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Berkeley Street Better Bike Lane

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We're investing in Berkeley Street to improve safety for all users and expand the bicycle network.

October 2024: Construction Starting

Construction Update (As of October 25, 2024)
  • Paving will be complete by October 25, 2024 
  • Installation of pavement markings will begin early next week. Overnight work is scheduled from Sunday, October 27 to Wednesday, October 30 to ensure on-time completion.
  • Signs and flexposts will be installed after the markings are complete. 
  • Colored surface treatments will be installed as weather allows. Any remaining detail work will be installed next construction season. 

We're excited to announce that construction on the northern section of the Berkeley Street Better Bike Lane will begin in the coming weeks. We will:

  • Repave from Columbus Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue
  • Rebuild curb ramps to meet accessibility standards. 
  • Install a separated bike lane to create a continuous route from the South End to the Back Bay
  • Adding a bus lane from Stuart Street to Saint James Avenue
  • Reduce some on-street parking to make space for these changes.

 

Berkeley Street Envisioned
Artistic depiction of design change. Not to scale. Subject to change.
Key Construction Phases:

Please note that construction timelines are subject to change due to weather conditions, special events, or other unforeseen factors.

  1. Curb ramp reconstruction (2 - 3 weeks): 
    • Upgrade eleven curb ramps to meet accessibility standards. 
    • Remaining ramps will be upgraded in a future construction season.
  2. Road resurfacing (2 - 3 weeks): 
    • Temporary parking restrictions will be in place during this phase.
    • Sidewalks will remain open to pedestrians.
  3. Pavement markings, flexposts, signage, and signals (1 - 3 weeks): 
    • Install new lane markings, including the separated bike lane, using thermoplastic markings, flexposts, and specialized pavement markings.
    • Implement new curb regulation signage and traffic signal reprogramming.

We appreciate your patience as we make these changes on Berkeley Street. There will be an adjustment period as users familiarize themselves with the new street design. We'll monitor the performance of these design changes over the coming year.

Design

We have illustrated the final design plans for Berkeley Street between Tremont Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

View the roll plan (PDF 5.5 MB)

WHY BERKELEY STREET

Everyone in Boston deserves safe streets

The new lanes are part of an expansion to close gaps in Boston’s low-stress bike network. Today, people who want to bike from the South End to the Back Bay don’t have great options. The new lanes will allow for a continuous, comfortable ride from the South End to the Commonwealth Mall in the Back Bay. 

The Berkeley Street project is part of a bold plan for transforming Boston's streets to better serve people walking, rolling, and riding bikes. Over the next three years, we will expand our bike network so that 50% of residents will be a 3-minute walk from a safe and connected bike route.

 

A group of six youth are riding bikes on a path by their school.

Talk with us

Talk with us

There are no related events available at this time!

Past Updates

Past Updates

Last year, we repaved Berkeley Street and installed a separated bike lane from Tremont Street to Columbus Avenue in the South End. This year, we will continue work on the northern section of the project to:

  • repave the roadway
  • rebuild curb ramps, and
  • install a separated bike lane.

We've updated the project area to reflect community feedback. The project will extend as far north as Commonwealth Avenue, not Beacon Street as previous planned. To learn about other projects we're working on to connect the bike network in the Back Bay, visit Back Bay Mobility Projects.

We are working to schedule construction dates with our contractors. We expect work to happen over the summer. Construction crews will notify abutters with flyers and post signs prior to work starting. Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other factors. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, we hosted a virtual public meeting to share an update on projects in the Back Bay neighborhood. The meeting was publicized on our project websites, via email to subscribers to the Boylston Street, Berkeley Street and Connect Downtown lists, and on Streets Cabinet social media channels. Additionally, Neighborhood Services and elected leaders publicized the meeting to local stakeholders.

Projects
Design completed - Construction update
  • Boylston Street Bus and Bike Lane
  • Berkeley Street Better Bike Lane - Modified
  • Clarendon Street Bus Lane
In Design
  • Beacon Street and Arlington Street - Modified
  • Dartmouth Street Better Bike Lane - New
  • Dartmouth/Stuart Safety Improvements - New

View the presentation (PDF)

Watch the meeting (YouTube video)

Watch the upcoming construction breakout group (YouTube video)

We hosted a series of in-person, outdoor events to meet with neighbors and passersby. 

  • Tuesday, May 23, 5-7 p.m. at the intersection of Berkeley Street and Tremont Street
  • Wednesday, May 24, noon - 2 pm. at the intersection of Boylston Street and Berkeley Street
  • Thursday, May 25, 8-10 a.m. at the intersection of Boylston Street and Gloucester Street
  • Saturday, May 27, 2-4 p.m. at the intersection of Berkeley Street and Commonwealth Avenue

Download the flyer

In February 2023, we announced the project to residents and users of the corridor. We mailed postcards to almost 5,000 households on Berkeley and adjacent blocks. Later in February, we posted flyers on light poles, bikes, and cars on Berkeley Street between Tremont Street and Beacon Street. We also stopped into businesses to share flyers and send an email to the project mailing list. 

Postcard

Flyer

  • We hosted virtual office hours every other Wednesday. You shared your feedback on Better Bike Lanes projects. We also corresponded with you via email.
  • We began planning for spring and summer 2023 outreach and community conversations.

Schedule a virtual office hours appointment

Send us an email

To build on her commitment to create safe streets for all modes of transportation, Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) announced a 9.4 mile expansion of bike lanes providing key connections within the City’s existing bike network. To do this, Boston is expanding Bluebikes to accommodate rising demand, designing traffic-calmed streets by building speed humps and raised crosswalks, and hiring more staff to aid in the design process.

The announcement was covered by local news outlets.

Read the full press release

Mayor Michelle Wu in a school gymnasium delivering a press conference about bike network expansion; she is flanked by cabinet staff and community organizers.

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