The Transportation and Parking Commission reviewed a traffic calming request for Massasoit Street on June 17 after residents reported increased cut‑through traffic, vehicle speeding and a large number of children playing in adjacent yards.

The issue matters to neighbors because the street is residential, about 2,200 feet long, and residents reported safety concerns associated with YMCA traffic and school commute patterns.

Police Chief John Cartledge presented a five‑year collision review and covert speed counts. “There was four collisions reported between February 2019 and February 2024,” he said, and covert speed data collected from Aug. 31–Sept. 12, 2024 measured 5,549 vehicles, with an average speed of about 25 mph and an 85th‑percentile of about 30.3 mph on a posted 30 mph segment.

Commissioners discussed whether different sections of the street warrant targeted treatment. Planning and Sustainability Director Carolyn Mich noted the street’s width (about 25 feet) and alternating on‑street parking as features that could lend themselves to local parking‑based calming or a “courtesy one‑way” treatment. Councilor Alex Jarrett suggested reclassifying the posted speed to 25 mph in residential areas as a policy matter, which would change how speeding is perceived in enforcement data.

No members of the public spoke during the Massasoit item at this meeting and the commission did not vote on any action. Staff indicated the item will remain in the queue for further study and that targeted remedies (parking pattern changes, curb extensions or localized calming) can be developed and returned to the commission for review.