I think the bulk of new traffic on Appleton is due to construction shutting down other roads. I've not personally seen parking issues except for people parking directly in front of formaggio and blocking to T stop. There is a MASSIVE increase in traffic and congestion on Appleton making the neighborhood quite unpleasant during rush hours and a couple hours either side. I've nearly been run town twice in the last week in the crosswalks at Appleton and Huron and drivers/bikes in general are not paying attention to the crosswalks. Children playing and standing signs in the crosswalks would be a good idea before someone is hurt.

We have the same issue at Reservoir corner of Huron. Cars coming too fast with kids playing around. I asked the city why there was no traffic/speed mitigation structures since they are redoing the whole design in Huron Village but just got the answer that it was not needed. The engineers and planners and Cambridge officials (that we only see around before elections) should get out of their theoretical ivory tower and just sit down on the street and see what's going on! Are we waiting for kids and elderly people to get hurt before reacting?! How progressive is that?!

The area is very rapidly urbanizing. Sadly there are areas in Downtown Boston that are quieter and lower impact.

In the past year I've seen several kids hit/tapped on bikes by cars, thankfully not injured more than scrapes and pride and the crosswalks anywhere there's not Electronic traffic control have become a "cross at your own risk " situation. Huron is treated as a high speed thoroughfare like memorial drive anymore. The last few weeks have been by far the worst in years. Appleton at Huron really needs a sign in the road itself, a hump, and maybe a blinking red light that's on either side of rush hour. The drivers are so aggressive now because of the congregation it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.

A "children playing" sign is, indeed, needed at the corner of Appleton St. and Appleton Rd, where I live. I am also in favor or removing the two-hour parking signs, which only attract store customers who don't know the area.

Jim Barton

Due to a growing community of children on our very short cul-de-sac, we need to contain and limit the traffic flow to keep our children safe when they are outside. We need a "Children at Play" sign at the intersection of Appleton Road and Appleton Street and for the city to remove the two hour parking signs from Appleton Road.

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

Thank you for reporting this issue to us. We are pleased to report back to you that this issue is now resolved.

Before closing this, what is the resolution? Out of respect, inform us!

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

You have already said you were "looking into" the situation. Could you please send us your reply, to our previous request, not the same boilerplat answer to our original request.

Yours,

Jim Barton
130 Appleton St.

The traffic problem has gotten worse, and so has the parking problem. The City needs to monitor and police parking by customers of the stores at Appleton and Huron.

Jim Barton
130 Appleton

Thank you for reporting your concern. We understand you also spoke with Kathy Watkins & Bruno Cardarelli about these issues onsite. We extended the 2HR/RPP signage contract wide during construction, to assure the local businesses have more flexibility when it comes to customer parking. This change in the parking has worked well, primarily because it has been implemented consistently throughout the 3 contract areas and not on a block by block basis. Regarding new signage, we prioritize the location and design of signage to reduce sign clutter and maintain effective signage. The “Slow Children” type signage has not been shown effective at changing driver behavior and leads to sign clutter. In addition, we have children on all streets in Cambridge and trying to sign locations where drivers should expect to encounter children would include every block on every street. At other locations, residents have placed the informal slow man type sign with a flag as a more visible indicator that there are children in the area. Thank you.

Sincerely believe Appleton at Huron needs a traffic light at this point. And it should be timed to counter using Appleton as a major through street.