Inner Mt. Auburn Corridor Safety Improvement Project

In 2023, consultant Toole Design conducted a post-installation assessment of the Inner Mount Auburn Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project.  Toole Design worked with the City to collect before and after data, including vehicle and bike volumes and vehicular speeds, at key locations along the project area. The report compares data collected in April 2019 to data collected in October 2022. 

Key findings: 

1. The number of people biking increased by 49% in the AM peak hour and increased by 106% in the PM peak hour.
2. The number of people driving decreased by 23% in  the AM peak hour and decreased by 1% in the PM peak hour. 
3. The average speeds for vehicles and 85th percentile speeds for vehicles are similar in April 2019 and October 2022. 

Click here to read the memo

We hosted a community webinar on Thursday, August 20 to share the final plans for the project. You can view a pdf of the roll plan or watch the recording of the webinar. The captioned version of the webinar is available upon request.

In early September, we will begin implementing the pavement markings and signal timing changes. All work is weather dependent. The project should be complete in early fall.

We have reviewed all of the comments provided during and since the last community meeting and are providing a written summary of the comments and responses.

The purpose of the document is to provide responses to comments and suggestions that we received on the most recent version of the plans, which were presented at the December 21, 2019 community meeting. During this meeting, Harvard University also provided an update on the Quincy/Bow/DeWolfe Project, which has a separate process and timeline, but intersects the Inner Mount Auburn project.

Please note that in the interest of brevity, we have not repeated every comment, especially if it was a broad or general comment. The items included are questions or comments that relate to specific details of the plans. We have condensed and combined similar comments as appropriate.

Read the Responses to Community Feedback

On Thursday, December 12, 2019, we held a community meeting at Harvard Smith Center. We gave a short presentation after which community members were invited to view boards about the Inner Mount Auburn Corridor Safety Improvement Project and the City and Harvard's Quincy/DeWolfe Project. The information that we learned from this meeting will be used to make updates to the design of the project.

Community members who could not attend or would like to provide additional comments may complete this feedback form through January 13, 2020.

You can view the:

• meeting presentation (pdf)
• building a network board (pdf)
• Inner Mount Auburn Corridor Safety Improvement Project boards
• Quincy/DeWolfe Project boards
• Quncy/DeWolfe Project roll plan
• feedback form and a graphic about the impacts of the potential bus stop location change

Over the last several months we’ve been working with our consultant team to review options for providing separated facilities for people riding bikes.

We’re also looking at ways to reduce transit delays and improve the reliability of the MBTA Route 1 bus. Considerations for the Route 1 bus are especially important as the MBTA’s Better Bus Project will reroute the bus onto Mt. Auburn Street via Dunster Street. This means that bus riders will travel down a larger section of Mt. Auburn Street than they do today.

Additionally, we have been working with Harvard University on their proposal to construct improved bicycle facilities on Quincy Street, Bow Street, and DeWolfe Street. The purpose of their project is to create a bike-network connection between Cambridge Street and Memorial Drive. Given that this Quincy / DeWolfe project intersects with the Inner Mount Auburn project, we want to make sure that you know about it. For both projects, we’re working to understand the benefits and potential impacts on people traveling through Harvard Square, abutters, and local businesses.

We expect to host a community meeting about both projects in mid-December. We will send information to the email list, add information to this page, and post signs in the project area when we have more details.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, we held a community meeting at Harvard Smith Center. After the presentation, community members were invited to participate in a group discussion and/or write their comments down on sticky notes, which were then added to a map of the project area. The information that we learned from this meeting will be used to inform the design of the project. 

You can:

• view the meeting presentation

On Thursday, May 30, we held a stakeholder meeting with people who work with community groups or organizations that have unique perspectives on the street. Attendees included representatives from the Cambridge Bicycle Safety, the Harvard Square Business Association, and WalkBoston. This meeting was just one of many opportunities for stakeholders to learn more about the project and hear from each other.

You can:

• view the stakeholder meeting presentation

On Thursday, May 23, 2019 we walked along the corridor and stopped in most of the businesses to learn from the business owners and employees. What we learned from this walk will be used during the planning process to help inform the design of the project.

You can:

• view the business walk flyer (PDF)

On June 5, 2018, the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department held a community meeting to discuss plans for temporary pavement markings and other interim safety improvements in the project area. The need for temporary markings came as a result of the road being repaved.

You can view:

• June 5th presentation (PDF)
• Temporary markings roll plan (PDF)