Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project

Photos of The Completed Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project 

Photography's by Kyle Klein 

As part of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project, the City of Cambridge:

Installed Separated Bike Lanes

• We installed a quick-build two-way separated bike lane along 1.14 miles of Brattle Street, between Mason Street and Mt. Auburn Street.
• The new bicycle facility connects to already-installed separated bike lanes, creating a continuous facility connecting Harvard Square to West Cambridge.
• We installed 2.28 miles of separated bike lanes as part of this project, counting both directions. 

We separated bike lanes from general travel lanes with concrete curbs and flex posts. This was our first time using concrete curbing to protect quick-build separated bike lanes, and we will observe how they work to determine whether to expand them to other parts of Cambridge. 

Added Pedestrian Crossing Islands

We added pedestrian crossing islands between bike lanes and vehicle travel lanes at crosswalks near:

• Appleton Street
• Lowell Street
• Fayerweather Street
• Lexington Avenue
• Fresh Pond Lane

To see the layout, check out the project plans. These crossing islands give pedestrians a place to stop between the bike lanes and vehicle travel lanes, allowing them to navigate each section of the road separately. 

Reconfigured the Brattle/Craigie/Sparks Intersection

We reconfigured the intersection of Brattle Street with Craigie Street, creating two distinct intersections at Brattle Street/Craigie Street and Brattle Street/Sparks Street. 

As part of this project, the City of Cambridge:

• Hosted four 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. 
• Presented at three Historical Commission meetings. 
• Arranged many one-on-one conversations with community members, residents, schools, and houses of worship.

City staff spread the word about the project through:

• 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
• Laminated signs posted in the project area, with information on meetings, opportunities to give feedback, project plans, and project installation. 
• Outreach to businesses, houses of worship, and other stakeholders in the area

The City gathered feedback through:

• Comments at virtual community meetings
• One-on-one conversations at open houses and community conversations
• Phone calls from community members
• Emails from community members
• A project survey

Learn more about community engagement, and view/read meeting materials, in the "Meetings" section below. 

Installation of Precast Concrete Curbing Continues 

Work will take place Tuesday, September 5, and Wednesday, September 6 (weather permitting). We expect work to begin at 7 a.m. each day and last until about 3 p.m.

During installation, construction crews will stage equipment in the bike lane and westbound travel lane (headed away from Harvard Square). People travelling in the bike lane and westbound general travel lane should exercise caution and expect impacts to travel. No parking restrictions are in place.

Installation of Flex Posts and Precast Concrete Curbing Begins Thursday, August 10

On Thursday, August 10, and Friday, August 11, we will begin installing flex posts and precast concrete curbing on Brattle Street (weather permitting). We expect work to begin at 7 a.m. each day and last until about 3 p.m. 

During installation, construction crews will stage equipment in the bike lane and westbound general travel lane (headed away from Harvard Square). People travelling in the bike lane and westbound general travel lane should exercise caution and expect impacts to travel. No parking restrictions are in place. 

This week, we expect to install curbing along about half of the street. We plan to continue work in the coming weeks. 

Why are we doing this work? 

On Brattle Street, we are using a combination of flex posts and concrete curbs to separate the bike lane from the street. By using concrete curbs, we're able to use fewer posts than we would normally. Flex post and curb locations can be viewed on the project roll plan.

Signage Installation

After we install curbing, we can install more permanent signage. New signs will replace the temporary stop signs at Brattle Street and Appleton Steet. We're also moving the stop sign on Sparks Street to the new stop location, closer to the intersection with Brattle Street. 

Next Steps

• Finish remaining curbing. Curb installation will take multiple days. We'll schedule additional installation dates in the coming weeks. 
• Modify signal equipment and timing at Fresh Pond Parkway/Brattle Street intersection. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will perform this work. 

Photos:

• [Top] Markings in the buffer area show where concrete curbing will go on Brattle Street.
• [Bottom] Photo from Phase 1 of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project, including concrete curbing.

Pavement Markings Complete

Last week, we finished adding pavement markings to add a two-way bike lane on Brattle Street between Sparks Street and Mount Auburn Street. This means that the two-way bike lane is now open for riding. For the time being, temporary cones are being used to separate the bike lane from the travel lane.

