Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project

Photos of The Completed Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project

Photography by Kyle Klein 

This Project:

• Installed separated bike lanes in both directions, adding to the City's network of separated bike lanes and creating a more comfortable biking connection between Inman Square and the Port/Kendall Square. Bike lanes are against the curb and separated from general traffic/parking lanes with a buffer and flex posts. 
• Made changes to bus stop locations. New locations have more typical stop spacing, riders boarding the bus face fewer barriers, and it's easier to deploy boarding ramps. 
• Improved existing crosswalks by making them more visible, tightening corners to slow turning drivers, and shifting general traffic lanes to reduce driver blind spots. 
• Added accessible parking spaces on Hampshire Street and side streets, which can be used by vehicles with a disability placard or license plate. 
• Made changes to parking and loading. 

Separated bike lanes

The City installed separated bike lanes against the curb on each side of Hampshire Street between Inman Square and Broadway; and on one block of Broadway between Hampshire Street and Portland Street. 

• Separated bike lanes are against the curb, next to the sidewalk.
• Bike lanes are separated from parking and general travel lanes with white flex posts and a buffer area.
• Extra space between cars and bike lanes helps prevent people from opening their car doors into people biking.
• Posts keep people from driving or parking their cars in the bike lane.

See the final project plans for more details.

Image 1: Pre-installation mock-up of the Portland Street to Broadway block of Hampshire Street.

Image 2: Typical cross-section showing what the street will look like with bike lanes. 

Bus stop changes

As part of this project, we made changes to bus stop locations. New locations have more typical stop spacing, riders boarding the bus face fewer barriers, and it is easier to deploy boarding ramps. 

• Two stops near Windsor Street (for the 85 bus)
• Two stops at Cardinal Medeiros Avenue/Portland Street (for routes 85 and CT2). We relocated the outbound/westbound stop to the northwest corner of Cardinal Medeiros Avenue. 

• Hampshire Street at Columbia Street (outbound/westbound) 
• Hampshire Street at Plymouth Street (outbound/westbound)
• Hampshire Street at Webster Avenue (outbound/westbound) 
• Hampshire Street at Clark Street (inbound/eastbound) 

Traffic pattern change at Hampshire Street/Broadway

As part of the street redesign, vehicles approaching the Hampshire Street/Broadway intersection on Hampshire Street have to turn left onto Broadway, headed toward Kendall Square. 

• People driving can no longer go straight from Hampshire Street to Tech Square.
• People driving can no longer turn right from Hampshire Street to Broadway. 

To get to Technology Square from Hampshire Street, people driving will have to turn from Hampshire Street to Portland Street, to Broadway, to Tech Square. (Black dotted line on map below.)

People driving will still be able to travel in the other direction, from Tech Square to Hampshire Street.

View larger version of this image

Parking along Hampshire Street was significantly reduced as part of this project - from about 180 parking and loading spaces to about 90. Separated bike lanes are wider than standard bike lanes, and Hampshire Street is too narrow to fit both separated bike lanes and two sides of parking.

New parking layout 

Click here for a larger view of 2023 parking map. 

How does this compare? Click here for an overview of existing parking spaces we counted in Fall 2022. 

Parking types

Parking types on Hampshire Street include:

• Loading zones: Loading zones, usually near businesses or large residential buildings, are meant for vehicles quickly unloading, delivering, or picking up materials. Private vehicles may stop in loading zones as long as they are actively loading or unloading passengers, materials, or goods, and as long as stopping doesn't interfere with a commercial vehicle looking to use the zone. 
• Accessible/disability parking space: Only cars displaying a disability placard, disability license plate, or Cambridge Temporary Disability Parking Permit may park in an accessible parking space. 
• 1-Hour or 2-Hour metered spaces: In spaces with parking meters, people must pay to park at certain times of the day. Nearby signs will indicate the maximum time someone can park and the times that the parking meter is in effect. Outside of the parking meter hours, people can park in these spaces without paying. Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/parking. 
• 30-minute non-metered parking: People may only park for 30 minutes before moving their cars. Parking is free, but cars will be ticketed if they stay longer than 30 minutes. 
• Permit parking: These areas are marked with “Parking by Permit Only” signs. Cambridge residents may park here if they display a Resident Parking Permit, and visitors may park short-term by displaying a Visitor Parking Permit supplied by a resident. Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/parking.
• Unrestricted parking: Anyone may park without displaying a permit or paying for parking.
  • On Hampshire Street, we have spaces that are unrestricted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Permit Only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. This means that anyone can park during the day, but cars must display permits to park overnight. 

Parking Changes by Block

Below, read details on what to expect on each section of Hampshire Street when work is complete.

Inman Street to Prospect Street

Click here for a larger image.

• 10 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston): 8 metered spaces and 2 loading spaces.
• 3 metered parking spaces on the north side of the street (toward Somerville). 

Prospect Street to Tremont Street

Click here for a larger image.

• No parking on the north side of the street (toward Somerville).
• 5 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston.) These include:
  • A 20ft loading zone
  • 1 metered space
  • 1 accessible/disability space
  • 2 spaces that will be unrestricted during the day (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and permit-only overnight (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

Tremont Street to Norfolk Street

Click here for a larger image.

