Committee Report - T&P - 10-13-10 — File 190233

October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 1 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 REPORT OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived William M. Roche Chair Present Robert C. Trane Vice Chair Present Walter F. Pero Ward Four Alderman Present Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present 189017 - That the City Solicitor, in Consultation with the Director of Traffic and Parking, Include Clark Street in the Consideration of Zoned Parking Areas, (As Referenced in Item #188924 on March 11, 2010), Since Residents Have Difficulty Parking Due to the Pick Up and Drop Off at the Argenziano School.: Traffic and Parking will consider this request and act accordingly as this issue is developed. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189026 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking Provide the Ward 6 Alderman with Road Closing Plans in Advance of Major Road Races in Davis Square to Maximize Notification to Residents and to Ensure that Only the Most Limited Number of Streets Are Impacted.: Traffic and Parking will coordinate with the Ward 6 Alderman on this Board Order. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189027 - That the City Traffic Engineer Initiate a Study to Reduce Traffic on College Avenue, from the Powderhouse Rotary to Davis Square, at the Same Time as Bicycle Symbols Are Installed on Both Sides of the Street Next Month.: Local traffic patterns along the College Avenue corridor were devised by previous Traffic and Parking administrations to reduce traffic on local residential streets and to channel traffic to/from Davis Square from the Powderhouse Rotary via College Avenue. Traffic and Parking stills supports this concept. Traffic and Parking does not support any initiate which would change the street network in this area and allow additional vehicle traffic to flow through local residential streets to access or exit Davis Square.

Committee Meeting October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 2 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 Traffic and Parking has advocated and vigorously support alternative modes of transportation via bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the City. By increasing these modes of transportation along College Avenue the number of vehicles is hopefully expected to decrease. Since 2008, Traffic and Parking has increased various types of Bike Lanes in the City from 2,600 linear feet to 24,200 linear feet. This year, Traffic and Parking is pursuing a course of action to add several additional miles of bike lanes in the City. Also, to enhance pedestrian safety and encourage walking as a means of transportation, Traffic and Parking, since 2007, has repainted on average over 350 crosswalks per year. It is by the above initiatives that Traffic and Parking is striving to reduce vehicle traffic on all streets, including College Avenue, in Somerville. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189057 - Response to Board Order 188924 - Opinion Regarding Parking Restrictions Per District: City Solicitor responded on March 19, 2010. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189058 - Response to Order No. 188927-Issuing Tickets to Violators Illegally Parked in HP Spots: City Solicitor responded on March 19, 2010. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189107 - That This Board of Aldermen Hereby Requests that the Administration Forward the Parking Solutions Task Force Findings to the Ward 5 Alderman and Place All Data on the City’s Website Immediately Upon Completion.: All information relative to the Parking Solutions Task Force is posted on the City’s website. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189108 - That This Board of Aldermen Hereby Requests that the Administration Relax All Newly Instituted Traffic and Parking Initiatives in Magoun Square Until the Green Line Arrives in 2015 as the Initiatives Are Devastating Magoun Square’s Business Strength.: Mr. Boukili stated that the matter will be re-evaluated and that the meters may remain at 6:00 PM. Chairman Roche asked that the Administration provide the committee with a written response from the Traffic and Parking Department regarding its decision on the operational times of parking meters in Magoun Square. Traffic and Parking relaxed parking enforcement in the

