A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-151, regarding the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority

MEMORANDUM To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Joseph E. Barr, Director Date: February 1, 2021 Subject: Awaiting Report 19-151 – Feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority. This memo is in response to Order 10 from the October 28, 2019 City Council Meeting (Awaiting Report 19-151), requesting a report on the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority. The Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department is currently in the process of hiring a consultant to support the design of quick build separated bike lanes along Massachusetts Avenue from Roseland Street to Beech Street through Porter Square. Planning for this project—including design and public engagement components—will start by late winter/early spring of this year. This stretch of Massachusetts Avenue is included on the separated bicycle lane network and is subject to the provisions of the amended Cycling Safety Ordinance. As such, the inclusion of separated bicycle lanes is mandatory within this section and must be implemented by April 30, 2022. This segment of roadway is also a key component of the public transit system (including MBTA bus routes 77, 83, and 96) and all designs will need to address transit operations. As a result, all efforts will be made to incorporate transit priority to mitigate negative impacts on transit.