School Drop Off Traffic Safety

At a glance

What: An order (26-0917) that the Director of Mobility, Director of Engineering, Director of Parking and Chief of Police appear before the Traffic and Parking Committee to review traffic flows and enforcement around schools citywide at drop-off and pickup.
Where it stands: Approved as amended and sent for discussion on Thursday, May 28, 2026 (an older meeting).
Next: committee hearing.

Councilor Mbah said posted traffic signs at schools are often ignored and safety there needs reassessment.
Councilor Hardt moved to add "and construction impacts" to the review; the amendment passed by unanimous consent.
On June 25, 2026 Councilor Hardt's resolutions asking for more traffic enforcement in Teele Square (26-1012) and for signage and enforcement of the one-way direction on Whitfield Road (26-1021) were marked work completed after the Traffic and Parking Committee's June 22 meeting.

City Council regular meeting minutes, May 28, 2026: https://somervillema.legistar1.com/somervillema/meetings/2026/5/3960_M_City_Council_26-05-28_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
City Council regular meeting minutes, June 25, 2026: https://somervillema.legistar1.com/somervillema/meetings/2026/6/3962_M_City_Council_26-06-25_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
The minutes are the Legistar versions, which carry the City's notice that they are not the official version; check with the City Clerk before relying on them.

Related Teele Square and Whitfield Road enforcement requests marked work completed.

Order approved as amended (construction impacts added) and sent to the Traffic and Parking Committee.

2026-10-01 - 2026-10-01 - Bicycle Advisory Committee: Bicycle committee discussed Elm Street drop-off parking near the Kennedy School; staff said Sartwell and Cherry Street short-term spaces are signed, and members urged enforcement and school bike buses.
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-09 - Traffic and Parking Committee - Agenda includes the enforcement order (26-0917), drop-off signage on Cherry St (26-1422), bike racks (26-1423) and bike markings on Elm St (26-1424) near the Kennedy School.