforcement into their patrols.

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO 125 SIXTH STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02142 We recognize that outreach and education are key aspects of any prevention strategy. The Police Department will coordinate with the law enforcement divisions of the rideshare companies and other city agencies that have existing relationships with representatives of the rideshare companies to make them aware of our concerns, and to develop anti-idling educational materials and public awareness campaigns.

Our outreach efforts will include asking schools to distribute warnings at school drop off and pick up locations, and encouraging businesses to post “No-Idling” signs in their parking lots, etc.

The Police Department will also explore other existing relationships with partners such as the Metropolitan Planning Council to demonstrate that this a regional concern and not just a local concern.

In order to measure the success of the department’s outreach efforts, we will evaluate the number of warnings and tickets issued and closely monitor our target locations for improved compliance. Signage, written and verbal reminders, and encouragement are all important components of any program designed to promote behavioral changes.

I hope you find this response satisfactory, and if there are any additional questions, information needed or concerns regarding this matter, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Dr. Branville, G. Bard, Jr.

Police Commissioner

🗓 The meeting where this was taken up: Jan 27, 2020

↩ Answers awaiting report: Awaiting report 2019 · #120