Western Avenue is a public roadway that provides for various competing uses. The final design for the street and sidewalk was developed in collaboration with an Advisory Committee and extensive community input process resulting in a balance of all of these needs. The redesign considers all street users: pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders and drivers.
River Street and Western Avenue serve as regional roadways connecting Cambridge, Somerville, and points north to the Mass Pike. Western Avenue also serves as a local street for the Riverside Neighborhood, home to retail establishments, a transit corridor, and a front yard to all who live on the street.
- Design Phase 1: Investigation. Background transportation data were collected, project goals were established, and five concept alternatives were developed to identify the full range of potential options for Western Avenue. This is all summarized in the Community Design Process booklet (June 2010).
- Design Phase 2: Develop Alternatives. After significant input from the community and advisory committee, the conceptual design for the surface was selected. See the Conceptual Design Selection booklet (October 2010).
- Design Phase 3: Engineering. From October 2010 until April 2012, the project has been advanced to 100% engineering design and will go out to bid in May 2012. See the Final Design and Construction Booklet (January 2012).
The City incorporated the rich history and stories of the Riverside Neighborhood, aka “The Coast,” into a permanent commemorative installation in the small park at the corner of Western/Pleasant/Franklin, and small bronze inlays along the Avenue, celebrating historical places, and events.
A Community meeting was held on Thursday October 17, 2013 at the Cambridge Community Center where ideas and input about the rich history of “The Coast’, were discussed by residents. On Tuesday December 10, 2013 neighborhood residents had the opportunity to meet the artist and view preliminary concepts based on information received from the community meeting.
The artist incorporated the ideas and concepts presented at the community meetings into a final design, which included 13 bronze inlays located along Western Avenue with historic images of The Coast Neighborhood. A reconfigured Cronin Park located at the intersection of Pleasant Street, Franklin Street and Western Avenue includes a perforated stainless steel sculpture with light emanating from within, built on a granite base with a bronze relief located at the base of the structure, which features historic images of The Coast Neighborhood.
For more information about the Coast Initiative contact Stuart Dash at 617/349-4640 or sdash@cambridgema.gov.
This initiative is sponsored by the Community Development Department and the Department of Public Works, and is not affiliated with the Cambridge Arts Council. The Cambridge Arts Council’s “Breaking Bread” project will no longer be incorporated into Cronin Park and instead may be considered at a different location in the city.
Public input process for the surface redesign ran from January 2010 through June 2011 and included eight Advisory Committee meetings, five neighborhood walks, and six public meetings.
- Background transportation data were collected, project goals were established, and five concept alternatives were developed to identify the full range of potential options for Western Avenue. This is all summarized in the Community Design Process booklet (June 2010).
- After significant input from the community and advisory committee, the conceptual design for the surface was selected. See the Conceptual Design Selection booklet (October 2010)
- From October 2010 until April 2012, the project was advanced to 100% engineering design and went out to bid in May 2012.
The following evaluation criteria was developed by city staff and the advisory committee to guide the design process:
- Traffic calming effect/vehicle speed reduction
- Pedestrian crossing safety
- Expanded sidewalk space
- Bicycle facility safety and comfort
- Bus operations and efficiency
- Rush hour vehicle capacity
- Parking availability
- Snow clearance and street cleaning
- Emergency vehicle access
- Construction cost
- Community support
Advisory Committee
In January, 2010, the City of Cambridge appointed an advisory committee to represent a cross-section of resident and business interests in the corridor. Advisory committee members will participate in meetings and discussions, review written material, and advise the city on design issues associated with the reconstruction of the Western Avenue corridor. These issues range from overall design of the street as a multi-modal corridor, to discussing surface material, lighting and plantings/green space.
Members of the Committee: Lawrence Adkins, Bill August, Mertin Betts, Velmer Brooks, Kathy Cannon, Abdullah Daoud, Reuben Dottin, Caitlin Gallagher, David Gibbs, Marvin Gilmore, Erin Gullage, Megan Krey, Marc Leuchner, Bob Nesson, Brad Nissenbaum, Eran Segev, Anne Shuhler, Artis Spears, Pastor Lawrence Ward.
- #1 February 23, 2010
- #2 March 16, 2010
- #3 April 15, 2010
- #4 April 27, 2010
- #5 May 26, 2010
- #6 June 17, 2010
- #7 October 5, 2010
- #8 February 1, 2011 (rescheduled from 1/26 snow)
Community-wide Public Meetings
- #1 March 31, 2010
- #2 June 29, 2010
- #3 November 3, 2010
- #4 February 13, 2011
- #5 March 15, 2011
Community Walks
These informal walks were led by city staff with occasional outside guests. The walks provided opportunities for neighbors to learn more about the project, and provide input to city staff. The walks were free and open to the public. Each walk started near Central Square, went down Western Avenue to the Charles River, and back. View some photos of past walks.
- Proposed Conceptual Design Walk: Thursday October 28, 2010, 5:30 P. M. Led by Jeff Rosenblum, Project Manager for Western Avenue surface design, Community Development Department.
- Concepts Walk: Sunday June 27, 2010, 4:00 P. M. Led by Jeff Rosenblum, Project Manager for Western Avenue surface design, Community Development Department.
- Project Overview Walk: Monday April 5, 2010, 6:00 P. M. to 7:30 P. M. Led by Jeff Rosenblum, Project Manager for Western Avenue surface design, Community Development Department
- Human Centered Design Walk: Monday April 12, 2010,6:00 P. M. to 7:30 P. M. Led by Chris Hart, Institute for Human Centered Design and Michael Muehe, Executive Director, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
- Traffic, Signals, and Stop Signs Walk: Monday April 26, 2010, 6:00 P. M. to 7:30 P. M. Led by Jeff Parenti, City Traffic Engineer.