Agenda Text
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Director of Traffic and Parking responding to various Board Orders.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
BOA #192783…That the Director of Traffic and Parking install signage on College Ave indicating the vehicles must slow to pedestrians as they enter Davis Square, near the intersection of College Ave and Chapel St and revisit the feasibility of installing a crosswalk at that intersection.
A Pedestrian Impact Recovery System (Yield To Pedestrians In Crosswalk) will be installed in the crosswalk across College Ave at Winslow Ave (immediately prior to Davis Square.
As requested, Traffic and Parking reviewed the College Ave at Chapel St and Hall Ave location for the installation of a new crosswalk.
When reviewing a location for the installation of a new crosswalk, the intersection must comply with Traffic Engineering and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) principles.
A new crosswalk requires ADA compliant handicap ramps. There are no ADA compliant ramps at either Chapel St or Hall Ave for a crosswalk across College Ave. If a proposed crosswalk does comply with all traffic engineering requirements, ADA ramps must be constructed. Construction of ADA ramps is a function of DPW.
There must be adequate sight distance for a motorist to stop a vehicle for a pedestrian in a crosswalk from both directions of travel in a crosswalk. This is called Stopping Sight Distance (SSD). The SSD is calculated when the cone of vision of the motorist is 1st able to view the entire width of the crosswalk. A motorist must be able to stop a vehicle for a pedestrian crossing from one side of the road to the other. The Primae Facia speed on College Ave is 30MPH. The SSD for a vehicle traveling 30MPH according to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is 200’. The MUTCD is a Federal, State and City standard for all roads open to public travel.
On College Ave at Hall Ave/Chapel St the crosswalk would have to be installed on the north side of this intersection. There is a fire hydrant on the east side of College Ave south of the intersection. There are also Bus Stops on both sides of College Ave south of the intersection. This infrastructure precludes a crosswalk on this side of the intersection.
An independent driver with an observer drove both directions of College Ave on April 9, 2012. This was a sunny day with normal traffic conditions. The driver observed where the proposed crosswalk would 1st be observed while traveling this roadway in both directions. The location was noted in field notes.
After the SSD was determined, trial speed runs for both approaches to the proposed crosswalk were undertaken. Vehicle speed reached approximately 30MPH on College Ave approaching Hall Ave and Chapel Ave in both directions.
On College Ave traveling basically in a SB direction (from Powderhouse Rotary towards Davis Square) there is a horizontal and vertical curve prior to Chapel St/Hall Ave. The SSD distance as recorded in the manner described above and then calculated with a calibrated measuring wheel is 218’. The SSD would be satisfactory in this direction.
On College Ave traveling basically in a NB direction (from Davis Square towards the Powderhouse Rotary) there is a horizontal and vertical curve prior to Hall Ave/Chapel St. The SSD distance as recorded in the manner described above and then calculated with a calibrated measuring wheel is 155’. This SSD is inadequate in this direction. Public safety (pedestrian safety) would be endangered.
Based on the above conditions, this intersection does not meet the criteria for the installation of a new crosswalk.
B.O.A. #192785…That the Director of Traffic and Parking and the Commissioner of Public Works paint bike sharrows on Kidder Ave and install a Slow Children sign near the intersection of Kidder and College Avenues, heading east.
As requested, a Slow Children sign has been installed at #17 Kidder Ave. Bicycle Sharrows are scheduled to be installed on Kidder Ave the week of April 23, 2012 (weather permitting).
B.O.A. #192787…That the Director of Traffic and parking provide alternatives to the current system of issuing parking permits for laborers and subcontractors working on construction projects, to streamline the process, consolidate permits based on project duration, issue permits in bulk and on line and suggest any other improvements to the process.
As part of the Mayor’s Transportation Research, Innovation and Planning (TRIP), Traffic and Parking intends to review this item, as well as others, to improve our permitting process and customer service. Traffic and Parking will provide and update at a later date.
B.O.A. #192788…That the Director of Traffic and Parking provide information to the Ward 2 alderman regarding the regulation of heavy commercial vehicle traffic on Prospect St and whether any city ordinances or state laws apply.
There is a MassDOT approved (Permit # E-B-2745395) for Truck Exclusions for through truck movements on Prospect St from Washington St to the Cambridge City Line for commercial vehicles with a carrying capacity of 21/2 tons or greater. This truck exclusion is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This is a state and city regulation.
Please contact me if I can be of further assistance.