Several parking and street marking amendments were considered and voted on at the latest meeting of the Somerville Traffic Commission.

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

On Thursday, May 11, The Somerville Traffic Commission met and voted on seven different agenda items.

A request was made for accessible parking spaces at 125 Pennsylvania Ave. The motion was accepted with three votes, yes, and two members of the commission abstaining. 

Item three on the agenda was tabled for further discussion in future meetings due to insufficient information to make a diligent decision. Commission members requested detailed models and drawings that could better illustrate the ordinance’s effect if it were to be accepted.

Item three entailed the request to make the proposed changes to Article XII, Pedestrian Control Regulations, Section 12-1 Pedestrian crossing ways or roadways.

The current ordinance, which was previously appealed and amended, states as follows. “Pedestrians shall obey the directions of police officers directing traffic, and whenever there is an officer directing traffic, or a traffic control signal, no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway except within the limits of the marked crosswalk and as hereinafter provided in these regulations.”

The May 2023 proposed amendment that was tabled would change the ordinance to the following language. “Pedestrians shall obey the direction of police officers directing traffic, and whenever there is an officer directing traffic or a traffic control signal within 300 feet of a pedestrian, no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway except within the limits of the marked crosswalk and as hereinafter provided in these regulations.

For the purpose of these regulations, a marked crosswalk shall be marked according to the “crosswalk markings” section of the currently approved addition of the MUTCD (currently section 3B.18 in the 2009 edition). There were concerns from commission members and members of the public about the 300-foot distance and how that would look in practice. There were also questions of whether this is more of an issue about the number of crosswalks located across the city and if a request should be made to implement several new crosswalks for pedestrian ease.

The goal of item four on the agenda was to improve safe arrival and dismissal options at the Argenziano School. The proposal was previously reviewed by the Mobility, Parking, and Fire Department before being brought in front of the commission. The Commission moved to accept the motion. Below is a screen capture of the proposed additional new arrival and dismissal zone for parents.

The motion now dictates that the curb on the west side of Lincoln Parkway has been converted from 40 ft of residential permit parking to active school arrival/dismissal only between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and residential permit parking at all other times.

Union Square curb management was item five on The Traffic Commissioners’ agenda. The committee approved the request to make the following changes to the curb in Union Square.

1. a) Regarding the curb on the west side of Bow St from approximately 277 feet north of Warren Ave to approximately 297 feet north of Warren Ave, request to convert 20 feet of metered parking to accessible parking.
2. b) Regarding the curb on the northside of Somerville Ave from approximately 50 feet east of Kilby St to approximately 94 feet east of Kilby St, request to convert 44 feet of metered parking to loading zone from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and metered parking from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
3. c) Regarding the curb on the south side of Somerville Ave from approximately 45 feet east of Webster Ave to approximately 85 feet east of Webster Ave, request to convert 40 feet of time-limited loading zone and metered parking to all day loading zone.

Item six regarding the Powder House Boulevard restriping was accepted by the committee allowing the following to go into effect.

1. a) Regarding the curb on the north side of Powder House Boulevard opposite Leonard St, request to convert approximately 10 feet of Permit Parking Only to No Parking Anytime.
2. b) Regarding the curb on the north side of Powder House Boulevard opposite Burnham St, request to convert approximately 40 feet of Permit Parking Only to No Parking Anytime.
3. c) Regarding the curb on the north side of Powder House Boulevard opposite Mason St, request to convert approximately 50 feet of Permit Parking Only to No Parking Anytime.
4. d) Regarding the curb on the north side of Powder House Boulevard, from approximately 40 feet east of Packard Ave to 50 feet east of Packard Ave, request to convert 10 feet of Permit Parking Only to No Parking Anytime.

Item seven regarding East Broadway bus lanes and crosswalk improvements was voted on by the committee and approved as well. The item implemented the crosswalk improvements as well as a number of other related amendments.

The committee thanked the public and board for their participation and announced that the next meeting is set for their usual meeting on the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m.