Speeding, 40 even 0ver 50 MPH on the 25 MPH Parkway, State Police measuring speed but not ticketing, a new $5K radar speed sign that does not function and was not installed with speed recording capability, walk red-lights regularly driven through, obvious driver texting at every intersection, right turns against signs that contradict, trucks and buses regularly violating the exclusion under State Law, from Huron Avenue to the River, backups in residential neighborhoods queuing for 3 light changes and more, and many other behaviors inimical to safety, children, pedestrians, bicyclers, and dogs.

Both Cambridge Police and the State Police can write tickets at this location, yet neither chooses to do so.
Why?
Life threatening violations occur during practically every signal cycle. We the residents see this on a daily basis.
Who will take responsibility for traffic enforcement?
If it is the official position of the City that they cannot then the City of Cambridge should formally request that the State Police fulfill their obligation.
If the State Police cannot or will not, the City of Cambrdige should start a dialogue directly with the Governor's office to protect public safety for its residents who are also tax payers and voters.

This issue was recategorized from Traffic/Pedestrian Signal Complaint to Traffic Enforcement - Police (Internal).

Traffic - PB (Engineering) assigned this issue to Police - JW (Communications)

Please let us know what is being done about this.

Yes, please reply with the steps the City of Cambridge will take to improve safety at the Huron Avenue and Fresh Pond Parkway Intersection, including adjacent neighborhoods where cars speed through.

This intersection is the major route to Fresh Pond Park for many neighbors who walk, walk dogs, ride bikes, including many children who go to the park with adults or on their own.

Yesterday, a woman walking across a street in Harvard Square was killed by a large truck. What is the safety response of the City of Cambridge?

Though Fresh Pond Parkway is a Department of Conservation (DCR) State agency responsibility, and a State Police responsibility, Cambridge has a clear and present danger to its residents and can act. Cambridge Police for almost 2 decades have had the authority to enforce on the Parkway. What about the radar speed signs on the Parkway near Larchwood Drive? They show speeds over 50 MPH in the 25 MPH zone? Where is the enforcement?

The last Cambridge Police enforcement on the Parkway that I witnessed was described to me by the Police Officer: a car running a red light, at the Huron Avenue intersection, almost hit the Police Officer himself driving his police car the through the intersection on a green light.

Please respond to the critical concern of the safety of Cambridge residents and visitors.

If both the Cambridge Police and the State police neglect the law at the crossing of Huron Ave and Fresh Pond Pkwy because it is “too dangerous to enforce,”
then it is the responsibility of the State to change the configuration the intersection and Parkway so that we, the tax paying residents, are no longer put in harm’s way as we simply try to cross our street.
Where is the City’s response?
Where is the State Police response?
The State Police is a department of the Governor’s office as is the DCR.
Where is the Governor’s response?
Without a remedy, somebody is going to die here. It’s just a matter of time.

Thank you for reporting your concerns to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. The Commanding Officer of our Traffic Unit has been made aware of these concerns. Over the last few weeks, dedicated speed enforcement has been conducted on Huron Avenue by motorcycle Officers with a concentration between the hours of 5:30-7:30 a.m. That commitment will remain in place and additional attention has been assigned to the Larch Road neighborhood, which, as residents are likely well aware, is becoming a cut through for vehicles traveling between Huron and Fresh Pond Parkway.

In terms of the concerns with the state roadways/highways within our City, we will continue to work with the State Police and specifically the Station Commander to keep them informed of the concerns we are directly receiving and encourage an operational response.

Please correct the name of the street for cut throughs from Huron Avenue to Fresh Pond Parkway. The name of the road at Huron Avenue is Larchwood Drive. The name of the road then intersecting with Larchwood Drive and Fresh Pond Parkway is Fresh Pond Lane. Please refer to the official Map of the City of Cambridge.

In the morning (7-9AM), cars cut through, turning right from Huron Avenue onto Larchwood Drive where the sign says no right turn (7-9AM). These cars go to the Parkway and to Brattle Street eastbound. In the afternoon this same sign at Huron Avenue and Larchwood Drive says no right turn (4-6PM). Equally at the other end of Larchwood Drive intersecting Fresh Pond Parkway, a sign says no left turn (4-6PM). All these signs are violated in substantial numbers risking children playing or going to school in the Morning and Afternoon.

When the No Left 4-6PM was first installed at the intersection Larchwood Drive and Fresh Pond Parkway, 5 police parked their motorcycles on Larchwood Drive hardly one driveway in. So many drivers violated that the line of stopped cars began to back up into the Parkway, for at least an hour or more. This behavior of drivers only emphasizes the fact: inattention, aggression, and unsafe.

Significantly more substantial police enforcement of all moving violations in Cambridge, regularly, often, at random locations is a remedy that would take some time. Soon, drivers would be more aware of the Police, making such enforcement less effective. Randomly placed ticket cameras, as they are harder to see, would be both less expensive and more effective.