Project Description
With this project we aim to improve safety and efficiency along Mt. Auburn St. in the project area, from JFK St. to Putnam Ave. This is a quick-build project. Our tool box includes pavement markings, signs, traffic signal changes, and flex posts. With community input, we will explore design alternatives that provide improved bicycle facilities, enhanced pedestrian safety at existing crosswalks, and potential transit improvements.
Upcoming
We are now in the design phase of the process. We will use what we've learned from the community to develop a design that achieves the stated goals and responds to the community's needs. The project goals are:
- Improve safety and overall experience for all users
- Implement separated bike lanes
- Identify opportunities to improve transit operations
- Manage vehicular movements
- Manage curbside uses
- Establish and/or improve pick-up and drop-off areas
- Evaluate and adjust parking regulations to help ensure parking is available when people need it
November 1, 2019 Update
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.
Previous Updates
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.
Community members who could not attend or would like to provide additional comments may email Patrick Baxter, the project manager, at pbaxter@cambridgema.gov.
You can:
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:
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.
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On June 5, 2019, 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:
Page was posted on 4/30/2019 9:44 AM
Page was last modified on 11/12/2019 1:47 PM