Agenda Text
title
Director of Traffic and Parking responding to various Board Orders.
body
Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
{The following are responses by Traffic and Parking to various Board Orders.)
B.O.A. Order #190419:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking appear before the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety to discuss speeding on the south side of the Lowell St bridge.
The Director of Traffic and Parking will appear before this Committee at their convenience. Several measures are already underway and being considered to provide additional measures to ensure pedestrian safety and slow vehicular traffic.
B.O.A. Order #190420:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking install traffic calming measures on all “urban connector” roadways in an attempt to slow the speed of traffic.
There are approximately 30 Urban Connector streets in the City of Somerville. Traffic and Parking reviews all City streets where there is a speeding issue as these streets become known. The 1st and most important initiative by Traffic and Parking is to inform the Somerville Police Dept. Traffic Division. Spot speed enforcement by this agency is effective in reducing vehicle speeds. Traffic and Parking then reviews streets on a priority basis to determine which traffic control devices are the most effective. As funding is available, various traffic control devices are installed where appropriate. Traffic and Parking will continue to evaluate all City streets and install traffic control devices as required.
B.O.A. Order #190422:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking install signage at the intersection of Skeehan and Dane Streets and Village and Dane Streets prohibiting traffic, except to abutters between 7-9AM and 4-7PM daily.
Traffic and Parking does not have the jurisdiction to approve street turning prohibitions. These turning restrictions are a matter for the Traffic Commission to review and either approve or deny. Traffic and Parking will forward this Board Order to the Traffic Commission to be placed as an agenda item for the next meeting of the Traffic Commission.
B.O.A. Order #190423:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking install signage prohibiting truck traffic at the intersections of Concord Ave and Beacon St, Newton St and Webster Ave and Properzi Way and Elliot St.
Neither Traffic and Parking or the City of Somerville can unilaterally prohibit truck traffic on a street. All requests for truck prohibitions must be forwarded with specific information to MassDOT for approval. The documentation forwarded to MassDOT by its nature must be a comprehensive, thorough professional Traffic Study. The preparation of such a Traffic Study is beyond the capabilities of the staff of Traffic and Parking. A previous estimate of the cost of this type of Traffic Study by a Traffic Consultant is approximately $7,500 per Traffic Study. Among the data required in this Traffic Study is an alternate street where truck traffic will travel for each street where truck traffic is prohibited. This street must be in the same area and have the same characteristics as the street where truck traffic will be prohibited. This street must be posted as a truck route. In order to initiate the process of this Board request to MassDOT and discuss with various Traffic Consultants, Traffic and Parking requires and requests the street where truck traffic will be designated to travel. Until this information is received Traffic and Parking cannot proceed with this Board Order.
B.O.A. Order #190428:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking coordinate PCO presence on street sweeping days on Hammond and Dickinson Street to ensure that ticketing is in conjunction with posted times for street sweeping.
Traffic and Parking already complies with this request on a citywide basis.
B.O.A. Order #190430:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking evaluate the Stop sign at the intersection of Hammond and Dickinson Streets to determine if the line of sight is sufficient for motorists and whether additional signage is necessary.
Traffic and Parking conducted a site review of this intersection. The sight line for this Stop sign is adequate and within normal traffic engineering parameters.
B.O.A. #190438:
That the Director of Traffic and Parking explore the possibility of limiting or removing certain traffic lights in Davis Square to facilitate the easing of traffic gridlock, especially with respect to the congestion on College Ave to Powderhouse Rotary.
Traffic and Parking conducted a site review of the traffic signals in Davis Sq. All present traffic signals in Davis Square are required to handle this complex intersection. The removal of any traffic signals in Davis Square could result in numerous vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle conflicts vis a vis turning movement, right of way, etc. This will result in increased congestion, vehicle delays and vehicle queues along all approaches to Davis Square (Highland Ave, College Ave, Holland St and Day St). This proposal could result in extreme traffic disruptions along all above referenced corridors, as well as potentially jeopardize the safety of pedestrians, bicyclist's, and people with disabilities.
Further research of this method and its associated implementation challenges in other jurisdictions is required.
Please contact me if I can be of further assistance.