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A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the second Progress Report due under the Cycling Safety Ordinance (Chapter 12.22 of the Cambridge Municipal Code), which is required to detail “…progress towards meeting the requirements set forth in Subsections C, D, E, F, G, and H
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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City of Cambridge
Second Annual Cycling
Safety Ordinance
Progress Report
Year Two: May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Introduction
Cambridge’s Cycling Safety Ordinance requires annual progress reports on improvements made
each year. Many deadlines and timelines set out in the Ordinance follow a “Separated Bike Lane
Year” from May 1 through April 30. This second annual report:
•
Details improvements made in Separated Bike Lane Year 2 (from May 1, 2021, to April 30,
2022).
•
Outlines the work planned for Separated Bike Lane Year 3 (from May 1, 2022, to April 30,
2023).
•
Counts mileage totals as indicated in the Cycling Safety Ordinance. Quick-build projects are
counted in the year when they are installed, and capital construction lanes are counted in
the year that construction starts.
Separated Bike Lane Construction Summary
•
In Year 1, we completed 4.12 miles of separated bike lanes.
•
In Year 2, we completed 2.11 miles of separated bike lanes and designed another .56 miles.
•
In Year 3, we plan to install the .56 miles of separated bike lanes designed in Year 2, and to
install or start construction on an additional 3.67 miles, for a total of 4.23 miles.
In Year 3, we also plan to start public engagement on the Hampshire Street corridor and to set up a
stakeholder working group for the Cambridge Street corridor. We do not anticipate installation of
either the Hampshire Street or Cambridge Street project during Year 3.
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Cycling Safety Ordinance Background
In 2019, the Cambridge City Council passed the Cycling Safety Ordinance. The Ordinance requires
the construction of separated bike lanes when streets that have been designated for greater
separation in the Bicycle Network Vision are being reconstructed as a part of the City’s Five-Year
Plan for Streets and Sidewalks.
In 2020, the Council passed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance, setting ambitious
requirements for the installation of approximately 25 miles of separated bike lanes within the next
five to seven years. The location of these facilities will be informed by both the Cambridge Bicycle
Network Vision and specific requirements in the Ordinance.
In general, the amendments to the
Ordinance require the installation
of separated bike lanes on:
•
all of Massachusetts
Avenue
•
Broadway from Quincy
Street to Hampshire Street
•
Cambridge Street from
Oak Street to Second
Street
•
Hampshire Street from
Amory Street to Broadway
•
Garden Street, eastbound
from Huron Avenue to
Berkeley Street, and
westbound from Mason
Street to Huron Avenue
Streets that the Cycling Safety Ordinance requires the installation of
separated bike lanes on.
The Ordinance also requires 11.6
more miles of separated bike lanes
in other locations that are part of the Bicycle Network Vision.
The Ordinance distinguishes between quick-build and construction. Quick-build methods include
pavement markings, flex-posts, signage, and signal changes. Construction involves more extensive
changes, including potentially moving curbs and/or removing medians. Work becomes more
complex any time we dig into the ground, and construction projects may include work on the
infrastructure (e.g., water, drainage and sewer pipes, traffic signals) that we have underground.
For additional information about the Cycling Safety Ordinance, please visit
www.cambridgema.gov/cyclingsafetyordinance. This page details the specific requirements and the
associated timelines and provides additional links to individual Cycling Safety Ordinance projects.
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Work Completed During Separated Bike Lane Year 2:
May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022
Completed Quick-Build Projects and Initiated Capital Construction Projects
Street
From/To
Direction
Mileage Status
Massachusetts
Avenue
Dudley St to
Alewife Brook
Parkway
both
0.90
miles
Complete
Massachusetts
Avenue
Cambridge St to
Waterhouse St
northbound 0.06
miles
Complete
Massachusetts
Avenue
Plympton St to
Bow St
northbound 0.06
miles
Complete
Massachusetts
Avenue
Trowbridge St to
Pleasant St
both
0.92
miles
Complete
Somerville Avenue White St
Line
to City
both
0.12
miles
Complete
Massachusetts
Avenue
Church St to
St
JFK
southbound 0.05
miles
Capital project: Construction
has begun on the Harvard
Square Kiosk and Plaza Project.
