Transportation

UPDATE (3/14): The Traffic Commission meeting has been canceled for 3/14 and postponed to a later date. We will update when a new date has been set.

On Tuesday, March 14^th at 5:00pm, the Medford Traffic Commission will hold its monthly meeting by Zoom. The agenda includes discussion of proposed bike lanes, bus stop pullouts, pedestrian safety enhancements, traffic calming and some on-street parking removal on Winthrop Street between Victory Park and South Street. City of Medford staff are prioritizing rapid implementation of bike lanes throughout the city on streets where on-street parking is underutilized. These facilities will also produce a traffic calming effect by slightly narrowing the motor vehicle lanes, improving safety for all road users. These improvements demonstrate the City’s commitment to Complete Streets in all practices.

View the plans here.

Shared Streets

In Summer 2020, the City of Medford launched a multi-tiered transportation improvement program associated with the State’s Shared Streets & Spaces Grant Program (see below categories & link) as well as City and private funding.

MassDOT Shared Streets & Spaces Program

MassDOT’s Shared Streets & Spaces Grant Program includes several different categories of projects:

Summer Program included categories such as:

• Shared Streets
• Outdoor Dining and Commerce
• Better Buses
• Safe Route to School

Winter Program included the following categories:

• Main Streets
• Reimagined Streets
• Better Buses
• Shared Mobility
• Investments in the Future

More information on the State’s grant program can be found at https://www.mass.gov/shared-winter-streets-and-spaces-grant-program

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City of Medford Shared Streets Program

Between March, 2020 and March 2021, the City of Medford has received 5 grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and a private grant from the Solomon Foundation to support our transportation improvement efforts.  During the COVID-19 Pandemic, many cities and towns launched programs/initiatives to create more opportunities for outdoor activities while maintaining social distancing. To date, our Shared Streets program has included:

• Streamlining and launching a process for outdoor dining.
• Piloting a Shared Streets program on residential side streets.
• Additional support for Safe Routes to Schools improvements (at/around the Columbus School)
• Piloting a dedicated bus lane on Mystic Ave. (to be completed in 2021)
• Adding bi-directional dedicated bike lanes over the Route 28 bridge between Medford and Somerville
• Adding 2 new bus shelters – 1 in Haines Sq. and 1 in Medford Sq. (to be completed in 2021)

COMPLETE STREETS

The mission of Medford’s Complete Streets policy is to improve safety and mobility for all modes of travel for all populations as broadly, quickly, and cost-effectively as possible.

Complete Streets are designed and operated to provide safety and accessibility for all road users, of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets principles contribute to the safety, health, economic viability, and quality of life in a community by providing accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation and retail destinations by improving the pedestrian, cycling, and vehicular environments throughout the community.

this section is currently being updated. check back for updates soon!

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Safe Routes to Schools

Safe Routes to Schools projects have the primary goal of making safer routes to schools for children and families. While these projects generally aim to make walking routes safer, the improvements also have positive impacts to vehicle and bicycle traffic safety by slowing travel speeds, creating tighter turn radii, and enhancing lane markings, among other improvements.

Ongoing SRTS projects:

• • Brooks School – Work began in Spring 2021 and will be completed in late Summer 2021. You can see project updates and details at www.medfordma.org/construction.
  • Roberts School – The City has received a grant for this project. Work will begin at a date TBD.

Completed SRTS projects:

• • McGlynn / Andrews Schools: Replaced curb in school driveways, improving safety when buses drop off.
  • Roberts School: DCR constructed curb bump-outs at two crosswalks on Fellsway West (at the City’s request) to provide shorter crossings and better sight lines for children travelling from North Medford to the Roberts School.

MBTA Projects 

Bus Network Redesign

The Bus Network Redesign reflects rider feedback collected during one of the early phases of the Better Bus Project. It builds on the work the MBTA has already done, and guides recommendations for changes that address route design, frequency of service, hours of service, and coverage area.

The process includes examining the system as a whole to create a network that responds to the changing needs of the region.  Learn more about the Bus Network Redesign at www.mbta.com/projects/bus-network-redesign

The MBTA is hosting a public meeting on June 8th, via Zoom to discuss the project. The meeting will provide an overview of the Bus Network Redesign, an initiative to re-imagine the MBTA’s bus network.

The goals of the redesign include reflecting the travel needs of the region and creating a better experience for current and future bus riders. Register for the meeting here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsd-mvqjIiGNw-dx6bbtLcxMYYNGKrLG0w

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Silver Line Extension

The MBTA is studying the feasibility, benefits, and cost of extending Silver Line service to Everett and the surrounding communities. While Medford is not currently included as as planned stop, some alternative solutions would extend service through Medford. You can see details and provide feedback at www.mbta.com/projects/silver-line-extension-slx-alternatives-analysis.

