Discussion of Mass. Ave./Appleton safety project held

Details: By town website; Category: Transportation; 15 June 2022; 15 June 2022; Last Updated: 24 June 2022; Hits: 404

New date, location for in-person meeting

Modified option 1: Mass. Ave. at Appleton. / Town of Arlington map Modified option 2: Mass. Ave. at Appleton. / To see a larger version of this Town of Arlington map, click here >>

UPDATED June 8: The Town of Arlington is hosting an open-house-style, in-person meeting of the Mass. Ave./Appleton Street Safety & Accessibility Corridor Project.

The meeting has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23,at Town Hall Auditorium, moved from June 14.

This process seeks to establish a final design of the Mass. Ave. corridor (from Quinn Road to Richardson Avenue) that builds upon the interim improvements made last year. Learn more >>

The town's consultant, Stantec Consulting Services, will present the project and new information gathered to assess the design of permanent improvements to the Mass. Ave. corridor between Richardson Avenue and Quinn Road.

The purpose of the meeting is to collect public feedback about the goals and priorities for the project as it moves through the design phase to create a safer, more accessible Mass. Ave. All are welcome to attend.

The folliowing was report last October and November:

Work on short-term safety improvements at Mass. Ave./Appleton, Arlington Heights, has been completed by the town’s contractor, Markings Inc., YourArlington partner Patch reports and shows how it looks >>

The Select Board unanimously approved the Mass. Ave./Appleton Street intersection redesign at its Oct. 13, meeting. This plan, a compromise following a strong reaction from the cycling community after a September vote, incorporates critical safety measures and creates visibility for eastbound cyclists coming down Mass. Ave. and westbound drivers turning left onto Appleton Street.

The vote was 4-0, as board Chair Stephen DeCourcey recused himself because his sister-in-law owns a neighborhood business.

At its Sept. 13 meeting, the board was presented with two options ― option 1 (shared bike/car lanes) and 2 (separate bike lane, eliminating 22 parking spots) ― and chose option 1.

Director of Public Works Michael Rademacher subsequently suggested a hybrid solution.

Working with Green International Affiliates, a transportation consultant in Westford, the town developed modified option 2. This plan incorporates bicycle lanes on both sides of Mass. Ave. west of the Appleton Street intersection, and one bike lane on Mass. Ave.’s eastbound side between Appleton Place and Burton Street. The westbound lane on Mass. Ave. between Forest Street and the intersection remains a shared lane for cyclists and drivers.

See the documents for this agenda item >>