Steven - Superintendent of Wires assigned this issue to Sgt. Richard Carroll

I appreciate your frustration and we have tried to deal with the problem in the past. The light timing can not be altered without having an adverse effect on other streets. Harvard St is not a state road, in the past we tried to restrict truck traffic however Mass DOT required us to remove the restriction as there are no alternative routes for truck traffic. Harvard St. can not be made one way as there are no alternative routed for the traffic except though narrow adjacent neighborhood streets. Additionally, the majority of traffic is traveling in the opposite direction. In other words your displacing the problem into the neighborhoods which is unacceptable. Unfortunately the road width is restricted to whats there and we can't regulate the volume of traffic using a public roadway. There are several alternate routes available for motorists on Harvard St. who want to avoid the intersection depending on their destination.

Well I have been in area since 2001 and have not recognized any changes of consequence made on Harvard St.
There has been an immense amount of time and effort spent trying to rectify the obvious problems there and they have always been met with the same kind of response.
The trucks should be diverted down Mystic Ave, one way or the other, and go via Broadway in Somerville or left onto Main.
The truck ban was fine while it lasted but lacked any type of enforcement to truly make a difference.
The road is obviously not wide enough for trucks. If it was wouldn't it suffice to say that Harvard St would be a good route for T bus?
Doubt it
Timing the lights to let the "left turners" turn would alleviate the idling backups down from Main to Mystic, regardless of what you're answer is. There has never been a timing change or left hand delay in the light so please don't try to say there has been

There should b 3 changes in the light system. 1) Main St traffic. 2) Harvard St from Mystic Ave. 3) Harvard St from Boston Ave. This change will clear the problem.

A correction to the light system is necessary to correct the problem. See my comment..

To Officer Caroll comment as someone who has spent 7 years on this issue the state in fact does control banning trucks see MASSDOT section 10A-9 Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion. Please check December 2015 traffic commission meeting minutes which the proposed reroute met MASSDOT criteria but the city has not responded to numerous request for a follow up.

If you re-read my response I never stated there had been a timing change nor left hand delay ?? But I will try again to explain by adding to my past post. 1) the roadway is not wide enough to allow a left lane turning. 2) the current traffic signal control box would have to be replaced, which has an associated cost which is impracticable at this time. As I stated there are alternative routes. As you stated "regardless of what my answers may be" indicates there is no purpose of further discussion on the topic. You may contact the Medford Traffic Commission to voice any further concerns.

If you read what I said it says "timing the lights to let the left turners turn would alleviate the idling back ups down from main st to mystic Ave, regardless of what your answer might be" - so that refers to that particular point- not the whole conversation.
Do you not agree with that point?

This post has only been up a few days and should not be closed as nothing has been done or addressed.

Tell me then please from your previous answers what attempts to alleviate the situation have been undertaken in the past 15 years to try to solve the problem? Please tell me so I can apologize appropriately.

You claim it has been addressed many times. With what exactly?
The truck ban only lasted a couple of months , was NEVER enforced, and has gone by the wayside
So the real
answer is ZERO or nothing

You wouldn't need two lanes for the left turn arrow, just keep it a single lane but have that additional indicator and alternate to allow traffic in both directions an opportunity to turn while lights are green

Quite frankly, whatever the costs may be to replace a light controller to mitigate serious health and air quality issues that plague the area, never mind the intersection traffic accidents

Further ,The problem as it exists has a detrimental affect on side streets NOW, and would actually alleviate them. Why would you think so many cars take BONNER AVE fron mystic? A street CLEARLY not intended to have to deal with the kind of volume that it does. Your claim to the contrary is absurd and ignorant

But thanks so much for your help!

So since this was opened a year and a half ago I wonder officer as you have explained in past that Harvard is not wife enough to facilitate left turn why is it that Boston Ave now has a light to take a left onto Harvard and is no wider than Harvard is?
You shouldn’t need a separate lane
Just have light (in one direction) turn green w left arrow for say 20 seconds... then that light becomes just green, then have light in OTHER direction turn green as well... then orig light turns RED while the 2nd light becomes green w left arrow....
OR imagine if the arrow lights were alternated based on time of day?
You are providing nothing but EXCUSES where what we need are SOLUTIONS

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