Committee Meeting October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 3 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 vicinity of Magoun Square during construction. Like Somerville Avenue, Traffic and Parking will evaluate parking regulations when the project is complete. Alderman Trane's motion that the Administration consider a special holiday period to reduce the operational time of parking meters to allow residents to shop in the city, was approved. Dan Maher, a proprieter in Magoun Square, told the members that some businesses in the square have seen a drastic drop in business, some as high as 40%. The last business start up in Magoun Square was in 2004. Business continue to be hurt by the city's parking regulations and by the loss of parking spaces. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189109 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking and the City Auditor Provide the Ward 5 Alderman with the Figures for All Monthly Ticket Revenues from Magoun Square, for the Last Two Years, Before the Next Board of Alderman Meeting on April 22, 2010.: Traffic and Parking provided this information to the Ward 5 Alderman. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189110 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking Consider Implementing Measures to Alleviate the Negative Impact the New Traffic Regulations Have Had on the Businesses of Magoun Square.: Traffic and Parking relaxed parking enforcement in the vicinity of Magoun Square during construction. Regulations will be evaluated when the project is complete. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189111 - That This Board of Aldermen Hereby Requests that the Administration and the Parking Solutions Task Force Remove from Its Mission the Combining of Davis and Magoun Squares in Its Considerations and Deliberations on Traffic and Parking Changes, as Magoun Square is Suffering Desperately from Their Belief that Magoun and Davis Square Share Any Similarities, Especially the Notion of 10:00 PM Parking Meters.: Traffic and Parking currently has no plans to extend metered parking to 10:00 PM in Magoun Square. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189265 - That This Board of Aldermen Hereby Requests that the Administration Develop and Implement a Public Safety Campaign to Encourage Bicyclists to Stop Riding on the Sidewalks in Business Districts.:

Committee Meeting October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 4 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 Communications and Transportation are working on a marketing campaign to be unveiled during the spring of 2011. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189425 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Place a ONE WAY Sign on Aberdeen Road at the Bend that Leads to Highland Avenue.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189426 - That the Chief of Police Place an Unmarked Cruiser on Aberdeen Road, Near Highland Avenue, Weekdays to Apprehend Motorists Violating the One-Way Street Posting.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189606 - That the Chief of Police Assign an Officer at the Corner of Kidder and College Avenues Once a Week Between 7:00 and 9:00 AM to Enforce the NO LEFT TURN Restriction at that Intersection; AND BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that After One Month, a Report be Generated and Provided to This Board Indicating How Significant This Problem Is.: The committee requested that the Traffic and Parking Engineer contact the Ward 5 Alderman for an explanation. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189607 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking Examine the Feasibility of Creating a New Parking Permit in Somerville for Vanpool License Plates.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189708 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking Ensure that All Traffic Laws Are Being Enforced Equally and Fairly in Ball Square and Provide a Report to the Ward 6 Alderman Indicating Any Inconsistencies in Enforcement.: Traffic and Parking rotates PCO’s weekly to prevent inconsistencies in terms of enforcement and will continue to monitor enforcement for irregularities.

Committee Meeting October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 5 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189711 - That This Board Requests that the Administration Coordinate with the Ward 6 Alderman, Another Meeting with the Leaseholders of the Buena Vista Garage in Davis Square to Determine the Feasibility of Creating Additional Parking on Friday and Saturday Nights.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189881 - That this Board requests that the Administration update this Board on the establishment of raised traffic calming tables on designated public ways.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189923 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking Inventory All City Designated Handicapped Parking Spaces in the City and Provide a Map of Same on the City’s Website So that Drivers May Easily Locate Them When Traveling in the City.: The mapping portion of the project should be complete in the next 2 weeks and this list will be forwarded to the appropriate department to be placed on a City map to be included on the City’s website. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190128 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking install STOP signs on Kidder Avenue at Josephine Avenue.: The installation of STOP signs is governed by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is a Federal, State and City standard and is specific on how and where STOP signs can be installed. Per the MUTCD, STOP signs are installed to establish intersection control for vehicles approaching an intersection from different streets. In this instance there are no vehicles approaching the intersection from different streets, therefore, a STOP sign cannot be installed at this location. The Ward-5 Alderman requests that the Traffic Engineer contact him to discuss this further and possibly conduct a site visit with him. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190195 - Sixteen residents requesting that this Board conduct a public hearing to discuss concerns about the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project.:

Committee Meeting October 13, 2010 Traffic and Parking Committee Page 6 of 6 Printed 10/14/2010 The committee would like the Elections Department to verify the signatures and the City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion regarding a public hearing to hear the concerns about the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE Next: 12/31/2010 12:00 AM