Grant funding from MassDOT will fund a dedicated bus lane pilot project on Mystic Ave., and a Safe Routes to School initiative for areas surrounding the Columbus School.
MEDFORD – Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced this week that the City of Medford is expanding its Shared Streets program and enhancing safety for all road users thanks to more than $156,000 in grant funding through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces program. Over the last week, MassDOT has awarded the City of Medford $15,000 for the City’s Safe Routes to Schools proposal for the Columbus Elementary School, and $223,000 for the installation of a dedicated bus lane on Mystic Ave. (from Main St. in Medford to McGrath Highway in Somerville); the dedicated bus lane project funding will be shared with the City of Somerville. Earlier this month, the City of Medford was awarded $30,000 in Shared Streets funding to provide expanded options for outdoor dining as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for the dedicated bus lane project will be split with the City of Somerville.
“I am so thankful to MassDOT for continuing to enable the City of Medford to make and keep our roads safe for all users. Especially as we work with increased financial constraints and as we work to meet the needs of our residents, students and business employees in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. This grant funding is so important in helping to meet our goals and the needs of this community,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn.
With the City of Somerville, the City of Medford submitted an application this spring to MassDOT for a “quick build” dedicated bus lane pilot on Mystic Ave., from Main St. in Medford to McGrath Highway in Somerville. Under Medford’s proposal a dedicated bus lane would be available to MBTA buses only, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. “Quick build” projects utilize paint and signage for projects, allowing for quicker implementation and for projects to undergo pilot programs and review prior to deciding whether to make the bus lane permanent. Medford and Somerville share portions of Mystic Ave., with other sections also falling under the purview of MassDOT. Following final plan approval by MassDOT, the bus lane could be painted as early as this fall.
“A dedicated bus lane on such a highly used road that serves not only Medford and Somerville residents, but commuters from surrounding communities, will improve transit access and reliability, provide better connections to regional jobs and healthcare, and will be critical in helping workers and vulnerable populations recover from the economic impact of the pandemic,” Mayor Lungo-Koehn said. “I am, again, thankful to MassDOT for streamlining the grant process to allow projects like these, and other Shared and Complete Streets initiatives, to move forward in the best interests of our communities.”
This spring, MassDOT announced grant opportunities for cities and towns to implement projects that would improve roadway safety and projects that would provide more efficient options for transportation, particularly for essential workers and for residents needing better access to jobs and healthcare services in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Cities of Medford and Somerville, each citing larger goals of shifting reliance on motor vehicles and decreasing traffic congestion and pollution, noted in the application to MassDOT that Mystic Ave. has approximately 15,000 vehicles per day in the northern section, near Main St. and approximately 17,000 vehicles per day near Harvard St. Providing more reliable service via rapid transportation has been shown to increase reliability of rapid transit, increase ridership, and decrease the number of vehicles per day on major roadways.
In recent years, the City of Medford has invested in safer pedestrian infrastructure and access along the Mystic Ave. corridor and in proximity to Route 95 bus service, including collaborating with MassDOT on pedestrian improvements for the crosswalk at Mystic Ave. and Bonner Ave. to enhance safe connections to and from transit.
The project plan is currently awaiting final approval by MassDOT before implementation.
Safe Routes to Schools
MassDOT also recently awarded $15,000 to implement proposed quick build Safe Routes to Schools enhancements surrounding the Columbus Elementary School. Through this project, the City aims to improve pedestrian access and pedestrian safety by providing traffic calming measures to slow vehicle traffic. In particular, the Columbus School Safe Routes to Schools project will include the creation of bump-outs using pavement markings, and cones or flex posts in order to implement the project more quickly while still providing safe options for pedestrians. These measures improve safety by reducing crossing distances for pedestrians by as much as 25 – 40%, improving sightlines for vehicles, narrowing vehicle travel lanes, and creating tighter turn radii for vehicles which will slow the speed of traffic in these areas. The project will also include specific signage for student drop-off and pick-up areas.
The project limits include the Hicks Ave./Albion St. corridor to/from the Columbus School, including the intersections of Hicks Ave. at E Albion St., Main St. at Hicks Ave., and Medford St. at Albion St.
“While we plan to continue to increase Safe Routes to Schools and traffic calming surrounding other schools and critical areas, thanks to the expedited grant opportunities through MassDOT we are excited to be able to implement these changes around the Columbus School in the short term,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn.
MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program is intended to support projects that promote public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce by quickly providing new or repurposed space for socially-distanced walking, bicycling, dining, retail, and bus travel.
Medford city services are available to all residents, regardless of economic situation, immigration status, ability, benefit eligibility, or religious affiliation.
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