POR 2024-137
Asked the City Manager to work with the appropriate departments to produce the petition(s) necessary to accomplish the goal of lowering the speed limit as much as possible on all state highways that fall within Cambridge’s geographic boundaries, including and especially Memorial Drive
Councillor Toner’s amendment by eliminating the proposed deletion and adding the words “and to immediately re-start the comprehensive community process which last hosted broad meetings with input in 2019 that considered a plan to” in the first sentence, after the second “and” and before the word “replace” so that the Ordered would read:” That the City Council goes on record in support of redesigning Memorial Drive to expand green space, improve road crossings and sidewalks, and to immediately re-start the comprehensive community process which last hosted broad meetings with input in 2019 that considered a plan to replace two motor vehicle travel lanes with protected multi-use paths along the full length of Memorial Drive, which will allow sidewalks on both sides of Memorial Drive to be designated for pedestrian use; and be it further”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Sep 30, 2024, p. 12.
View the roll call on the amendment
Voted yes (9)
Burhan Azeem
Marc McGovern
Patty Nolan
Sumbul Siddiqui
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Paul F. Toner
Ayesha M. Wilson
Cathie Zusy
E. Denise Simmons
by substitution, the second “Ordered” in POR 2024 #137 with the following text: “That the City Council goes on record in support of road design changes to achieve these speed goals on Memorial Drive so that it is safer and equitable for all road users, by re- starting a robust community process to expand green space, improve road crossings, build paths that separate people who are walking and biking, and reduce dangerous speeding throughout Memorial Drive using modern design standards and reductions in motor vehicle travel lanes; and be it further”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Oct 7, 2024, p. 6.
Councillor Nolan’s amendment by striking the words “ reductions in motor vehicle lanes”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Oct 7, 2024, p. 6.
POR 2024 #137 by adding a new “Ordered” crafted by herself and Mayor Simmons to read: “That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to coordinate with DCR Commissioner Arrigo to arrange the robust community engagement process regarding Memorial Drive, as promised by the DCR at the January 30, 2024, meeting with Riverside neighborhood residents, that has thus far failed to materialize, and which must be made an integral part of this process as it moves forward; and be it further”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Oct 7, 2024, p. 7.
her amendment by adding the words “and Cambridgeport” after the word “Riverside” and before the word “neighborhood” and by adding the words “and other impacted stakeholders” after the word “residents” and before the word “that”The clerk's words, from the minutes of Oct 7, 2024, p. 7.
View the roll call
Voted yes (5)
- Burhan Azeem
- Marc McGovern
- Patty Nolan
- Sumbul Siddiqui
- Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Voted no (4)
- Paul F. Toner
- Ayesha M. Wilson
- Cathie Zusy
- E. Denise Simmons
O-4
Calendar Item # 1
As previously requested by the City Council with POR 2023 #87, the December 2022 roadway safety bill, “An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities”, contains a provision which allows municipalities to seek state approval to modify the speed limit on a state highway within their geographic boundaries; and
The tragic traffic fatality of a bicyclist on Memorial Drive last week highlights the danger present on sections of Memorial Drive and the limitations of Cambridge’s ability to make essential safety improvements within the City; and
The danger presented by the current design has long been evident, and both advocates and state legislators have been calling on the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to create a full-width shared-use path that can provide adequate space and protection for the significant numbers of pedestrians and cyclists that use the path; and
In alignment with the City’s longstanding commitment to Vision Zero, the City Council is in full support of lowering the speed limit as much as possible on all state highways that fall within Cambridge’s geographic boundaries; as well as review potential improvements to pedestrian and cyclist safety by implementing infrastructure improvements and further separation; and
In order to guarantee safety improvements are made on Memorial Drive, a state-owned roadway, coordination with relevant state agencies responsible for those projects is essential; now therefore be it
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to produce the petition(s) necessary to accomplish the goal of lowering the speed limit as much as possible on all state highways that fall within Cambridge’s geographic boundaries, including and especially Memorial Drive; and to meet with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to discuss additional measures to improve safety along Memorial Drive that can be implemented in the short term; and be it further
That the City Council go on record in support of redesigning Memorial Drive to expand green space, improve road crossings and sidewalks, and replace two motor vehicle travel lanes with protected multi-use paths along the full length of Memorial Drive, which will allow sidewalks on both sides of Memorial Drive to be designated for pedestrian use; and be it further
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments and prepare a communication to Commissioner Arrigo of the Department of Conservation and Recreation for immediate updates on the next phases of the Memorial Drive Greenway Improvements and urge DCR to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety measures within the improvement projects; and be it further
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by November 2024.
History: 09/30/24
City Council
CHARTER RIGHT
Next: 10/07/24
Public Comment (2)
2 written comments received (2024-10-07 – 2024-10-21). Letter-writers are named in the city's own agenda and are not republished here, by policy.