Total for Year 2
2.11 miles
Mid-Mass Ave. Safety Improvement Project
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Several projects were designed during Year 2 but were not installed by the April 30 deadline. We
expect to install these projects in 2022. See “Work Planned in Separated Bike Lane Year 3” for a
list of these projects.
MassAve4 Progress
In the Cycling Safety
Ordinance, sections of
Massachusetts Avenue
that have complicating
factors were identified and
are now referred to as
the “MassAve4” (see
adjacent map). These
complications are two
major bus stops in
Harvard Square
and two sections of the
street with overhead bus
wires.
The City completed an impacts analysis (as required in the Cycling Safety Ordinance) and
submitted the analysis to the City Council on April 30, 2021. Since the submission of this analysis,
the City has conducted further analysis and public engagement around the MassAve4. In April
2022, the City submitted a report to the City Council with recommended approaches and timelines
for the installation of separated bike lanes on these four segments. The full report can be found
here. The recommended projects are now included in the City's 5 Year Capital Plan, including $40
million for Harvard to Alewife Brook Parkway and $15 million for the Harvard Square bus stops.
In summary, the report recommends implementing bike lanes through:
•
Partial construction for the segments of Massachusetts Avenue with overhead MBTA bus
wires and median – the segment from Dudley Street to Beech Street and the segment from
Roseland Street to Waterhouse Street. “Partial construction” would remove the center
median except at key pedestrian crossing locations and install flex posts or curbed bike lane
separation.
•
Full construction for the Harvard Square bus stops – the segment of Massachusetts Avenue
from Church Street to Garden Street and the segment from Plympton Street to Dunster
Street. “Full construction” would allow for bike lanes to be raised to sidewalk level and for
bus stop islands to be placed next to the curb.
MassAve4 Segments
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Work Planned for Separated Bike Lane Year 3:
May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023
It is important to note that the workplan laid out here for the upcoming year reflects the best of our
knowledge at the time of this report and is subject to change. There are various factors that can
impact implementation schedules, including the need for extended community engagement and
coordination with utility work or other construction.
Designed During Year 2
The following projects were designed during Year 2 but were not installed by the April 30 deadline.
We expect to install these projects before the end of the 2022 construction season. The mileage will
be recorded in Year 3.
Street
From/To
Direction
Mileage Status
Massachusetts
Avenue
Roseland St to
Beech St
Both
0.41
miles
Community engagement has
begun. Anticipated completion
summer 2022.
Massachusetts
Avenue
Memorial Drive to
77 Mass Ave
northbound .12
miles
Plans and outreach complete.
Anticipated completion by June
2022.
Massachusetts
Avenue
33 Mass Ave to
Memorial Dr
northbound .03
miles
Plans and outreach complete.
Anticipated completion by June
2022.
Total
.56 miles
Dudley Street to Alewife Brook Parkway Separated Bike Lanes
Second Annual Cycling Safety Ordinance Progress Report
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Planned for Year 3
The following projects are planned for Year 3.
Street
From/To
Direction
Mileage Status
Cambridge Street
Oak St to
Prospect St
eastbound
.08
miles
Community engagement will
begin soon. Anticipated
completion by fall 2022.
Main Street
Portland St to
Albany St
both
.20
miles
Plans related to Planning Board
Special Permit 375 are
complete. Construction
anticipated to begin by April 30,
2023.
Brattle Street
Mason St to
Sparks St
both
.32
miles
Community
begun.
engagement has
Garden Street
Huron Ave to
Mason St
both
1.25
miles
Community
begun.
engagement has
Huron Avenue
Glacken Field to
Fresh Pond Pkwy both
1.06
miles
Glacken Field Project plans are
complete. Construction
anticipated to begin by April 30,
2023.
River Street Reconstruction
River Street
Memorial Dr to
Mass Ave
eastbound
.68
miles
Project community engagement
in process. Beginning of
construction anticipated by April
30, 2023.
Holworthy Street
Cambridge-
Watertown
Greenway to
Belmont St
both
.08
miles
Belmont Street Reconstruction
Project plans are complete.
Beginning of construction
anticipated by April 30, 2023.
Total
3.67 miles
Total Planned Year 3 Projects: 4.23 miles
In Year 3, we also plan to start public engagement on the Hampshire Street corridor and to set up a
stakeholder working group for the Cambridge Street corridor. We do not anticipate installation of
either the Hampshire Street or Cambridge Street project during Year 3.