An Unwavering Commitment to Vision Zero

On March 21, 2016, the Cambridge City Council unanimously passed resolutions put forth by the City Manager to formally adopt Complete Streets and Vision Zero policies, showing that the City is committed to achieving these goals, assuring safe access for all users. Vision Zero calls for the elimination of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from traffic crashes and emphasizes that they can and should be prevented. The City of Cambridge was just the 17th city in the U.S. to commit to a Vision Zero policy.

The foundation for the Action Plan is data-driven decision-making, as the City seeks to identify the fundamental causes for traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities, come up with creative and implementable solutions to prevent those incidents, and evaluate our successes—and remaining challenges—so that we can do even better in the future.

Putting Vision Zero principles into practice, the City of Cambridge has implemented a series of measures, including:

• Lowering speed limits throughout the City in recent years as part of a larger strategy around traffic calming and safety.

In December 2016, the City reduced the baseline citywide speed limit from 30 MPH to 25 MPH. Then, in March 2018 through the Safer Squares initiative, the City further reduced speed limits from 25 MPH to 20 MPH in the areas known as the “squares,” which all feature denser populations and in higher-use business districts.

In addition, between 2019 and 2021, the City implemented Residential Safety Zones on most streets primarily utilized for local access within residential neighborhoods, reducing the speed limit from 25 MPH to 20 MPH.

• Not allowing turns on red at all City-owned traffic signals. This action – which was passed by the City Council and made standard at all intersections in November 2022 -- is a part of our commitment to prioritize safety, reduce crashes, and enhance the overall efficiency of the City's transportation network. Throughout 2023, City staff added 225 “No Turn on Red” signs at intersections to align with Vision Zero principles and completed the City’s installation of such signs at City-owned intersections citywide. Allowing turns on red shifts a driver’s attention to finding the quickest way through the intersection and away from being aware of other road users around them. When drivers don’t have the option to make right turns at red lights, the likelihood of collisions with oncoming traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians is diminished.
  
  
• Improving safety for all modes in City Squares. Cambridge’s squares represent the centers of social and economic life in the City. As a result, we have prioritized creating a safe environment and improved operations for all users of the squares, especially for people who walk, bike, and take transit. This included the design and construction of an improved and safer Inman Square. Porter Square has seen simplified signal operations, more attractive functioning of the jug handle for cyclists turning left onto Somerville Avenue, and better pedestrian crossings. Safety improvements have also recently been completed in Kendall Square and Lechmere (as part of the Green Line Extension and development of the North Point District).

Ongoing safety improvements in Harvard Square include a protected bike lane for northbound cyclists, clearer crosswalk markings, and a shorter crosswalk between the Kiosk and the Coop. Additional changes involve reducing vehicle traffic to one lane in each direction, and eliminating the cyclist-driver merge towards Porter Square.

Additional enhancements are currently ongoing in Central Square.

• Expanding the City’s network of separated bike lanes. As the first-of-its-kind legislation, Cambridge’s Cycling Safety Ordinance sets ambitious requirements for the installation of about 25 miles of separated bike lanes.
  
  
• Implementing the Cambridge Truck Safety Ordinance, which requires Class 3 or above motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, or semi-trailer units, with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 10,000 pounds that can travel more than 15 MPH being used by a City vendor under a City Contract worth more than $10,000 be outfitted with side guards, convex mirrors, cross-over mirrors, and safety decals.