• No parking on the south side of the street (toward Boston).
• Approximately 6 parking spaces on the north side of the street (toward Somerville) paces that will be unrestricted during the day (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and permit-only overnight (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

Norfolk Street to Columbia Street

Click here for a larger image. 

• No parking on the north side of the street (toward Somerville).
• About 16 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston). These include:
  • A 40 ft loading zone near Oleana restaurant
  • Approximately 14 spaces requiring permits overnight.
    • Spaces between Norfolk and Elm will be unrestricted from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and permit-only from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    • Spaces between Elm and Columbia will be unrestricted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and permit-only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Columbia Street to Windsor Street

Click here for a larger image.

• Approximately 9 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston), including:
  • 6 spaces that will be unrestricted during the day (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and permit-only overnight (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
  • A 60ft loading zone.
• 5 30-minut non-metered parking spaces on the north side of the street.

Windsor Street to Bristol Street

Click here for a larger image. 

• Between Windsor and Portsmouth: 4 metered spaces and an accessible space on the north side of the street (toward Somerville). No parking on the south side. 
• Between Portsmouth and Bristol: About 7 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston). These include:
  • 5 permit-only spaces
  • 2 spaces that are a loading zone during the day (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and permit-only in the evening (from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m.)

Bristol Street to Clark Street

There will be no parking on either side of the street in this block. The narrower width of the street and number of driveways made it challenging to include parking on this section of the street. 

Clark Street to Cardinal Medeiros Avenue

Click here for a larger image. 

• About 6 permit parking spaces on the north side of the street (toward Somerville). 

• About 9 parking spaces on the south side of the street (toward Boston). These include:
  • Approximately 6 permit spaces
  • 3 metered spaces 

Cardinal Medeiros Avenue to Broadway

Click here for a larger image. 

• 8 parking spaces on the north side of the street (toward Somerville). These include:
  • A floating accessible space
  • A 40-ft loading zone
  • 3 metered spaces
  • 2 spaces that are part-time loading zones, part-time metered spaces.
    • Loading zone from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Metered spaces from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• No parking on the south side of the street (toward Boston).

Broadway between Portland Street and Hampshire Street

• A loading zone on the north side of the street (heading toward Harvard Square).
• No parking on the south side of the street (heading toward Boston).

As part of this project, the City of Cambridge:

• Hosted three online community meetings with detailed project information and the chance to give feedback
• Hosted two in-person drop-in open houses with information about the project design and chances to give feedback
• Arranged one-on-one conversations with community members, residents, businesses, and property owners

City staff spread the word about the project through:

• Postcards sent to over 5,000 addresses on and near Hampshire Street
• Laminated signs posted in the project area, with information on meetings, opportunities to give feedback, project plans, and project installation
• Updates on the project webpage
• Regular updates to the project email list
• News stories on the City of Cambridge website
• Updates in the City of Cambridge's Daily News Update email
• Social media posts
• Outreach to businesses, houses of worship, and other stakeholders, including meetings on their parking and loading needs

The City gathered feedback through:

• Comments at virtual community meetings
• One-on-one conversations at open houses
• Phone calls and emails from community members
• A project feedback form
• An online feedback map about existing conditions at the start of the project
• A project survey on block-by-block design options for the street

Learn more about community engagement and view materials in the "Past Meetings and Outreach" section below. 

Crews will soon begin installation of crosswalk improvements at Hampshire St and Webster Ave.

Improvements will include:

• Installing a new crosswalk across Hampshire St
• Realigning Webster Ave
• Adding a crossing island on Webster Ave.

These improvements will slow turning traffic, shorten the crossing distance, and improve accessibility. This project is being delivered together with additional ramp and sidewalk improvements on Webster Ave.

See the design graphic below:

Photo of new curb ready for installation at Webster Ave.

Design of new crosswalk across Hampshire St and realigned Wester Ave.

Starting Friday, September 29, we will begin work to install separated bike lanes on the block of Hampshire Street in front of One Kendall Square, between Broadway and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue. We have already made changes to the rest of the project area (between Inman Square and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue).

On Friday, September 29, we will modify signage and make changes to parking and loading in front of One Kendall Square. This includes relocating a loading zone, installing an accessible/disability space, and relocating the existing bus stop at Hampshire Street and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue to the other side of the intersection. Click here to view a map of the project's parking plans for specific information on what the new parking layout will look like.

Overnight Sunday, October 1, beginning at 8 p.m., we will install pavement markings on Hampshire Street between Broadway and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue. This includes installing separated bike lanes and green bicycle conflict markings.

Temporary Parking Restriction

There will be no overnight parking in front of One Kendall Square beginning Sunday, October 1, at 8 p.m. Work to install pavement markings will take one to two nights to complete, but is subject to change due to weather and crew availability.

Green Pavement Markings

Overnight on Sunday, October 1, we will install green bicycle conflict markings at intersections along Hampshire Street.

