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We’re Adding Separated Bike Lanes to Cambridge Street – and We Want to Hear From You

Map of Cambridge st with colorful points along the street.
Screenshot of the feedback map for location-specific comments

The City of Cambridge is looking for your thoughts as we prepare draft designs for the Safety Improvement Project on Cambridge Street.

 

The Safety Improvement Project on Cambridge Street will add separated bike lanes and make other safety improvements on Cambridge Street between Inman Square and Second Street. This quick-build project will change the layout of the street with new pavement markings, modified traffic signals, minor curb and sidewalk work, and flex posts.

 

As part of this project, we anticipate making the following changes:

  • Add separated bike lanes:

  • Move bike lanes to be along the curb

  • Add white flex posts to physically separate them from moving vehicles

  • Make improvements for people walking:

  • Shorten crossing distances for people walking

  • Reconstruct some existing curb ramps for accessibility

  • Evaluate changes to improve service and reliability for MBTA's route 69 bus

  • Install bus boarding islands

  • Adjustments to bus stop locations

  • Reduce on-street parking

  • Provide on-street parking spaces on one side of the street. Parking can switch sides of the street on different parts of Cambridge Street.

  • Accommodate parking spaces with outdoor street dinning

  • Work with businesses and residents to identify the best locations and regulations for the remaining parking and loading spaces

 

These changes will help us meet the requirements of the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance, support our Vision Zero goal to eliminate crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries, and bring us closer to realizing the Cambridge Bicycle Network Vision.

 

During this introductory phase of the project, the City has established goals based on these City ordinances and policies, but we do not yet have a plan or layout for what the street will look like.

 

City staff introduced the project and discussed current conditions on the street at two open houses and an online community meeting in November and December 2023. See materials from these events and watch a recording of the online meeting on the project webpage.

  

Community feedback that City staff received at these events and that we will collect over the next few months will help inform design options for the street. Next year, we’ll present those options to the community and ask for more feedback.

 

If you haven’t provided feedback yet, here’s a few questions to get you started:

  • How do you currently use Cambridge Street?

  • Where is it most important to keep parking or loading? Which parking or loading types are most important to you?

  • What elements of the street do you like?

  • Where do you have safety concerns while walking, riding, or driving on Cambridge Street?

  • What can Cambridge improve on Cambridge Street?

 

There are a few ways to give feedback:

  • Comment Map: Leave location-specific feedback on our comment map. Click 'Submit a comment" to leave a note at a specific location, or "heart" other comments that you agree with.

  • Feedback Form: If you have feedback or comments that aren't tied to a specific location, submit them using our feedback form.

  • Email the Project Team: If you're having trouble with the map or feedback form, email the project team at cambridgestreet@cambridgema.gov.

  • Schedule a 1:1 meeting: Our project team is happy to meet with businesses, residents, organizations, and groups. Reach out to cambridgestreet@cambridgema.gov to schedule a phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting.

 

The City takes all comments into account, so don't worry about which format you use—all forms of feedback will be considered.

Over the winter, City staff will use your feedback to prepare draft design options for the street. In the late winter or spring of 2024, the City will host another series of events to present those options and ask for feedback.


More Ways to Get Involved:

Page was posted on 12/20/2023 11:52 AM
Page was last modified on 1/9/2024 5:38 PM
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