Description
Please join City staff for an on-site meeting to discuss curb changes along the Walden St. side of Raymond Park on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 6PM. Please meet at the Walden St. entrance to Raymond Park.
As part of a grant opportunity, this work will include a new curb extension to improve intersection sightlines, shorten the pedestrian crossing, provide space for a Bluebikes station, and allow for future electric vehicle charging.
Installation of a Bluebikes station at this location is in direct response to both the increase in overall people bicycling in Cambridge and increase of ridership in the Bluebikes system. To date, the City has received 17 unique requests for a Bluebikes station at Raymond Park, according to the “Request a Station” function on the Bluebikes website, a high number for a primarily residential area. Raymond Park is directly in the middle of a “Bluebikes Desert,” meaning that people living near this park cannot get to a Bluebikes station within a ¼ mile walk, making this an ideal location for a new station.
As the owner of the Bluebikes system in Cambridge, the City works to meet demand for stations and fill in the network wherever possible. The City has received a grant from the state Shared Streets & Spaces program to support the installation of the Bluebikes Station because it is within ½ mile of a local school, along route with public housing and travel corridors, within a mile of senior center, along major bus routes, and adjacent to park and open space.
In addition to providing this important cycling infrastructure, this design will reduce the width of the road and ensure that users of the crosswalk and sidewalk on Walden Street are more visible to users of the road.
This curb extension will also accommodate an electrical box needed for the future installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. As part of a pilot program, the City is installing EV chargers in several residential neighborhoods across Cambridge, so people without access to driveways or other off-street parking spaces can charge electric vehicles. This work reflects the City’s commitment to decreasing reliance on fossil fuels by supporting people switching to EVs.
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate based on disability. The City of Cambridge will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative format, and reasonable modifications in policies upon request. For questions about the project, please contact Juan Avendano, Traffic Calming Project Manager, javendano@cambridgema.gov / 617-349-4655.