Traffic and Parking Committee

October 27, 2025
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Meeting Minutes: Traffic and Parking Committee

Meeting Date: [Date not specified in transcript] Governing Body: Somerville City Council, Traffic and Parking Committee Type of Meeting: Committee Meeting Attendees:

  • Naima Sait, Ward 5 City Councilor, Chair
  • Willie Burnley, Councilor
  • Jake Wilson, Councilor
  • Suzanne Renfrew, Director of Parking
  • Brad Rawson, Director of Mobility
  • Kathy Salkert, Special Counsel
  • Meredith Stevers, Assistant City Solicitor
  • Sean Tierney, Assistant Chief, Somerville Fire

Executive Summary: The Traffic and Parking Committee addressed several key issues, including the approval of past meeting minutes, a request for "no parking here to corner" signs on Walnut Street at Sunnyside Avenue, and the installation of a speed bump on Ashland Street. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive discussion on autonomous vehicle testing within city limits, exploring the city's legal capacity to regulate such activities, the responsibilities in case of citations, and the importance of transparent communication with the public.

Approval of Minutes

  • Discussion: Councilor Sait noted a clerical error in the minutes from the previous meeting, which incorrectly stated they were from a "legislative matters meeting" instead of a "traffic and parking" meeting. The item number 251519 correctly identified the meeting as Traffic and Parking.
  • Action: Motion to approve the minutes with the noted correction.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Burnley: Aye
    • Councilor Wilson: Yes
    • Councilor Sait: Yes
  • Outcome: The minutes were approved.

Item 2: Order by Councilor Burnley that the Director of Parking place no parking here to corner signs on Walnut Street at Sunnyside Avenue.

  • Discussion:
    • Suzanne Renfrew, Director of Parking, reported that the area has been monitored twice daily since the request was received on the 10th.
    • Three tickets have been issued since the 24th.
    • Director Renfrew stated that signs are typically not added for parking within 20 feet of an intersection unless a significant problem is observed, as Mass General Laws already prohibit parking within 20 feet of an intersection.
    • The department's initial approach is to increase enforcement to change driver behavior.
    • If enforcement proves insufficient, signs can be added, but this could lead to a proliferation of signs city-wide.
  • Action: No action taken. The item was marked as completed.

Item 3: Order by Councilor Sait that the Director of Mobility install a speed bump on Ashland Street.

  • Discussion:
    • Brad Rawson, Director of Mobility, acknowledged the request, noting it stemmed from residents in the Kennedy School neighborhood, particularly after a pet was killed by a speeding motorist.
    • The city follows a standard operating procedure for evaluating traffic calming requests, which includes collecting data on vehicle speed and volume.
    • Data collection for Ashland Street is scheduled for Spring 2026, as data is collected in spring and fall, not summer or winter, to ensure representative conditions.
    • Once data is collected, staff will communicate findings to petitioners and residents, comparing the street's needs against other candidates.
    • Councilor Sait emphasized the street's proximity to a school and requested prioritization for data collection in Fall 2025, if possible, due to safety concerns.
    • Submitting a council order is a valid method for initiating data collection consideration.
  • Action: No action taken. The item was marked as completed.

Item 4: Order that the Director of Mobility install a solar-powered digital Your Speed Is display sign on Shore Drive westbound.

  • Discussion:
    • Brad Rawson, Director of Mobility, stated that staff have been working with Ward 4 Councilor Clingan and residents on Shore Drive regarding speeding issues, particularly westbound.
    • Data has been collected on multiple occasions, indicating dangerous speeds in sections without physical traffic calming.
    • Speed feedback signs can be helpful but are generally less effective than physical traffic calming measures.
    • A large-scale capital project in partnership with the Mystic River Watershed Association is planned for Shore Drive, ideally starting construction in Calendar Year 2026. This project will include traffic calming elements, such as moving the curb on the west side to create space for green stormwater infrastructure.
    • The proposed location for a speed sign would conflict with the planned green stormwater planters and new trees.
    • Councilor Burnley inquired about the city's inventory of solar-powered speed signs. Director Rawson clarified that the Parking Department maintains this inventory and most are solar-powered. He noted that such signs tend to be effective for 6-12 months before compliance decreases.
    • Director Rawson highlighted the complexities of installing such signs, including narrow sidewalks, ADA clearances, and solar power limitations due to tree canopy.
    • Councilor Burnley agreed that structural changes are often more impactful than signs.
  • Action: No action taken. The item was marked as completed.