Over the coming weeks, we will finish installing the remaining elements of the project.

Next Steps

• Install flex posts and precast concrete curbs to physically separate the bike lanes from general traffic lanes. This will occur in the coming weeks.
• Install final project signage. This includes relocating the stop sign at Sparks Street to line up with the new stop bar, closer to the intersection with Brattle Street.
• Modify signal equipment and timing at Fresh Pond Parkway/Brattle Street intersection. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will perform this work.

Pavement Markings Begin Tonight

We expect to start work to install pavement markings on Brattle Street tonight (July 12). Pavement markings will include markings between Sparks Street and Mt. Auburn Street, including a two-way separated bike lane, crosswalks, general traffic lanes, stop lines at intersections, and parking lanes. Pavement markings will take about two to three total weeks to install, with the timeline dependent on scheduling and weather.

Work will take place during the overnight hours, beginning at 8 p.m. each night. Work will continue until the project is complete.

Parking Restrictions During Pavement Marking Work

On certain days, parking restrictions may be in effect. We will aim to limit the number of days when parking is restricted. Paper signs will indicate the specific hours, places, and evenings when parking restrictions are in place. Expect parking restrictions during the week of July 17.

New: All-Way Stop at Brattle Street/Appleton Street Intersection

Upon completion of the pavement markings, we will install new stop signs to create an all-way stop intersection at Brattle Street and Appleton Street. This means that traffic on both Brattle Street and Appleton Street will have to stop at the intersection. The stop signs will apply to both vehicle and bicycle traffic.

This change will improve safety at the intersection by managing conflicts, including conflicts between turning vehicles and vehicles going straight.

Next Steps

• Installation of flex posts and precast concrete curbs. This will occur in August once the pavement markings are complete.
• Installation of final project signage.
• Modifications to signal equipment and timing at Fresh Pond Parkway and Brattle Street. Work to be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

Paving Scheduled to End June 28

Brattle Street paving will continue this week on Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28, weather permitting. We expect paving to finish on Wednesday, June 28.

Temporary Parking Restrictions During Paving: During paving, we are temporarily restricting parking on both sides of the street. This will let us fully repave the street from curb to curb. Paper signs indicate the specific hours and days that parking is restricted on specific sections of street. 

Paving Contact Information: If you have any questions about the paving operations or need assistance, including any special needs or disabilities that require a special 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.

New Parking Restrictions

Metal parking signs on the north side of the street have been removed to restrict parking. Going forward, there will be no parking allowed on the north side of the street between Riedesel Avenue and Mt. Auburn Street. See the project plans for details on the new layout, including parking spaces.

Pavement Markings Scheduled to Begin July 12

Once paving is complete, we will need to wait two weeks before putting down the new markings. If applied too soon after new pavement is installed, markings will not properly stick to the roadway.

We expect to start work to install pavement markings on Brattle Street on Wednesday, July 12. (This date is subject to change based on weather and crew availability.) Pavement markings will include markings for the two-way separated bike lane, crosswalks, general traffic lanes, stop lines at intersections, and parking lanes.

These markings will take about two to three weeks to install. (Completion times vary based on weather and crew availability.) Check the project website or sign up for email updates for more information. 

Next Steps

After pavement markings are complete, next steps include:

• Installation of flex posts and precast concrete curbs to separate bike lanes from general travel lanes. These will be installed in August, once final pavement markings are complete.
• Installation of final project signage.
• Modifications to signal equipment and timing at Fresh Pond Parkway and Brattle Street. Work will be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). 

Milling and Paving Begins June 22

Brattle Street is being fully repaved from curb to curb between Sparks Street and Mt. Auburn Street. Paving will start on Thursday, June 22 (Update: Paving was originally scheduled to begin on June 20, but has been rescheduled to June 22).

Work Hours:
This work is weather dependent and work hours will be between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

What to Expect During Paving:
Expect traffic detours and parking restrictions on Brattle Street during the day. Work will start at Sparks Street and head west toward Mt. Auburn Street. 

There will be detours, and detour routes will change throughout the day and the duration of this work. Exceptions to detours will be made for local residents who need to access driveways, except for immediately after the road is paved. As each section of the road is paved, it will be closed to all traffic for a period of time. Crews will reopen the roadway as soon as possible.