Installation of Flex-Posts Continues

Flex post installation on Hampshire Street and Broadway will continue on Friday, September 29. This will occur during the day. Work hours are between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. No daytime parking restrictions are in place.

Additional days of work will be needed and we are working with the contractor to schedule additional installations in the coming weeks

Flex Posts

We will begin installing flex posts on Hampshire Street between Inman Square and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue on Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15. Hours of work are between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

Crews will be working in the street during these hours and intermittent partial closures of the travel lane and/or bike lane may be required. Please drive and bike carefully along the corridor while work is underway. We will begin by installing posts along bike lanes that are not next to parking spaces.

We will not install all flex posts this week. We anticipate that additional days of work will be needed to finish installing flex posts along remaining sections of the street, and will announce future installation dates on the project website and email list. 

Installing Separated Bike Lanes and Relocating the Bus Stop at One Kendall Square

We anticipate that we will be able to relocate the bus stop at One Kendall Square the week of September 25. At that time, we will make changes to parking, including relocating a loading zone and installing an accessible/ disability parking space. These changes can be viewed in the project plans and parking plans linked at the top of this page. 

We are targeting an early October installation for the separated bike lanes in this block (between Broadway and Cardinal Medeiros Avenue).

Project Implementation will continue the week of September 4, 2023

Pavement Marking Installation Continues

There will be no overnight parking on Hampshire Street between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. the evening of Tuesday, September 5th, Wednesday, September 6th and Thursday, September 7th. This will allow us to finish the remaining project pavement markings. This work is weather-dependent and subject to change. We will send out an additional update with any changes to the work schedule. Should we finish earlier than expected, we will remove the No Parking signs, and parking will be allowed.

Next Steps

Curb and Sidewalk Improvements

Sidewalk improvements along the street are still underway. Crews are installing new ramps and sidewalk panels at Columbia St, Bristol St, and Cardinal Medeiros Ave, and repairing a sewer on Bristol St.

Installation of Separated Bike Lanes and Relocation of the Bus Stop at One Kendall Square

Once the sidewalk work is complete, we will relocate the bus stop at Cardinal Medeiros Ave and Hampshire St to its new location. Changes to signage and pavement markings on the block in front of One Kendall Square, including the bus stop relocation and installation of separated bike lanes, will take place after the sidewalk work is complete. We expect to complete work on this block by the end of September.

Installation of Flex-Posts

The installation of flex-posts will occur in mid-September after pavement markings are complete. This work will require daytime parking restrictions and will take approximately 2-3 days for each side of the street. We will restrict parking on one side of the street at a time. This work is not yet scheduled. We will provide additional information soon. All parking restrictions will be posted 48 hours in advance.

Project Implementation will continue the week of August, 28th.

New Pavement Markings

Last week crews installed layout markings. This refers to roadway paint that is put down ahead of permanent markings. Work will continue the week of August, 28th. We will prioritize the restriping of crosswalks, as weather permits. Striping of parking and bike lanes, including overnight parking restrictions, will resume the week of Tuesday, September 5th. We do not expect overnight parking restrictions during the week of August 28th. Inclement weather may prolong implementation.

Parking Regulation Changes Complete

Last week, we finished installing project signage. Parking is now only allowed on one side of the street. Signage and markings indicate the proper place to park. Vehicles parked in a No Stopping area may be ticketed or towed.

Questions about where to park? We've posted a map of the updated parking regulations. Signs on the street reflect what is shown on the map.

Curb and Sidewalk Improvements and Changes to the Bus Stop at One Kendall Square

Sidewalk improvements along the street are still underway. Crews are installing new ramps and sidewalk panels at Columbia St, Bristol St, and Cardinal Medeiros Ave. Once the sidewalk work is complete, we will finish relocating the one remaining bus stop at Cardinal Medeiros Ave and Hampshire St. Changes to signage and pavement markings on the block in front of One Kendall Square, including the bus stop relocation, will take place after the sidewalk work is complete.

Traffic Pattern Changes at Hampshire St and Broadway

Last Thursday, we implemented new signal timing and a change to traffic patterns at Hampshire St and Broadway. Leaving Hampshire Street, vehicles may only turn left onto Broadway. You may no longer continue straight or turn right.

To get to Technology Square from Hampshire Street, people driving must turn from Hampshire Street to Portland Street, to Broadway, to Tech Square. (Black dotted line on this map.)

On August 24, 2023 the traffic pattern will change at the Hampshire Street/Broadway intersection. 

As part of the street redesign, vehicles approaching the Hampshire Street/Broadway intersection on Hampshire Street will have to turn left onto Broadway, headed toward Kendall Square. 

• People driving will no longer be able to go straight from Hampshire Street to Tech Square.
• People driving will no longer be able to turn right from Hampshire Street to Broadway. 

To get to Technology Square from Hampshire Street, people driving will have to turn from Hampshire Street to Portland Street, to Broadway, to Tech Square. (Black dotted line on map below.)

People driving will still be able to travel in the other direction, from Tech Square to Hampshire Street.

