city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Last updated:

Mass. Ave. Better Bike Project

We constructed a safe, comfortable biking facility to connect Dorchester, Roxbury, and the South End.

We made design changes on Massachusetts Avenue between Melnea Cass Boulevard and Columbia Road. Our goals were to:

  • improve safety for people walking, biking, taking the bus, and driving,
  • create a two-way bicycle connection, filling a major gap in the bicycle network between Dorchester and the South End,
  • rebuild curb ramps to comply with accessibility standards,
  • maintain accessible and comfortable bus stops and add a new pair of bus stops near the Stop and Shop driveway,
  • ensure local businesses had parking and loading regulations that fit their needs,
  • keep vehicle traffic flowing especially at congested intersections, and
  • support future travel needs related to new residential development along the corridor and PLAN Newmarket, the planning initiative led by the Planning Department.

Final Plans

Our final design includes:

  • A two-way separated bike lane on the west side of Massachusetts Avenue
  • New crosswalks and reconstructed curb ramps to improve accessibility for people with disabilities
  • Changes to intersections to improve safety and keep vehicle traffic moving
  • Improved bus stops along the corridor, including a new pair of bus stops near the Stop and Shop driveway
  • Modified loading and parking regulations in response to local business needs

We made changes to the design plans based on feedback from people who work, live, and use the corridor. We have a document that explains and summarizes these changes:

Design changes

We have illustrated the final design plans for Massachusetts Avenue between Melnea Cass Boulevard and Columbia Road. Our illustration includes information about the bike lanes, bus stops, new and reconstructed curb ramps, parking and loading areas, and travel lanes.

View the Final Design

WHY THIS PROJECT?

The section of Mass. Ave. between Melnea Cass and Columbia Road is a critical missing link for bike travel.

Despite less-than-ideal bike conditions, a lot of people bike on Mass. Ave. today! Between 350 and 400 people ride in the street each weekday, and that doesn’t include the many people riding on the sidewalks. It’s scary for biking and walking and — all too often — it's dangerous too. Mass. Ave. is one of the worst streets in the City for crashes involving people walking and biking.

For these reasons, you identified Mass. Ave. as a priority Better Bike Corridor through the Go Boston 2030 process.

View of Massachusetts Avenue from Columbia Road

Past Updates

Past events

 We began planning this corridor with you in September 2019. The final design reflects comments and feedback from nearby residents, business owners, and people who use this corridor.

Construction began in summer, 2022. Our contractor began by adding and improving curb ramps so that they will be fully accessible to people using assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers. After pausing for the winter construction moratorium, they recommenced work this spring on bus boarding islands, ramps, and other sidewalk elements. 

They are now finishing the remaining work in the following order: 

  • Complete the remaining bus islands, ramps, and other sidewalk elements (June)
  • Mill and pave roadway segments (early July)
  • Permanently stripe pavement markings, implement changes to traffic signals and signs (mid-July)
  • Install flex-posts and pre-cast concrete barriers (late July)

We expect construction to wrap up in mid-August.

A sketch of the proposed two-way bicycle facility on Massachusetts Avenue south of Melnea Cass. The sketch shows two travel lanes heading away from us, with a truck in the left lane. People are riding bikes in both directions in a bike lane along the right side of the street. People walk on the sidewalk.

We met with the Newmarket Business Association regularly as we developed and then refined the project design. 

DATE TIME LOCATION MEETING MATERIALS
DATEMonday, July 29, 2019
TIME9 a.m.
LOCATIONCity Hall
MEETING MATERIALSNA
DATEMonday, February 10, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
LOCATIONNBA Offices
MEETING MATERIALSDownloaD Presentation 
DATEWednesday, May 20, 2020
TIME2:30 p.m.
LOCATIONGoogle Meet
MEETING MATERIALSDownloaD Presentation 
DATEWednesday, June 17, 2020
TIME2 p.m.
LOCATIONGoogle Meet
MEETING MATERIALSDownloaD Presentation 
DATEThursday, July 9, 2020
TIME2:30 p.m.
LOCATIONGoogle Meet
MEETING MATERIALSDownloaD Presentation 
DATEThursday, August 20, 2020
TIME9 a.m.
LOCATIONGoogle Meet
MEETING MATERIALSDownloaD Presentation 

We followed-up one-on-one with project abutters to share the proposed design and hear feedback. 