Paving Contact Information:
If you have any questions about the paving operations or need assistance, including any special needs or disabilities that require a special 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.

Parking Restrictions During and After Paving

During Paving:
During paving, we will need to temporarily restrict parking on both sides of the street. This will let us fully repave the street from curb to curb. Paper signs will indicate the specific hours and days that parking is restricted on specific sections of street.

After Paving:
Once paving begins, metal parking signs on the north side of the street will be removed to restrict parking. Going forward, there will be no parking allowed on the north side of the street between Riedesel Avenue and Mt. Auburn Street. See the project plans for details on the new layout, including parking spaces.

Tree Work

We're assessing tree conditions in the project area, including the condition of a tree that was struck by a truck at Brattle Street at Appleton Street. Crews will perform tree maintenance work along the length of Brattle Street and finish by early July.

There is a truck restriction on Brattle Street, meaning that large trucks cannot use Brattle Street unless they have a delivery there. We'll add additional truck restriction signage at intersections along the street.

What Happens Next?

• After the street is milled and paved, we must wait several weeks before we can paint markings on the surface. After that, we will:
• Paint new lines on the road, including a new two-way bike lane on the north side of the street.
• Add stencils and colored surface treatments to call attention to bike lanes and pedestrian crossings.
• Install concrete curbs and flex posts to separate bike lanes from general purpose travel lanes.
• Install new signs, including new parking regulations.
• Install new bike signals and make changes to traffic signal timing.

We will continue to communicate about the installation schedule via email and on the project webpage.

Pedestrian Islands

Crews are nearly finished with construction of pedestrian crossing islands on Brattle Street. Last week, crews performed island construction and curb realignment work at Fayerweather Street, Lowell Street, and Appleton Street. We expect work to finish next week.

Milling and Paving Begins in June

The City will fully re-pave:

• Brattle Street between Sparks Street and Fresh Pond Parkway
• Brattle Street between Larch Road and Mt. Auburn Street

We expect this to begin in early or mid-June. The date is weather dependent and not yet scheduled. We will email an update to the email list when paving is scheduled.

Parking Restrictions During and After Paving

During paving, we will need to temporarily restrict parking on both sides of the street. This will let us fully repave the street from curb to curb. 

When paving is complete, parking will only be allowed on the south side of the street. 

Pedestrian Islands

We are currently building pedestrian crossing islands on Brattle Street.

Two crossing islands are nearing completion between Fresh Pond Parkway and Mt. Auburn Street.

Crews began work east of Fresh Pond Parkway on May 9, starting at Lexington Avenue and moving eastward. Crews will reconstruct curbs and add pedestrian crossing islands near Lexington Avenue, Fayerweather Street, Lowell Street, and Appleton Street.

Traffic Detours

Traffic detours are currently in place on Brattle Street during working hours, typically 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Detours will change throughout the construction period, and are most likely to impact traffic headed away from Harvard Square.

Parking restrictions are also posted throughout the construction area.

Next Steps

• Now to end of May (approximately): Construction of pedestrian islands
• June: Milling and repaving of the street

What will the street look like between Sparks Street and Riedesel Avenue? 

Between Sparks Street and Riedesel Avenue, there will be two parking lanes, one on each side of the street. For more details, see the project plans.

Image: Mock-up of what the separated bike lanes will look like on this section of Brattle Street, with two parking lanes. 

What will the street look like between Riedesel Avenue and Mt. Auburn Street? 

Between Riedesel Avenue and Mt Auburn Street, there will be one parking lane on the south side of the street and a two-way separated bike lane on the north side of the street. For more details, see the complete roll plan.

Image: Photo from the part of Brattle Street that already has separated bike lanes. The layout of the street between Riedesel Avenue and Mt Auburn Street will be similar, with one parking lane. 

What will pedestrian crossing islands look like?

As part of this project, we plan to add pedestrian crossing islands between the bike lanes and vehicle travel lanes at Appleton Street, Lowell Street, Fayerweather Street, Lexington Avenue, and Fresh Pond Lane. To see the planned layout, check out the project plans.

What should I expect during construction?

Construction will last approximately two to three months, beginning in early April.

Sign up for the email list to receive updates on when work will occur. 