View larger version of this image

The City of Cambridge plans to start installing the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project on Monday, August 21 (weather permitting). 

New Pavement Markings

Crews will begin adding new pavement markings to the street overnight on Monday, August 21. Work will take approximately one to two weeks. Pavement markings will include crosswalks, lane lines, bus stops and separated bike lanes. Click here to view the final project plans. 

Changes to Parking Regulations

Parking regulations on Hampshire Street will change the morning of August 21. City crews will replace metal signs that indicate parking regulations beginning at approximately 7 a.m. Questions about where to park? We've posted a map of the updated parking regulations. We'll update the signs on the street to reflect what is shown on the map.

Changes to Bus Stop Locations

Some bus stop locations will move on Monday, August 21. This will happen at the same time as changes to parking. The MBTA will post stop advisories at bus stop locations that are moving indicating where to wait for the bus. See "How will bus stops change?" in the drop-down menu above for more details. 

Temporary No Overnight Parking

Beginning Monday, August 21 at approximately 8 p.m., there will be no overnight parking allowed on Hampshire Street. This is necessary to install new pavement markings on the street. Overnight parking restrictions will continue until pavement markings are complete, which will take approximately one to two weeks. This work is weather dependent, and work will not occur if the roads are wet.

Temporary paper "No Parking" signs will indicate the days and times that parking is not allowed.

Traffic Pattern Changes at Hampshire St and Broadway

Beginning later in the week of August 21, we'll implement the traffic pattern change at Hampshire Street and Broadway.

Leaving Hampshire Street, vehicles will only be able to turn left onto Broadway. They will no longer be able to go straight or turn right. Signage, pavement markings, and changes to signal timing will indicate the change.

To get to Technology Square from Hampshire Street, people driving will have to turn from Hampshire Street to Portland Street, to Broadway, to Tech Square. (Black dotted line on this map.)

Milling and paving work will cause parking restrictions and detours between Tuesday, August 1, and Monday, August 7.

These dates are weather dependent, and the schedule could change. Work will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. At the end of each day, the roadway will return to the normal traffic pattern.

The City encourages people driving and biking to avoid the area if possible, especially during paving.

Where is this work taking place?

• Most of Hampshire Street (between Inman Square and Broadway)
• One block of Broadway (between Hampshire Street and Portland Street)

What is happening?

• Between Tuesday, August 1, and Friday, August 4, crews will remove the existing asphalt in the project area (this is referred to as “milling”). As the street is milled, the surface will be rough, with raised manhole covers. The roadway will be lower, making the curbs higher for parked cars. Please use caution when opening car doors, so they aren’t damaged on curbs.
• On Saturday, August 5, and Monday, August 7, crews will repave the roadway. Wet weather could delay this scheduled paving.

On-Street Parking Spaces

On street-parking spaces will be impacted during this work. Paper signs will indicate the hours and locations where parking is not allowed. These signs will be posted at least 24 hours before restrictions are in effect.

Detours

Detours will be in effect while work is underway (between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.). At the end of each day, the roadway will return to the normal traffic pattern. Please pay careful attention to signs and directions from detail officers as you travel down Hampshire Street.

• There will be one lane open at all times for traffic headed eastbound (toward Kendall Square)
• Traffic headed westbound (away from Kendall Square) will be detoured away from Hampshire Street. Detour routes will change throughout the day and duration of this work: parts of Hampshire Street may be open to westbound traffic at different times during the project.

Side streets: At times, side streets will be closed at Hampshire Street, preventing access to Hampshire Street. Residents of these streets should plan vehicle trips accordingly and allow extra time for travel. At times, residents of one-way streets may have to travel the wrong way down the street to reach their homes. (Click here for the construction notice distributed to residents in the area.)

Abutters on Hampshire Street: As each section of the road is paved on Saturday, August 5, and Monday, August 7, it will be temporarily closed to all traffic except for emergency and City vehicles. Crews will reopen the roadway for abutters as soon as possible, but residents should allow extra time for travel.

Bus routes CT2 and 85

Two MTBA bus routes (CT2 and 85) travel through this area. The MBTA plans to detour buses headed westbound (away from Kendall Square) during this work. The MBTA will post flyers at bus stops with information on alternate routes and bus stops. You may also visit mbta.com/alerts/bus for more information. 

Contact information

• If you have any questions about the paving operations or need assistance, including any special needs or disabilities that require an accommodation, please contact Dominic Almeida, Supervisor of Streets, at 617-349-6952 or dalmeida@cambridgema.gov. 
• In case of an emergency after hours, please call the 24-Hour line at 617-349-4800.

Next Steps

We expect to begin installing separated bike lanes on Hampshire Street once paving is complete.

Beginning the week of August 7, you'll begin to notice changes to signage and meters. You should expect:

• Removal of meter heads. Parking at these spaces will still be allowed up to the posted time limit, if no temporary parking restrictions are in place.
• Changes to signs regulating parking on the street. Pay attention to the instructions on the posted signs when parking.

In mid- to late-August (roughly two weeks after paving is finished), we'll begin installing project markings, including changes to travel patterns and separated bike lanes.

