Asked the City Manager to more fully review the dramatically growing need for expanded Traffic Calming, Traffic Signals and Vision Zero infrastructure through the city

O-2

Calendar Item # 2

The design principle behind the engineering of urban roads has changed significantly over the last 70 years; and

Initially focusing (since the mid-1950’s) on promoting a maximum of vehicles moving through the city at relatively high speeds and minimally interrupting this flow with pedestrian crossings, stop signs, and traffic lights at key intersections; and

After repeated requests, the state finally allowed Cambridge to lower speed limits to 25 miles per hour on main connector streets and 20 miles per hour on neighborhood streets; and

Although most drivers generally follow these speed limits, approximately 15% or one out of 7 vehicles (cars, vans, and trucks) travel significantly faster on our by-ways - raising the likelihood of accidents and serious injuries to others using the public way; and

Cambridge has begun redesigning and reconstructing its road network to promote greater safety and lowering vehicle speed on major connecting streets including the award-winning Western Avenue Project; and

Over recent years a growing number of residents have complained of the increasing number of speeding cars and trucks on their residential streets including but not limited to Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, and portions of Concord Avenue, Garden Street, Linnaean Street, Sherman Street, Third Street, and Washington Avenue; and

The $800,000,000 city budget for 2023 has continued to include very limited funds to increase safety on these residential streets as follows: Traffic Calming $250,000, Traffic Signals $350,000, and Vision Zero $300,000; and

In late 2021, Cambridge was reimbursed $5,000,000 by the MBTA for the construction of the Lechmere Green Line Train Station; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager, along with his staff, be and hereby is requested to more fully review the dramatically growing need for expanded Traffic Calming, Traffic Signals and Vision Zero infrastructure through the city; and be it further

ORDERED: That the above $5,000,000 refund be redirected toward those residential streets that require Traffic Calming, Traffic Signals and Vision Zero improvements as soon as possible.

In City Council August 1, 2022. Adopted by the affirmative vote of nine members. Attest:- Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk

A true copy;

ATTEST:-

Paula M. Crane,

City Clerk

History: 06/27/22

City Council

CHARTER RIGHT

Next: 08/01/22