During construction, you should expect:

• Temporary parking restrictions to allow for construction of crossing islands and repaving of the street.
• Possible detours during milling, paving, and line striping. Milling and paving will occur during the day and line striping with occur at night. 

Work will include:

• Removing existing crossing islands and curb realignment
• Building new pedestrian crossing islands 
• Milling and paving the street
• Painting lines, colored markings, and stencils on the street 
• Adding concrete curbs and flex posts to separate bike lanes from traffic 
• Installing new signposts and signs (posts will be added before signs) 
• Installing new traffic signal equipment and making changes to signal timing at Fresh Pond Parkway/Brattle Street intersection. Work will be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). 

Preliminary Work on Phase 2 of the project will begin in early April.

• Beginning the week of April 3, crews with DeRoma & Sons will begin removing existing crossing islands and realigning curbs to accommodate the new design. This work is weather-dependent. 

• The city's signal work contractor Dagle Electrical will begin work in early April at the intersection of Brattle Street and Fayerweather Street. This will include the installation of new signal equipment to accommodate bike signals and a left turn signal for people driving.

• City crews will install new signposts to accommodate parking changes at Brattle Street and Fresh Pond Lane. These changes include a new accessible/disability space on Brattle Street and new parking spaces on Fresh Pond Lane. These changes will take place ahead of other changes to parking.

These initial construction tasks will take one to two months. Later this spring (after the construction of crossing islands is complete), we will begin repaving the street.

Beginning the week of December 19th, the city's contractor, EM Lofgren, will begin installation of precast curbing along Brattle St between Mason St and Craigie St. This is part of the Phase 1 installation of the project.

Installation will take approximately three days to complete. This work is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change. Please look for signs directing you where to drive and/or park, and make sure to drive, walk, and bike carefully around construction crews.

Beginning next week, the City will install Phase 1 of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project, between Mason Street and Sparks Street. Previously, we announced that we would delay installation to the spring, but we have adjusted our approach after re-evaluating the feasibility of using temporary materials.

We plan to use tube-style cones to separate people biking from vehicle traffic until concrete curbing becomes available this winter. These cones are taller and have a heavier base than a typical traffic cone.

Parking Restrictions

On Tuesday, November 8, City crews will remove all parking signs on the north side of the street and replacing them with "No Stopping" signage. You will start to notice temporary signage beginning on Monday, November 7, to let people know that these changes are coming.

Timeline

After changing parking signs on Tuesday, we expect to begin pavement marking work Wednesday, November 9, at 8 p.m. This includes:

• Adding a two-way separated bike lane between Mason Street and Sparks Street
• Reconfiguring the intersection of Brattle Street with Craigie Street
• Painting all remaining crosswalks
• Finalizing all other remaining road markings, including parking stalls, turn arrows, and lane lines

Additional nights of work may be needed on an ongoing basis. This work is weather-dependent, and we will communicate any changes we make to the schedule.

We anticipate having all curbing installed by January 2023. Curbing will be installed by a city contractor, E.M. Lofgren, under city supervision.

More Information

We still plan to install Phase 2 of the project in 2023, with community engagement continuing this winter. We look forward to hearing your feedback. Please let us know if you have any questions in the meantime!

We will install Phase 1 of the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project starting Wednesday, November 9 (weather permitting). 

New Bike Lanes

We are adding a two-way bike lane between Mason Street and Sparks Street on the north (odd) side of the street. Installation will begin on Wednesday, November 9 (weather permitting). 

Parking Changes

We will remove all parking on the north (odd) side of the street between Mason Street and Sparks Street. Signage will begin changing on Tuesday, November 8. 

Reconfigured Brattle/Craigie Intersection

We will reconfigure the intersection of Brattle Street with Craigie Street. This will create two distinct intersections at Brattle Street/Craigie Street and Brattle Street/Sparks Street. 

We are still waiting for the concrete curbing required to separate bike lanes from parking and vehicle travel lanes. We don't expect to receive the materials until early winter, which will delay the installation of separated bike lanes and the realignment of Craigie Street.

We now plan to install the separated bike lanes and realign Craigie Street in the early spring, when pavement parking work can resume and the curbing is available. 

