Hemenway Street Bike Lane and East Fenway Traffic Calming
We added speed humps in the East Fenway neighborhood in 2023 and will be installing a contraflow bike lane on Hemenway Street in 2025.
In response to community concerns about speeding on streets in East Fenway, we added speed humps to many of the streets in the neighborhood. Additionally, we plan to formalize two-way bicycling on Hemenway Street between Westland Avenue and Boylston Street (and finish adding speed humps to Hemenway). Hemenway Street will remain one-way for vehicle traffic north of Westland Avenue.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Transportation
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1 City Hall Square
Room 721Boston, MA 02201-2026
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Chat with usEvery other Wednesday, you can schedule a virtual chat or phone call with a project team member.
Speed humps
In 2023, we installed speed humps throughout East Fenway (except for Hemenway Street, which will receive speed humps when the contraflow bike lane is installed).
Speed humps can lower typical driving speeds to 20 miles per hour. Speed humps are placed in a series to deter speeding on any given street. In Boston, speed humps are typically between 150 and 250 feet apart. Speed humps are always planned on a network of streets. This prevents drivers from simply choosing another nearby street.
Speed humps have no impacts on drainage or parking. They are approximately 3 inches high and 12 to 24 feet long. Our snow plow drivers are able to clear snow on streets with speed humps.
We do not install speed humps where the street is too steep or curvy. We also avoid manholes and other utility access points and do not place speed humps directly in front of driveways.
Two-way biking on Hemenway Street
To increase connectivity of our bike network, we will add a contraflow bike lane on Hemenway Street between Boylston Street and Westland Avenue, likely in 2025. The street will remain one-way for drivers.
Contraflow bike lanes are a type of bike lane that allow people biking to go both ways on a street that is one-way for motor vehicles. Contraflow bike lanes have minimal impact on parking or curbside access.
On streets with lower traffic volume and lower speeds, like Hemenway Street, we can add contraflow bike lanes with paint and signage. The paint and signs helps everyone know where to be and for whom to look for as they use the street.
We will also improve crosswalks and curb ramps on Hemenway Street.
-
Still have questions? Contact:
Transportation
-
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 721Boston, MA 02201-2026
-
Chat with us
Every other Wednesday, you can schedule a virtual chat or phone call with a project team member.