Stay informed about future work related to the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project by signing up for the project email list. 

Sidewalk Reconstruction Work Underway

Last week, City crews started repairing sidewalks and curb ramps along Hampshire Street. This work will ensure that ramps and sidewalks comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). No major detours are expected as part of this work. Intermittent sidewalk closures will be necessary. This will take approximately two more weeks. 

Parking Changes Coming to Inman Street and Prospect Street

In the coming weeks, we will make changes to parking on Inman Street and Prospect Street, close to their intersections with Hampshire Street. These changes were shared as part of the June draft project plans. The changes include:

• Installing three metered spaces on Prospect Street
• Install two accessible/disability spaces, one on Inman Street and one on Prospect Street

We expect to have these changes made by the end of July, before implementation of the project.

Revisions to Project Design

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on draft project plans. We expect to post the final design for the project at the end of July. We are looking into making changes based on recent feedback. Key changes to the design we are considering include:

Parking change between Inman St and Prospect St: 

A different option for parking between Inman Street and Prospect Street. The new layout would place more parking on the south side of the street and add two new metered spaces.

Pilot to add more parking between Portsmouth St and Bristol St: 

We are looking into testing out narrower bike lanes for one block between Portsmouth Street and Bristol Street. This would add about six to eight additional permit parking spaces to this section of the street. In the designs shared at the June meeting, this section of the street had no parking. 

This change would remove the proposed 4-foot painted median and narrow the bike lane by approximately 2 feet in each direction for this block. These bike lanes would be about 6 inches narrower than the City's standard for snow clearance. This design would be a pilot only, and parking could be removed in the future if the narrower bike lanes makes snow removal too difficult.

Relocated accessible/disability parking space:

We'll relocate the current accessible/disability space at 111 Hampshire Street to the intersection of Windsor Street and Hampshire Street. This will improve the spacing of accessible parking along the street and provide accessible parking in an area with business activity. The space at 111 Hampshire St. was previously installed at that location for a resident who no longer lives at that address.

Final plans coming later this month:

We expect to share more information on these changes, including posting a final copy of the design, by the end of the month.

Next Steps

• Complete sidewalks repairs (~end of July)
• Finalize project designs (~end of July)
• Changes to parking on Inman Street and Prospect Street (~end of July)
• Mill and pave the roadway (after sidewalk repairs are complete)
• Install new pavement markings 
• Install flex posts to separate bike lanes from parking and general travel lanes

On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we held a virtual community meeting to discuss the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project on Zoom. 

Meeting Materials

• Meeting slides
• Meeting video recording
• Meeting transcript

City staff gave a presentation on what we've heard since the last meeting and revised project plans. Attendees had an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback.

Next Steps

• Let us know what you think about the revised design by Friday, July 14 by contacting Street Design Project Manager Andreas Wolfe at awolfe@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-9162. We will update the design based on your feedback.
• In July, we'll post the final design on the website, provide a more detailed installation schedule, and make changes to parking on side streets.
• In August, we will repave Hampshire Street, make changes to street signs, make changes to traffic signals, and add pavement markings to install the project. 

Meeting Update

Please review the slides, recording, or transcript for a full overview of what was discussed during the meeting.

City employees introduced the project; reviewed background and planning information, including information on the Cycling Safety Ordinance, Cambridge Bike Plan, and the Vision Zero Action Plan; shared a project timeline; talked about outreach so far; and provided an opportunity for community members to ask questions and provide feedback.

With feedback on street design options presented in the spring, city staff created a draft design for the street. 

Revised Design Key Features

• Benefits for people walking: improves existing crosswalks by making them more visible, tightening corners to slow turning drivers, making crossing distances shorter, and shifting general traffic lanes to reduce driver blind spots. Tan-painted pedestrian islands throughout the corridor will call extra attention to some of the crosswalks. 
• Benefits for people biking: separates people biking from vehicle traffic, removing the threat of dooring, allowing drivers more space to pass people biking safely, adding time for drivers and bicyclists to react when turning, and improving visibility of bicyclists at side-street crossings.
  • Bike lane width: We heard a desire for bike lanes that are wider than our 7-foot minimums. We were able to provide wider sections in select locations, such as intersections, but in some sections, the street will be too narrow to pass another person biking. 
• Adds more accessible/disability parking spaces
• Consolidates bus stops. New locations will have more typical stop spacing, riders boarding the bus will face fewer barriers, and it will be easier to deploy boarding ramps. 
• Removes about 55% of existing parking spaces and changes regulations on others. 

Revised Design: Block by Block

The typical layout on Hampshire Street will have separated bike lanes against the curb in each direction, and parking on one side of the street (parking switches sides).

Parking total changes in each section are summarized below. These are subject to change slightly as we get more feedback before we finalize the design.

In every design, there are bike lanes on both sides of the street, separated from general traffic and parking lanes by a painted buffer and flex posts. 

Click here for the full roll plan. 

Click the links for more details on each block. 

Inman Street to Prospect Street: 9 metered parking spaces and a loading zone. 