Over the next one to two weeks, we will be completing minor pavement marking work. 

Beginning the evening of Wednesday, October 12, the City of Cambridge will install pavement markings on Brattle Street. Work will begin at 8 p.m. on the section of Brattle Street near Harvard Square.

Work will continue in the evenings as weather permits.

Parking restrictions will be in place during this work, and we will indicate restrictions with signs posted at least 24 hours in advance. If you park your car in the area, please check for temporary "No Parking" signs.

First, we will restripe the portion of the street between Harvard Square and Mason Street, adding back markings that were recently removed during repaving. This will return the street to its previous configuration, with the same layout of a two-way bike lane, single travel lane, and crosswalks. As time allows, we will also begin to install new pavement markings between Mason Street and Sparks Street, including vehicle travel lane lines and crosswalks.

We do not expect to install separated bike lane markings or markings reconfiguring the Brattle/Craigie/Sparks Street intersection this week. 

The City's contractor, Fred DeRoma & Son, will start reconstructing the curbs at Longfellow Park and Willard Street on Friday, October 7. Curb reconstruction should conclude the following week. All work is weather dependent. Please look for signs directing you where to drive and/or park, and make sure to drive, walk, and bike carefully around construction crews.

On Tuesday, April 11, we held an in-person open house on at the History Cambridge headquarters on Brattle Street. The open house focused on the final project plans from installing separated bike lanes and pedestrian crossing islands to Brattle Street between Sparks Street and Mt Auburn Street. Staff displayed the plans and talked to attendees about what to expect during installation. 

Materials shared at the Open House included: 

• Poster: What to Expect During Installation
• Poster: What Will the Street Look Like?
• Project Plans

On Thursday, February 2, at 6 p.m. staff presented plans for the project to the Cambridge Historical Commission. The Historical Commission reviewed the parts of the project that fall within the Old Cambridge Historic District -- the section of Phase 2 between Sparks Street and Fresh Pond Parkway.

At the meeting, the Commission granted a Certificate of Appropriateness for Phase 2 the project. 

• Click here to view the meeting presentation
• Click here for the Historical Commission's webpage

On Tuesday, January 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we held the fourth community meeting for the project. 

Download meeting slides

Watch meeting recording

At this meeting, we discussed:

• Preliminary feedback we received on Phase 1 of the project, Installed last Fall.
• Feedback we have heard on the project since our previous set of community meetings in August of 2022.
• Updates regarding Phase 2 of the project between Sparks Street and Mt Auburn Street.
• Preliminary plans for the intersection of Brattle Street and Mt Auburn Street, including a bike-lane connection to Aberdeen Ave.

Key Updates

Pedestrian Crossing Islands: We plan to construct pedestrian crossing islands along the corridor and realign several curbs to do so. Our current draft designs include pedestrian islands at crosswalks at Appleton Street, Lowell Street, Fayerweather Street (on each side), Lexington Avenue, and Mount Auburn Street. 

Parking: The current design removes about 24 spaces between Fresh Pond Parkway and Mount Auburn Street, and about 10 spaces between Sparks Street and Fresh Pond Parkway. Click here for more information. 

Mount Auburn Street at Aberdeen Avenue: As part of a separate project, we will construct new traffic signal equipment and consider changes to signal operations at Mount Auburn Street and Aberdeen Avenue. Click here to sign up for the project mailing list. 

Responses to Community Requests: 

• We heard: "Improve for pedestrian safety"
  Key changes include raised concrete pedestrian islands and narrowed bike lanes at crosswalks to encourage slower speeds.
• We heard: "Reduce the impacts of parking loss"
  We have added parking on select side streets and plan to collect parking occupancy data so we can compare the before and after of this project.
• Community Request for a One-Way Conversion
  We looked into a community request to convert a section of Brattle Street between Fresh Pond Parkway and Mount Auburn Street into a one way. We determined that this is not a good location for a one-way conversion.

Block-by-Block Designs: Click the links below to see proposed designs for different parts of Brattle Street. Please note: these plans might change slightly before installation. Refer to the latest project plans/updates for the latest information. 

