City reports partial compliance with no‑left‑turn signage at Somerville High School; committee requests police update

The committee reviewed ongoing efforts to reduce prohibited left turns from the Somerville High School concourse onto Island Avenue and Vineland Avenue.

Director Rawson said the school’s redesigned concourse and channelization created predictable movements but that some motorists—including parents, guardians and staff—continue to make prohibited left turns. The city installed flex posts about 18 months ago to improve sight lines and slow turning traffic; mobility staff said those measures have helped but have not produced full compliance. Rawson said eliminating the left‑turn movement entirely would require more robust physical changes that could also restrict other legitimate movements.

Mobility staff said they coordinate regularly with schools through a monthly interdepartmental working group (including Schools, Engineering, Parking and Mobility) and that the schools provide back‑to‑school materials each year; staff agreed to seek timed refreshes of outreach (for example in spring walking/rolling season) to remind parents and staff of the prohibition. The chief of police was not present; the committee agreed to keep the item in committee and requested a police update on enforcement activity at a future meeting.