Existing parking on Hampshire: 21 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 12 spaces

On side streets:

• Inman Street: loading zone and accessible space
• Amory Street: new permit parking spaces
• Prospect Street: 3 new metered parking spaces and an accessible space

Prospect Street to Norfolk Street: Loading zone, 1 metered parking space, about 8 unrestricted parking spaces, and an accessible space.

Existing parking on Hampshire: 30 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 11 spaces

Norfolk Street to Columbia Street: About 8 unrestricted parking spaces and a loading zone.

Existing parking on Hampshire: 32 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 16 spaces

• On Elm Street: New accessible parking space. 

Columbia Street to Union Street: 3 30-minute parking spaces, accessible parking space, and 2 permit parking spaces.

Existing parking on Hampshire: 17 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 6 spaces

Union Street to Portsmouth Street: About 4 permit parking spaces, five metered parking spaces, and a loading zone. 

Existing parking on Hampshire: 18 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 12 spaces

• On Windsor Street: Lord Hobo's outdoor dining patio moves from Hampshire Street to Windsor Street. 
• Bicycle turn box at Windsor Street/Plymouth Street/Hampshire Street intersection. 

Portsmouth Street to Clark Street: No parking. Between Portsmouth and Clark Street, the road is one foot narrower than elsewhere on the street. If we added parking, two large vehicles (like trucks or buses) would not be able to pass side-by-side. Narrowing the bike lane in this section would make it too narrow for snow clearance and street cleaning. 

Existing parking on Hampshire: 29 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 0 spaces

Clark Street to Cardinal Medeiros Avenue/Portland Street: About 11 permit parking spaces and three metered parking spaces. 

Existing parking on Hampshire: 27 spaces
Proposed parking on Hampshire: 14 spaces

• Between Clark Street and Webster Street, we moved parking to the north side of the street closer to residents' homes after the feedback we heard this spring.

Cardinal Medeiros Avenue to Broadway: One accessible parking space, one loading zone, 2 part-time loading zone/part time meter spaces, 3 metered parking spaces. 

Existing parking: 14 spaces
Proposed parking: 8 spaces

Broadway from Portland Street to Hampshire Street: No parking spaces. Working with adjacent business owner to accommodate curb access needs. 

Existing parking: 11 spaces
Proposed parking: 0 spaces

Traffic circulation change:

• We will restrict turns at Hampshire Street/Broadway and reduce the number of general traffic lanes on Hampshire Street. 
• Drivers at Hampshire/Broadway intersection must turn left.
• Vehicles traveling to Technology Square will have access via Portland Street and Broadway. 

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., we held a second open house to discuss the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project. At the event, we shared the revised project design, background information on city policies, and provided attendees an opportunity to give us feedback.

• Click here to see the posters we shared at the open house
• Click here to see the revised project design shared at the open house

A design options survey, open between March and May 2023, held us come up with a preferred design for separated bike lanes on Hampshire Street.

In this survey, we went down Hampshire Street block-by-block, presented design options, and asked for feedback. With the results of the survey and other feedback, we combined and adjusted preferred options to come up with a single design.

This survey closed on May 30, 2023.

Click here to see the survey results.

Interested in learning more about the options we considered? Check out the materials from the second community meeting: design options start on page 30 of the presentation.

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we held the second community meeting for the project. The meeting was virtual, held over Zoom.

Meeting Materials

• Click here to view the meeting slides.
• Click here for a video recording of the meeting.
• Click here to read a transcript of the meeting

Meeting Update

Please review the slides or watch the meeting recording above for a full overview of what was discussed in the meeting. City staff shared two design options, discussed planned changes to parking regulations, reviewed changes to bus stop location, and discussed improvements at existing crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety. 

As we started the project, we asked community members to leave location-specific feedback on a comment map. We received 176 comments on this online comment map:

• 57 comments about biking
• 34 comments about parking or loading
• 33 comments about walking 28 comments about driving
• 15 "other" comments
• 5 comments about transit
• 4 comments about accessibility

Click here to view the comment map.

On Tuesday, November 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we hosted our first community meeting on Zoom. During the meeting, we shared an introduction to the project, and gave attendees an opportunity to provide feedback.

Meeting Materials

• Click here to download the slides shared at the meeting. 
• Click here for a video recording of the meeting. 

Meeting Update

Please review the slides or watch the meeting recording for a full overview of what was discussed in the meeting. City staff provided background on city policies supporting sustainable transportation, separated bike lanes, and the Cycling Safety Ordinance. 

Staff talked about: 

• Safety improvements that we can make as part of this project
• Crash data on Hampshire Street and how it informs our design
• Existing conditions on Hampshire Street today for people walking, biking, and taking transit

Parking: 

There are currently about 175 spaces on Hampshire Street. Closer to Inman Square, spaces are usually metered or unrestricted. In the middle of the corridor, spaces are mostly permit-only. Closest to Broadway, spaces are mostly metered. Click here for more details. 

We know that this project will reduce the amount of parking on this corridor. We want to hear what parking types are most important to you. 

