trucks West on Washington

Comment

Comment by Mimi Graney on November 30, 2007 at 11:05am

Tabulating the data from last summer is taking longer than we'd like and isn't as rigorous as we'd hoped. We're a bunch of amateurs at this and the accuracy of the information created lots of "data busts" -- accurately recording the license plate numbers, rating of truck and time into tape recorders and then a database from five different corners of the square to see where the trucks entered and exited -- inaccuracies and the volume are making it difficult to follow each truck and tabulate the whole. I'm been soliciting student groups from Tufts to help with the nitpicking task to no avail. Eric Fellinger serves on the USMS and is a traffic engineer and is helping us with this.

On ways to halt the trucks -- there are some federal, state and local things we can do. All are long term efforts that affect not just Union Square but the broader area -- if send trucks away from Union Square and where are we sending them? Could be just creating a problem elsewhere. We (USMS and City of Somerville) have limited power since Mass Highway controls Somerville Avenue -- they're the ones doing the construction currently from Union to Porter but that's another story.

On delivery trucks, we've got commercial development in Boynton Yards and Inner Belt that all generate lots of trucks. Just roughly looking at the data from the truck counts, a lot of the traffic seems to be from the trash transfer station near Brickbottom -- we're looking to fostered more constructive commercial development in the future.

Last thing, on the narrower sidewalks -- since we do have trucks here, they need to be able to pass and get around corners without damaging the area or running over pedestrians on the sidewalks. They require wider turning radi than cars and so the corners get cut wider. The design of the streets aren't so difficult for class 5 or 6 trucks -- UPS trucks and such. But we recorded some way-wide trucks -- 18 wheelers, we've all seen 'em -- trying to get through here and those are the real trouble makers.

Comment by Ryan on November 29, 2007 at 3:59pm

I live right on one of the main streets in the square and the heavy trucks that pass by set off all car alarms thoughout the day, including 4am! I didn't know research was being done on this topic. Where can I learn more about this? Are there people trying to reroute delivery vehicles? Also, if traffic is hindering development of the Square why is somerville reducing the sidewalk size and widening the roads as we speak?