• Sparks Street to Riedesel Avenue
• Riedesel Avenue to Appleton Street
• Appleton Street to Kennedy Road
• Kennedy Road to Channing Place
• Channing Place to Fayerweather Street
• Fayerweather Street to Lexington Avenue
• Lexington Avenue to Fresh Pond Parkway
• Fresh Pond Parkway to Larch Road
• Larch Road to Mt. Auburn Street

Traffic Signals: Click the links below to see intersection and traffic signal details. Please note: these plans might change slightly before installation. Refer to the latest project plans/updates for the latest information. 

• Brattle Street at Fayerweather Street
• Brattle Street at Fresh Pond Parkway

Throughout this process, we've hosted smaller conversations with community members, residents, schools, and houses of worship. We're happy to meet to discuss your particular concerns and needs - reach out to the project manager to arrange a conversation.

We met with bus drivers from the BB&N school to test driving in and out of the reconfigured Craigie St before it was completed.

We presented again in front of the Historical Commission on September 8, 2022.

At the meeting, the Commission granted a three-year temporary Certificate of Appropriateness for Phase 1 of this project. 

Materials:

• Zoom Recording link -- use passcode: Vt^$QH@9 
• Presentation
• Historical Commission website

On Monday, August 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., we hosted an in-person open house. The event took place outdoors at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Lower School at 19 Craigie St.

There was no formal presentation and no new information was shared; instead, community members were invited to drop in any time from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to browse project plans and ask city staff and consultants questions.

Public Information Board 1

Public Information Board 2

Project Plans

Click the links below for the draft roll plans shared at the open house.

• Draft plans for Phase 1.
• Draft plans for Phase 2.

Brattle Street falls within the Old Cambridge Historic District. Given its location, on August 4, 2022, we presented plans to the Cambridge Historical Commission regarding Phase 1 of the project from Mason Street to Sparks Street. 

The Commission voted in favor of a continuance and the discussion will continue at the next meeting on September 8, 2022. Members of the public are invited to attend Historical Commission meetings and may comment or ask questions of fact. Information on how to attend the meeting, along with a full agenda, will be posted on the Historical Commission website.

On Tuesday, August 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we held a third community meeting for the project over Zoom. This meeting covered both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project. City staff shared draft plans for Phase 1 of the project between Mason Street and Sparks Street. This portion will be installed in summer or fall of this year. Staff also shared preliminary plans for Phase 2 of the project, between Sparks Street and Mount Auburn Street. We plan to install Phase 2 in 2023.

Note: the materials below were created for this meeting. There may be future updates to the design of this project. Please look at more recent updates for the latest news. 

Meeting Materials

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

Meeting Update

Please review the slides above for a full overview of what was discussed at the meeting.

A mock-up of what a two-way separated bike lane with pre-cast concrete curbs could look like on the portion of Brattle Street between Sparks Street and Riedesel Avenue, in front of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church. 

We shared preliminary designs for Phase 2 of the project, including: 

• Draft designs from Sparks Street to Riedesel Avenue, where we will have room for parking on both sides of the street. 
  • Sparks Street to Riedesel Avenue (cross-section)
  • Sparks Street to Riedesel Avenue (overhead)
• Draft designs from Riedesel Avenue to Mount Auburn Street, where we will have room for parking on one side of the street.
  • Cross-section of the basic road design for Riedesel Avenue to Mount Auburn Street. 
  • Riedesel Avenue to Appleton Street (overhead)
  • Appleton Street to Kennedy Road (overhead)
  • Kennedy Road to Channing Place (overhead)
  • Channing Place to Fayerweather Street (overhead)
  • Fayerweather Street to Lexington Avenue (overhead)
  • Lexington Avenue to Fresh Pond Parkway (overhead)
  • Fresh Pond Parkway to Mount Auburn Street (overhead)
• . A summary of parking changes in Phase 2. 

We also shared draft designs for Phase 1 of the project, which were unchanged from those shared at the second community meeting. See the "Second Community Meeting" tab below, watch the meeting recording, or view the full presentation, for draft designs of the section of Brattle Street between Mason Street and Sparks Street. We plan to install these changes in 2022. 

Contact us if you have questions or thoughts about these draft designs! 

We held a second community meeting for the Brattle Street Safety Improvement Project on June 21, 2022, over Zoom. The meeting focused on Phase 1 of the project -- the portion of Brattle Street between Mason Street and Sparks Street. City staff shared preliminary plans for adding separated bicycle lanes and improving safety at intersections in this area. 