Design Considerations:

• Staff discussed how we will retain accessible/disability parking spaces and loading zones.
• Because bike traffic on Hampshire Street is already heavily used by people biking, sections of the street will need wider bike lanes to accommodate the volume of people biking.
• We will also address pedestrian safety as part of this project and make improvements at existing crosswalks. 

Related Nearby Projects:

• Inman Square Intersection Improvement Project (nearly complete)
• Webster Avenue Reconstruction Project
• Two-way biking on Windsor Street

On Monday, November 7, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., we hosted an in-person open house at the DPW Building at 147 Hampshire St.

During the Open House, we will shared an introduction to the project, the Cycling Safety Ordinance, the Cambridge Bike Plan, and Vision Zero, and provided attendees with an opportunity to provide us with feedback.

• Click here to see the posters we shared at the Open House. 

Attendees attached sticky note comments to a large map of the street. See the comments below: 

October 2022

During the week of October 24, we kicked off our community process by speaking with business owners, houses of worship, and other key stakeholders. We'll plan to visit throughout the week, both during the day and the evening.

We're distributing a brochure with more information on the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project:

• Click here for the online version of the project brochure.
• Click here for a printable version of the project brochure. 

We want your feedback on what matters to you! Here are a few things that are helpful for us as we work through the project design:

• How do you currently use the street? (i.e., how do you accept deliveries? What times of day do you have the most visitors?)
• What changes matter most to you?
• Are there particular locations along the corridor that matter to you? If so, why?

In October 2022, as part of the project launch, we sent postcards announcing the Hampshire Street Safety Improvement Project to about 5,000 addresses around the project area. The postcards included details on the project, email list, website, open house, and first community meeting. 

Click here to view the postcard. 

On April 26, 2023, Cambridge's consultant, Toole Design, conducted vehicle, bike, and pedestrian counts at the intersection of Prospect Street and Hampshire Street, close to the Inman Square end of the project area.  

Counts were conducted from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Find high-level data from the counts outlined below. Download the full count report for more data. 

Full Data

Prospect Street and Hampshire Street Intersection

*Please note that these counts are for different times than the November 2022 counts, so the data summarized below isn't directly comparable to the November 2022 table.*

Other Data: Eco-Totem Bike Counter 

An Eco-Totem bicycle counter at one end of the project area (on Broadway near Kendall Square) gives an idea of ridership trends, although it doesn't show Hampshire Street ridership. Click here to view that data. (If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your browser)

In Spring 2023, VHB conducted vehicle, bike, and pedestrian counts and turn movement information around Tech Square and shared the information with the City. Hampshire at Broadway counts were taken in April. Hampshire at Portland and Broadway at Portland counts were taken in May. 

Download the data

On November 10, 2022, Cambridge's consultant, Toole Design, conducted vehicle, bike, and pedestrian counts at four intersections near the project area:

• Prospect Street and Hampshire Street intersection (near Inman Square)
• Cardinal Medeiros Avenue and Hampshire Street intersection (near Kendall Square)
• Hampshire Street, Broadway, and Technology Square intersection (near Kendall Square)
• Portland Street and Broadway intersection (near Kendall Square)

Counts were conducted from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Find high-level data from the counts outlined below. Download the full count report for more data. 

Full Data

Prospect Street and Hampshire Street Intersection

Cardinal Medeiros Avenue and Hampshire Street intersection

Hampshire Street, Broadway, and Technology Square Intersection 

Portland Street and Broadway Intersection

Full Data

Other Data: Eco-Totem Bike Counter 

An Eco-Totem bicycle counter at one end of the project area (on Broadway near Kendall Square) gives an idea of ridership trends, although it doesn't show Hampshire Street ridership. Click here to view that data. (If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your browser)

Crash Data

At our first community meeting on November 15, 2022, we shared crash data from Hampshire Street between June 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021. Click here to see the slide shared at the meeting (summarized below). Most injury crashes involved someone biking. 

We analyzed the 80 Cambridge Police Department crash reports from Hampshire Street between June 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021. 

• 97% of crashes (78) involved a person driving
• 32% of crashes (25) involved someone biking or riding a scooter and a person driving
• 4% of crashes (3) involved someone walking or jogging and a person driving
• There were no crashes between a person biking and a person walking

33% of crashes (26) resulted in an injury. Of these crashes: 

• 18 people biking sustained injuries
• 3 people walking sustained injuries
• 5 people driving sustained injuries

Fourteen of these 26 injury crashes (54%) required medical attention. 

The most common crash types on Hampshire Street that resulted in injury were:

1. Dooring: When a driver opens their car door into the path of a bicyclist
2. Unsafe passing: When a driver clips the handlebars of a person bicycling
3. Obstructed turns: When a driver turns into a bike lane or crosswalk without a clear line of sight
4. Whiplash: When a driver rear-ends another driver

Source: Cambridge Police Department Crash Data

This project will include improvements to Hampshire Street between Inman Square and Broadway.

In February 2023, we added a section of Broadway to the project: the block between Hampshire Street and Portland. The Cycling Safety Ordinance requires separated bike lanes on Broadway. Adding this segment to the Hampshire Street project makes it easier to design the Broadway intersection.

