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Linear Park - Massachusetts Avenue Crossing
What’s Happening Now
A conceptual design for a direct crossing of Massachusetts Avenue was completed in 2006. This design had been in process since 2004. The design concept was presented and discussed at a meeting of the North Cambridge Stabilization Committee in late 2004. A community meeting was held on June 28, 2006 to review the project plan and get comments. Since that time, MassHighway's designers have been completing the final design plans to put into an overall construction package which will put out to bid for construction by MassHighway.
About the Project
This project aims to improve the safety of Linear Path users by creating a direct, signalized and fully accessible crossing of Massachusetts Avenue.
Linear Park is a heavily used multi-use path and park that runs between Alewife Station in Cambridge and Davis Square in Somerville. Currently, the park crosses Massachusetts Avenue at Cedar Street, but no signalized or accessible crossing exists at that location for pedestrian and cyclists. To cross at a signalized location, path users must detour to the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue with Cameron Avenue and Harvey Street.
As part of a larger project to improve connections for bicyclists and pedestrians in several locations in the corridor, the City of Cambridge is
working with MassHighway as well as the City of Somerville and Town of Belmont on several improved connections in the Linear Park and Alewife areas.
These connections include:
- formalizing the trodden path that exists between Brighton Street in Belmont and the Alewife garage (adjacent to the Alewife Reservation)
- widening the sidewalk/path along the Route 2 side of the Alewife garage
- new paving to delineate a multi-use path in the area of the Alewife station headhouse near Russell Field
- creating improved connections for cyclists through Davis Square in Somerville from Linear Park to the Somerville Community Path.
MassHighway held a public hearing on May 13, 2004 regarding the project with the exception of the Linear Park/Massachusetts Avenue crossing component.
Project Plan
The plan includes re-aligning the intersection of Cedar Street and Massachusetts Avenue so Cedar Street meets Massachusetts Avenue at a right angle. An adjacent landscaped area will be relocated to the opposite side of Cedar Street and new trees planted. Crosswalks of Cedar Street and Massachusetts Avenue will be located at this new intersection and will allow path users to cross during each cycle of the traffic signal without having to push a pedestrian button.
These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
- View the Conceptual Plan (199 KB)
- View Aerial Photo of Site (195 KB)
- June 28th 2006 Community Meeting Handout (301 KB)
- June 28th 2006 Community Meeting Slideshow (1.7 MB)
Project Schedule
It is anticipated that state and/or federal construction funds will be programmed in federal fiscal year 2008. Construction by MassHighway will likely begin in 2009.
Related Topics
For More Information
For more information about the Cambridgeport Roadways project call Bill Deignan, wdeignan@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4632. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
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