POR 2023-52
Policy Order for Garden Street Accommodations
by the first “WHEREAS” by adding the words “created a safe experience for all road users and” so that it reads: “The recent changes of part of Garden Street from a two- way to a one-way for automobile traffic has created a safe experience for all road users and caused concerns in the community about overflow traffic and safety on neighboring side streets; and”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Apr 3, 2023, p. 8.
POR 2023 #52 by adding a fourth WHEREAS to read: “WHEREAS: TPT Department and the City Manager released the Garden Street Safety Improvement Project Local Traffic Analysis on March 30, 2023; and”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Apr 3, 2023, p. 8.
POR 2023 #52 by adding a fifth WHEREAS to read: “WHEREAS: The city’s analysis includes an impact evaluation based on extensive data collection, a consideration of the potential impact of returning part of Garden Street to two-way traffic, responses to comments from the public, and recommendations that the city could take to further address resident concerns;”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Apr 3, 2023, p. 8.
POR 2023 #52 by amending the “ORDERED” to read: “That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to implement the recommendations from the report as soon as possible but no later than May 30, 2023.”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Apr 3, 2023, p. 9.
the “ORDERED” by replacing the word “implement” with the word “consider” so that it reads: “That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to consider the recommendations as soon as possible but no later than May 30, 2023.”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Apr 3, 2023, p. 9.
View the roll call
Voted yes (5)
Dennis Carlone
Marc McGovern
Patty Nolan
Paul F. Toner
Sumbul Siddiqui
Voted no (3)
Alanna Mallon
E. Denise Simmons
Quinton Zondervan
Voted present (1)
Burhan Azeem
O-3
The recent changes of part of Garden Street from a two-way to a one-way for automobile traffic has caused concerns in the community about overflow traffic and safety on neighboring side streets: and
On November 14th 2022 the Council voted 9-0 to have the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department continue to monitor the situation via traffic counting and other methods and to conduct additional listening sessions in December, 2022 and January, 2023 and return with recommendations to the City Council by March 27, 2023; and
Many residents throughout the winter months at the feedback meetings and through emails have continued to express concerns to the City Council about the Garden Street installation and the negative impact it has had on neighboring side streets, but have also offered reasonable solutions including, but not limited to: restoring the section of Garden Street from Linnaean to Huron as two ways for automobile traffic making a bidirectional bike lane on the north/Harvard side from Huron Avenue to Chauncy Street moving all parking to the north/Harvard side of
Garden Street from Linnean to Chauncy Street
install street signs on the corner of Raymond Street restricting traffic to abutters only between 7-9 and 4-6 along with other traffic calming measures continue to make adjustments to Walker Street to address the concerns of residents regarding cut- through traffic, excessive noise, and dangerous buses, trucks/large vehicles by improving traffic calming and signage; and
These changes will maintain separated bike lanes as required by the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance, will improve safety and navigation for all, reduce cut- through traffic in the neighborhood, and would make neighborhood residents feel heard and understood; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the Department of Public Works to implement the above listed recommendations as soon as possible but no later than May 30, 2023.
Public Comment (8)
8 written comments received (2023-04-03 – 2023-04-10). Letter-writers are named in the city's own agenda and are not republished here, by policy.