SLIDE 1
TRANSFORMING WASHINGTON ST.
A community discussion document LWVN Transportation Committee
SLIDE 2 Comprehensive Plan
“The vision of the city we seek includes pedestrian-friendly streets that connect neighborhoods and that work to enhance public transit, that in turn connects clusters of
- activity. In that vision, traffic calming and streetscape
improvements encourage pedestrian-friendly, vital urban and residential environments. Mobility for all is enhanced for both auto and non-auto modes, and that is accomplished through changes that are consistent with community character and historic resources. A full range of travel modes is supported, including walking, cycling, carpooling and taking transit, among them reducing reliance on auto driving” Newton Comprehensive Plan 2007
SLIDE 3 Comprehensive Plan
In pursuing that vision we have two major goals for Newton:
- To Enhance and Promote Equity in Mobility
Our intention is to promote accessibility for all residents of Newton in all parts of the City, including the 30% of the population that does not drive.
- To Maintain City Character and Quality of Life
Our intention is to assure that transportation change promotes rather than degrades the kind of City that is being sought, enhancing Newton’s village centers, neighborhoods, and other areas.
Newton Comprehensive Plan 2007
SLIDE 4 Why now?
- Increasing interest in active transportation, reducing
congestion, becoming more sustainable
- Next generation of Newtonites as well as aging
Newtonites want to live car-free or car-light
- Mitigate traffic effects from additional housing and
businesses along corridor with transportation mode shift
- Economic opportunity from improving walkability,
bikeability, neighborhood feel
SLIDE 5 Washington St. Corridor Studies
- MPO/MAPC completed in 2014 studied from West
Newton to Newton Corner. http://www.ctps.org/data/html/studies/highway/2015_wash ington_subregional/washington_subregional_priority.html
- WPI completed a study in 2011 from Commonwealth Ave.
through West Newton Square http://bikenewton.org/wp- content/uploads/2012/07/Washington-Street-complete- street.pdf
- Student Eunice Kim developed a plan in 2009 for bike
lanes from Chestnut St. to Lowell Ave http://bikenewton.org/files/Washington-St.pdf
SLIDE 6 Safety Concerns
- Higher than average crash rate for all users (vehicle,
pedestrian and bicycle)
- High travel speeds and unsafe conditions for all users due to
multiple-lane traffic operations and wide lanes, roadway design
- Unsafe pedestrian crossings due to large roadway surface
widths and high travel speeds, including access to bus stops
- Lack of separate or safe bicycle accommodations
- Narrow and unpaved sidewalks along the south side of the
street
- Insufficient lighting
- Limited sight distances to Washington Street from side streets
due to roadway geometry and parking at street corners
SLIDE 7 Other Concerns
- Noise from I-90 is an issue for the residents
- Residents disfavor high travel speeds that are
encouraged by roadway design
- Inconvenient and unsafe access from Washington Street
to adjacent businesses and residences
- Lack of trees, separation from the roadway
- Washington St. resembles highway more than village
street
- Washington St. currently has excess capacity that may
become filled
SLIDE 8 Potential Washington St. Priorities
- Sidewalk network on both sides of street
- Separated bike lanes
- Safer crossings at intersections
- Safe midblock crossings where needed for bus access or
- ther facilities
- Slow traffic to village center street speed 30 mph
- Screening of I-90, reducing ambient noise
- Street trees, benches
SLIDE 9
Western Avenue, Cambridge
SLIDE 10
Western Avenue, Cambridge
SLIDE 11
Western Avenue, Cambridge
SLIDE 12
Ames St. Cambridge
SLIDE 13
Safe Bike Crossings
SLIDE 14
Bus stops and bike lanes
SLIDE 15
Two way cycle track
SLIDE 16
Example of typical cross section
SLIDE 17
Protecting the bike lanes with parking
SLIDE 18
How can we make this even better?
SLIDE 19
What if we did this?
SLIDE 20
What if we designed better bus stops?
SLIDE 21
Reduce conflicts bus stops & bike lane