Note: This schedule is based on the latest information we have and is subject to change. See "Engagement Phases" above for more details on our outreach process. 

November 7, 2022: First Community Open House

November 15, 2022: First Community Meeting

• Project introduction
• Discussion of preliminary plans and opportunities for feedback

March 7, 2023: Second Community Meeting

• Present two draft alternatives

June 13, 2023: Second Community Open House

• Share a revised plan and opportunities for feedback

June 20, 2023: Third Virtual Community Meeting

• Share a revised plan and opportunities for feedback 

Summer 2023: Installation 

Separated bike lanes provide dedicated spaces for bicycles, physically separated from traffic by a vertical structure like a curb, flex-post, or other barrier. Compared to traditional bike lanes, more people are comfortable biking in bike lanes that are separated from traffic with a barrier or curb. The experience is also much more comfortable than riding in traffic with cars, buses, and trucks.

Separated bike lanes also increase safety for people walking by reducing crossing distances at crosswalks and visually narrowing the roadway width. As we install separated bike lanes, we also look for opportunities to increase visibility at intersections, refresh crosswalk markings, and install appropriate pedestrian crossing signs.

Key Components of Separated Bike Lanes

• Bike lanes create dedicated space for people who are biking.
• Buffers (painted lines on the street) create space between people biking and people driving. They help prevent unintentional collisions that could cause serious harm to the people involved. Depending on the location, there may be a parking lane next to the buffer area. In these instances, drivers can use the buffer area to safely get in and out of the car and to load and unload items.
• Flex posts are placed in the buffer area and serve as a vertical barrier in the buffer area.
• Travel lanes allow space for people to drive down the street, but can be used by anyone.
• Green markings help alert people turning from the travel lane that they should look out for people on bikes. These are generally installed at intersections and across driveways.
• Parking creates space for people to store their vehicles while they are in the area. This part of the street may also be designated as loading zones, which help make it easier for delivery people to do their jobs.
• Daylighting is when the parking lane is pulled back 20 feet to make it easier for people driving down the street and people waiting to cross the street to see each other. These areas are generally marked with lines on the ground. There may also be flex posts. 

Mt Auburn St at Holyoke St - Before and After

The images below show Mt Auburn St at Holyoke St before and after separated bike lanes were installed as a part of the Inner Mount Auburn Safety Improvement Project.

This is a quick-build project, which means we are not digging into the ground or making changes to the width or shape of the road. Instead, we will make improvements using paint, flex-posts, stencils, new signage, changes to parking regulations, and traffic signal adjustments. Quick-build projects allow us to make changes to our streets more rapidly and to make adjustments even after a design is installed.

A construction project would involve more extensive changes, including moving curbs and/or removing medians. Work becomes more complex any time we dig into the ground, and construction projects usually include work on underground infrastructure such as traffic signal wires and water, drainage, and sewer pipes. When roads are reconstructed as part of the City’s Five-Year Plan for Streets and Sidewalks, roads designated for greater separation in Cambridge’s 2020 Bicycle Network Vision, including existing quick-build bike lanes, are turned into permanent separated bike lanes.

In Cambridge, we take a human-centered approach to street design, engineered to prevent errors as much as possible and lessen the impacts of errors when they do happen.

We design for all ages and abilities. This includes:

• Designing our streets for people who may not have access to a car
• Designing our streets to protect the most vulnerable road users, like cyclists and pedestrians
• Creating safe and accessible facilities, including bike lanes, that can be used by a wide range of people

Our focus is on moving people and goods, not their vehicles

• Biking and riding transit is a more efficient use of limited street space
• We keep access for trucks and local deliveries, but safely.

In 2019, the Cambridge City Council passed the Cycling Safety Ordinance. The 2019 Ordinance requires the City to install separated bike lanes when:

• Roads are being reconstructed as part of the City’s Five-Year Plan for Streets and Sidewalks
• AND those roads are designated for greater separation in Cambridge’s 2020 Bicycle Network Vision

In 2020, the Cambridge City Council passed amendments to the ordinance, requiring the installation of about 25 miles of separated bike lanes within the next five to seven years. The ordinance requires that the City install separated bike lanes on:

• All of Massachusetts Avenue
• Garden Street, eastbound from Huron Avenue to Berkeley Street and westbound from Mason Street to Huron Avenue
• Broadway from Quincy Street to Hampshire Street
• Cambridge Street from Oak Street to Second Street
• Hampshire Street from Amory Street to Broadway
• 11.6 miles in other locations from the 2020 Bicycle Plan

Looking for information on other streets and transportation projects in the City? Three City departments collaborate on the design, community engagement, installation, and construction for street and transportation improvements: the Community Development Department, Public Works Department, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department.

• Current street and transportation projects
• Cycling Safety Ordinance-related projects
• City's Five Year Plan for Streets and Sidewalk Reconstruction 
• Map of Cambridge's existing and currently-planned bike facilities, updated in December 2022. This map is for planning purposes and is subject to change - it is not a route map.