Note: the materials below were created for this meeting. There may be future updates to the design of this project. Please look at more recent updates for the latest news. 

Meeting Materials

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

Meeting Update

Please review the slides and/or watch the recording above for a full overview of what was discussed at the meeting.

A mock-up of what a two-way separated bike lane with pre-cast concrete curbs could look like in front of Longfellow House.

Updates included:

• A draft design for a two-way separated bike lane between Mason Street and Sparks Street, allowing for parking on one side of the street.
• Information on the types of separation that will be used. For Phase 1, we expect to be able to use pre-cast concrete curbs with flex posts.
• Information on traffic calming and speed reduction. This project will narrow the roadway for drivers physically and visually. A similar project on Cambridge Street saw a reduction in speeds of about 25 percent. 
• Draft designs for bike lanes, loading zones, and parking at specific blocks:
  • Mason Street to Hawthorn Street
  • Hawthorn Street to Longfellow Park
  • Longfellow Park to Willard Street
  • Willard Street to Brown Street
  • Brown Street to Craigie Street
• Preliminary plans for crossing and intersection improvements. These include curb modifications at Longfellow Park and refreshed crosswalk markings.
• Preliminary plans for short-term intersection improvements at the intersection of Sparks Street, Craigie Street, and Brattle Street. The proposed improvements create two distinct intersections. 

Contact us if you have questions or thoughts about these draft designs! 

On Tuesday, May 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., we held the first community meeting for the project

During the meeting, we:

• discussed the goals and objectives of the project
• reviewed background information, including the Cambridge Bicycle Plan and the Vision Zero Action Plan
• shared the timeline for the project
• provided an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments

This meeting was held virtually over Zoom.

Click here to view the slides from the meeting.

Installation Schedule

Fall 2022: Install Phase 1: Mason Street to Sparks Street
Spring/Summer 2023: Install Phase 2: Sparks Street to Mount Auburn Street

Phase 1 Community Engagement Schedule

May 3, 2022: First Community Meeting

June 21, 2022: Second Community Meeting

• Review plans for Phase 1: Mason Street to Sparks Street

August 2, 2022: Third Community Meeting

• Final review of plans for Phase 1: Mason Street to Sparks Street

• Initial review of plans for Phase 2: Sparks Street to Mount Auburn Street

August 4, 2022: Phase 1 Historical Commission Meeting #1

August 8, 2022: Open House at Buckingham Browne and Nichols Lower School

September 8, 2022: Phase 1 Historical Commission Meeting #2

Phase 2 Community Engagement Schedule

Fall 2022/Winter 2023: Ongoing Community Conversations

January 31, 2023: Fourth Community Meeting 

• Review of Updated plans for Phase 2: Sparks Street to Mount Auburn Street

February 2, 2023: Phase 2 Historical Commission Review

April 11, 2023: Project Implementation Open House outside of History Cambridge headquarters

• Discussion of what to expect during construction and implementation
• Review of project plans

*Note that this schedule is based on the latest information we have. 

• Improve safety for people biking in the area
• Improve safety for people walking at existing crosswalks
• Improve safety and comfort for people walking, biking and driving at key intersections
• Implement changes in line with the Cambridge Bicycle Plan and Vision Zero Action Plan
• Meet the goals and requirements of the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance

Our community feedback survey closed on Friday, June 24, 2022. 

Separated bike lanes that were installed on Brattle Street closer to Harvard Square in 2017. Click here for information on this project.

This project will build on this previous work and extend separated bike lanes the length of Brattle Street to the intersection of Mount Auburn Street.

In 2018, we held a community meeting presentation about long-term improvements at the Brattle Street/Sparks Street/Craigie Street intersection.

As part of that community process, the community selected a roundabout as the preferred alternative for this intersection. Funding for roundabout construction is not identified at the moment in the city's Five Year Plan for Sidewalk and Street reconstruction.

As part of this process, we can install interim improvements at this intersection. We will also refine design and cost estimates for the long-term proposal. We do not have a timeline for work on the roundabout at this time.

Click here to view the presentation slides from that meeting.