Resolution supporting key safety improvements on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. On motion of Councilor Bok, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
Docket 115 to counsel of Balk offer the following resolution supporting key safety improvements on Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. Remember, I will call on your second counsel. If you'd like to speak on this or any other issue, you're going to have to raise your hand so I can alert Kerry, who will then control the microphone. So the chair recognizes the district councilor from Beacon Hill, Councilor Kenzie Bach. The floor is yours on docket 1152. Thank you so much. Mr. President, this item concerns the mass average. Folks may also notice the Harbor Bridge or the Emmet Bridge. It it's a really key connector between Cambridge and Boston. It runs into Boston that my district and both our city and the city of Cambridge have on either side of it, implemented substantial new bicycle infrastructure in the last few years. But the bridge itself remains very unsafe for bicyclists, and there's been a bunch of concerning activity and it gets very heavy utilization from bikes. And they did some radar speed measurements and about 100% of vehicles are exceeding the 25 mile per hour posted speed limit on the bridge, with a median speed of 41 miles per hour during daytime hours. So, you know, the cyclists are about 20% of the bridge traffic. For me for a couple of years. This was my sister's route commuting from Boston into Cambridge on her bike. I mean, it was definitely the part of it that we worried the most about. And my walk up the Esplanade regularly takes me by it and I just, I see really scary stuff. And also there's a lot of blue bikes folks who are relatively often like novice bicyclists who they that's the connection they need to make between Cambridge and Boston. But it is quite scary. So the push in the long term is to get massdot. This is a bridge that's in state custody to do more permanent infrastructure. But in the immediate term, this resolution is actually about making a reduction from 4 to 3 general travel lanes and putting up some flex posts just before the construction season . So it's really about doing something for safety right now on the bridge that will carry through the winter, into the spring, and then the state taking a further process. And so it's not something that we can do as BTD. But Cambridge passed a similar resolution last week and I, for one, certainly stand with the advocates and residents who are really looking for a pretty immediate safety fix on this on this bridge. So I would love to have the council support for this asked to them with a frankly, a pretty urgent deadline, since the work would need to be done by before December and then also support, of course, for the longer term vision of of making this critical connection and the regional bike network. So thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilor Buck. And just to be clear, you are seeking suspension of the rails, suspension and adoption. Thank you. The chair recognizes the at large costs from South Boston Councilor Michael Flaherty. The floor is yours. Please add my name. Thank you. Madam Clarke, please. At Council Michael Flaherty's name. Would anyone else wish to speak on this matter? What? Anyone else wish to add their name? Madam Clerk, please add Councilor Baker. Councilor Braden. Councilor Campbell. Councilor Edwards. Councilor B George. Councilor Flynn. Councilor me here please add the chair as well as Councilor Will and Councilor Kenzie. Bark seeks suspension of the rules and adoption of Docket 115. To all those in favor, please indicate by saying I oppose nay. The ayes have it. The docket is hereby adopted. Congratulations, Councilor Bach. Madam Clerk, would you now please read docket 1153 Thank you. Docket 1153. Councilor Savage, I do offer the following resolution recognizing November 2021 as Youth and Young Adult Homeless Awareness Month.