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Other Traffic + Transportation Projects

South Street / Main Street Intersection Improvements

In Fall 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced a plan to move forward with safety improvements at the Main Street and South Street intersection in Medford. While the City and State continue to work toward permanent changes at the intersection, such changes may take years to fully implement. In the interest of safety, the City of Medford, working with MassDOT, proposed a pilot of short-term, temporary improvements at the intersection. The proposal was considered and approved by the Medford Traffic Commission at its regular meeting on January 19, 2021. Interim traffic pattern changes were implemented in April 2021.

Interim improvements include repainting lane markings on both South Street and Main Street and placing temporary barricades at the intersection to define new turn restrictions. New interim traffic patterns include:

• On South Street: Vehicles may turn left or right onto Main Street but are restricted from traveling straight onto I-93.
• On Main Street Northbound (toward Medford Square): Lane markings better define one “straight” lane and one “right turn” lane to I-93.
• On Main Street Southbound (toward Somerville/Boston): Left turns to I-93 are restricted.

You can see plans for the new traffic layout here: http://www.medfordma.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4-2-South-St-rendering.pdf

Alternate routes to access I-93 are included here:

1. From Medford Square to I-93 North Bound
2. From Medford Square to I-93 South Bound
3. From South Street to Route 16 East Bound
4. From South Street to I-93 North Bound
5. From Winthrop Street to I-93

The interim pilot options are designed with safety of all road users in mind but are flexible enough to make adjustments as needed.

The South Street / Main Street intersection was identified by MassDOT as one of the top 200 crash locations in the state.

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Bicycle Safety Improvements

In October 2021, South Street will be repaved following recent work by Eversource. As part of the final design that was approved by the Medford Traffic Commission in September 2021, a contraflow bike lane will be added to South Street along with two speed tables for traffic safety. You can see the plans at the following links.

• South Street Pavement Marking Plan (1 of 2)
• South Street Pavement Marking Plan (2 of 2)

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Bus Improvements

In 2021 the Cities of Medford and Somerville received a Shared Streets grant from MassDOT to pilot a dedicated bus lane on Mystic Ave. The bus lane in Medford is open to buses only, between the hours of 6 and 9am. Turning to and from abutting side streets continues to be allowed at all times.

In October 2021, portions of Mystic Ave. are being repaved following recent Eversource work. The bus lane will be repainted. For updated plans, visit the links below. This plan is a modified version of the ongoing bus pilot project pending Traffic Commission approval.  Any modifications to the current pilot program do not result in any major change to parking (as compared to the current bus lane pilot).  Subject to change per field conditions or other.

• Signs and Markings (1 of 2)
• Signs and Markings (2 of 2)

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Pedestrian Safety Improvements

• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs): These flashing beacons are similar to traditional pedestrian crossing signals in that they are activated by pushing a button, but UNLIKE traditional crossing signals, RRFBs do not trigger a red light for drivers. Flashing yellow lights will be activated to alert drivers that a pedestrian is crossing. RRFBs are popular pedestrian crossing options at “mid-block crossings,” or intersections located between larger, signalized traffic intersections. There are currently RRFBs in the following locations:
  • 2 on Clippership Drive between Main and Riverside
  • High Street at Allston Street
  • High Street at Governors Avenue
  • Locust Street
  • Mystic Avenue at Bonner Avenue
  • Salem Street at the River Street / Ashland Street intersection

Additional Resources

• City of Medford Construction Alerts + Information
• Green Line Extension Project
• City of Medford Engineering Division
• Medford 6-year Capital Improvement Plan 

The MBTA public engagement team would like to invite you and your communities to join our upcoming public meetings about the proposed Title VI policy changes. The complete list of proposed changes is available at mbta.com/draftpolicies. 

The MBTA will hold a series of public meetings in March to receive feedback from riders and the public regarding changes the T would like to make to two important Title VI policies: 

• First, the MBTA is proposing updates to its Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Policy (“DI/DB Policy”), which sets the parameters around when and how the MBTA conducts a fare or service equity analysis.  
• The MBTA is also proposing updates to its Public Engagement Plan (“PEP”) to include an expansion of the T’s virtual public engagement strategies and more. 
• Riders are asked to submit their feedback by email, phone, or mail through Friday, April 14, 2023, and may attend any of the following public meetings taking place in March where feedback will be collected: 
  • Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 6 PM (Hybrid) 
    • This virtual and in-person public meeting will take place via Zoom and in person at the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston. Chinese and Spanish interpreters, American Sign Language interpreter and CART will be provided at this meeting. 
  • Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 6 PM (In person) 
    • This in-person public meeting will take place at QARI, 275 Hancock St, Suite 202, Quincy. A Chinese interpreter will be provided at this meeting. 
  • Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 6 PM (In person) 
    • This in-person public meeting will take place at La Colaborativa, 318 Broadway, Chelsea. A Spanish interpreter will be provided at this meeting.