Items 5-8 (Taken Together): Autonomous Vehicle Testing

  • Item 5: Resolution by Councilor Burnley that this council consider whether to ban or restrict autonomous vehicle testing locally if permitted by law.

  • Item 6: Order by Councilor Burnley and Councilor Scott that the city solicitor provide an opinion on whether an individual within a vehicle or the autonomous vehicle company would be responsible if issued a citation during autonomous driving testing.

  • Item 7: Order by Councilor Burnley and Councilor Scott that the city solicitor provide an opinion on whether this council can restrict the use of autonomous driving testing within city limits, either through an outright ban or through requirement of a special permit.

  • Item 8: Resolution by Councilor Burnley that the mayor disclose to this council any communication with Waymo or its parent company, Google, regarding autonomous driving tests within city limits.

  • Discussion:

    • Kathy Salkert, Special Counsel, and Meredith Stevers, Assistant City Solicitor, provided a technical memorandum.
    • Legal Capacity to Restrict (Item 7):
      • Currently, the city can restrict autonomous driving within city limits.
      • However, several state and federal bills are pending that could preempt municipal regulation in this area.
      • Since 2018, an executive order established authority for autonomous testing, with a process through DOT allowing municipalities to specify streets, times, and dates for testing.
      • A ban would likely be challenged, as the state has largely occupied the field of regulation, though it currently allows some municipal involvement.
    • Responsibility for Citations (Item 6):
      • The memo provided by the City Solicitor's office addresses this, but the specific details were not read into the record during the meeting.
    • Context for Items (Councilor Burnley):
      • Councilor Burnley explained that his items were prompted by Waymo (Google) conducting autonomous testing in the greater Boston area, including Somerville.
      • Concerns include the safety of autonomous vehicles on Boston's historically constructed roads, driver behavior, and accountability measures.
      • He sought to understand the city's legal capacity to implement restrictions, such as special permits or outright bans, and urged quick action if the council wishes to impose restrictions.
    • Director Rawson's Comments:
      • Staff have been in contact with peer cities regarding new technologies, their benefits, drawbacks, and applicability in the Northeast.
      • Concerns include potential net increases in vehicle miles traveled, impacting congested streets, bus transit, urban deliveries, and emergency response.
      • Assistant Chief Sean Tierney from Somerville Fire was present to discuss first responder interaction with autonomous vehicles, scene management, and training.
      • Other concerns include labor impacts, transparency, and data sharing (crashes, disengagements).
      • Director Rawson emphasized the need for a level playing field, safe operations, net reductions in driving, and smooth interactions with traditional transit and first responders.
      • He noted that Massachusetts' regulatory framework is seen nationally as a good balance between public interest and fostering innovation.
    • Communication with Waymo (Item 8):
      • Kathy Salkert clarified that Waymo was not conducting autonomous vehicle testing in Somerville but rather data collection using human-driven vehicles.
      • Director Rawson confirmed that Waymo sent "courtesy emails" to multiple city departments in Spring 2025 regarding their human-powered video data collection.
      • City staff did not respond to these inquiries due to competing demands and the lack of a regulatory framework prohibiting standard street view video collection.
      • Director Rawson acknowledged the importance of transparent communication to the public to avoid misunderstandings about vehicle operation (human-driven vs. autonomous). He committed to developing communication protocols for the City Council and the public for future instances.
    • Councilor Burnley's Conclusion: He was satisfied with the responses and noted that Item 5 (considering restrictions/bans) would be more appropriately addressed in a Legislative Matters meeting, indicating that marking these items as "work complete" does not preclude future action.
    • Director Rawson added that the city should learn from the "ride-hailing revolution" of a decade ago to better plan for current technological innovations.

  • Action: No action taken. Items 5-8 were marked as completed, with the understanding that further legislative action on restrictions would occur in a separate committee.

Adjournment

  • Action: Motion to adjourn.
  • Vote:
    • Councilor Burnley: Aye
    • Councilor Wilson: Yes
    • Councilor Sait: Yes
  • Outcome: The meeting was adjourned.

Last updated: Nov 5, 2025

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