The Manager's report back on working with BB&N school to provide a solution to cars idling, stalled traffic, and blocked driveways

and blocked driveways. The purpose of this response is to address Awaiting Report No. 22-18 of 3/21/22, whereby it was requested the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) and Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TPT) work with BB&N school staff to provide a solution to cars idling, stalled traffic, and blocked driveways near Buckingham Street, Buckingham Place, Parker Street, and Craigie Street as parents drop off and pick up their children.

Our agencies understand the importance of fostering an environment that enhances traffic safety for motorists, bicyclist, and pedestrians for those who live, work, and visit the city. As a result, both departments have worked together and have communicated with the BB&N school to explore a solution to this issue.

Currently, the BB&N’s Lower School campus configuration puts the entire impact of drop off and pick up on the public streets around the campus which often results in various unsafe driving conditions. It is our understanding that BB&N is planning changes to its campus (i.e., removing two buildings, constructing a new one in another part of the campus, and making renovations in the present buildings) which may provide an opportunity for an internal drive-through solution.

We believe an internal drive-through solution would significantly reduce the traffic safety concerns due to drop off and pick up on the public streets. The CPD and TPT are available to provide guidance to BB&N, as well as other city agencies, on long-term permanent solutions to reduce the unsafe driving conditions caused by the existing pick up and drop off plan.

In the short-term, the CPD and TPT will continue communicate with BB&N to develop immediate plans to resolve traffic safety concerns. The immediate plans include CPD assisting BB&N in developing anti-idling educational materials and posting “No Idling” signs in the impacted areas on campus. CPD can request BB&N staff to remind parents of the idling law, to avoid blocking driveways, and to maintain a safe flow of traffic.

The CPD and TPT will continue to remain available to meet with BB&N staff to discuss opportunities for BB&N to implement a tiered drop-off system, provide a parking area for parents, or provide additional drop off and pick up locations. Additionally, CPD will seek to regularly assign available officers to monitor the BB&N area during pick up and drop off. The CPD officers’ primary responsibilities will be to educate the BB&N community on traffic safety.

Further, CPD officers may issue motor vehicle citations and parking tickets where appropriate. CPD plans to implement measures to determine the success of the department’s efforts by conducting a weekly review of the number of warnings and tickets issued for improved compliance.

If there are any additional questions, information needed or concerns regarding this matter, please let us know.