DATE TIME Abutter Meeting Materials
DATETuesday, May 26, 2020
TIME9:30 a.m.
AbutterVictory Programs
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATETuesday, May 26, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterEDENS (South Bay Shopping Center)
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATETuesday, May 26, 2020
TIME2 p.m.
AbutterBest Western Roundhouse Suites
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEFriday, May 29, 2020
TIME2:30 p.m.
AbutterDorchester Brewing Company, M&M BBQ, Doug George
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEFriday, June 5, 2020
TIME11:30 a.m.
AbutterNational Development
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEMonday, June 15, 2020
TIME1:30 p.m.
AbutterGood Seasons Trading Inc.
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATETuesday, July 21, 2020
TIME3 p.m.
AbutterDorchester Brewing Company, M&M BBQ, Doug George
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEFriday, September 25, 2020
TIME9 a.m.
AbutterMetro Credit Union
Meeting MaterialsNA - Field Visit
DATEThursday, November 12, 2020
TIME12 p.m.
AbutterEDENS (South Bay Shopping Center)
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEFriday, November 20, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
AbutterMetro Credit Union
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation
DATEMonday, January 11, 2021
TIME2 p.m.
AbutterGood Seasons Trading Inc.
Meeting MaterialsNA - Field Visit
DATEMonday, January 25, 2021
TIME10:30 a.m.
AbutterEDENS (South Bay Shopping Center)
Meeting MaterialsDownloaD Presentation

At the request of the Newmarket Business Association, we met with business stakeholders on Shirley Street to discuss changes to the intersection of Mass. Ave. with Shirley Street and Newmarket Square. 

DATE TIME Abutter
DATEMonday, September 28, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
AbutterCram Seafood
DATEThursday, October 1, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
AbutterHolland Construction
DATEThursday, October 1, 2020
TIME2:30 p.m.
AbutterCity Fresh Foods
DATEFriday, October 2, 2020
TIME9:30 a.m.
AbutterA2Z Auto Repair
DATEWednesday, October 14, 2020
TIME9 a.m.
AbutterRyder Trucking
DATEWednesday, October 14, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterTaurus Packing Co.
DATEWednesday, November 18, 2020
TIME3 p.m.
AbutterThe BASE

Download materials from the meetings:

PRESENTATION

As the City continued to take precautions around public gatherings, we created a Virtual Open House to allow the public to learn more about our draft design plans. We collected feedback via an online survey, email, phone calls, and written letters.

View VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Download the Virtual Open House flyer:

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE FLYER

Before the City of Boston canceled all in-person public meetings, we had scheduled four open house events. We had also planned to coordinate a fifth open house during the weekday working hours in response to a request from the Newmarket Business Association. 

DATE TIME LOCATION
DATEMonday, March 23, 2020
TIME6:30- 8 p.m.
LOCATIONPlumbers and Gas Fitters Local 12, 1240 Mass Ave
DATEWednesday, March 25, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
LOCATIONPlumbers and Gas Fitters Local 12, 1240 Mass Ave
DATESaturday, March 28, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
LOCATIONPlumbers and Gas Fitters Local 12, 1240 Mass Ave
DATEMonday, March 30, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
LOCATIONHayes Conference Room, 1010 Mass Ave

We met one-on-one with with project abutters and other stakeholders to understand how they use and experience Mass. Ave. The Newmarket Business Association and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services helped us identify and meet with businesses likely to be most affected by the project.

We also discussed plans for City-owned property along Mass Ave with the City of Boston’s Public Facilities and Property Management departments. We met with the appropriate MBTA teams to discuss bus stops and operations. We meet almost every week with BPDA’s PLAN: Newmarket team to ensure coordination with ongoing development projects as well as the larger PLAN effort.

DATE TIME Abutter
DATEFriday, January 17, 2020
TIME3 p.m.
AbutterMBTA Bus Priority and Schedule Planning
DATEThursday, January 23, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterSuffolk Construction
DATEMonday, January 22, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
AbutterVictory Programs
DATEMonday, January 22, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterSouth Bay Auto Body and Ace Plumbing
DATEMonday, January 22, 2020
TIME2:30 p.m.
AbutterBest Western Roundhouse Suites and DiPierro Construction
DATEMonday, January 22, 2020
TIME9:30 a.m.
AbutterBoston Cyclists Union
DATETuesday, January 28, 2020
TIME3:30 p.m.
AbutterCity of Boston Public Facilities and Property Management
DATEThursday, February 6, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterDorchester Brewing Company
DATEMonday, February 24, 2020
TIME10 a.m.
AbutterBoston Cyclists Union
DATEWednesday, March 11, 2020
TIME1 p.m.
AbutterHome Run Cafe
DATEMonday, March 16, 2020
TIME10:15 a.m.
AbutterBoston Public Schools
DATEMonday, April 13, 2020
TIME11:30 a.m.
AbutterEDENS (South Bay Shopping Center)

Download materials from the meetings:

PROJECT HANDOUT

PROJECT AREA MAP

Project flyer

We asked people to share their experiences traveling on Massachusetts Avenue. We gathered written input during the biking and walking tours and meetings with civic and business associations. We also collected comments via phone, email, and an online form. In total, we heard from over 200 people who live, work, and travel along Massachusetts Avenue. 

We hosted a series of biking and walking tours for the general public, for employees of 1010 Mass. Ave., and for members of the Newmarket Business Association. Our goal was to learn about the experience of people who use the corridor.

DATE TIME AUDIENCE
DATEWednesday, September 18, 2019
TIME6:30 p.m.
AUDIENCEGeneral public
DATESaturday, October 4, 2019
TIME10:30 a.m
AUDIENCEGeneral public
DATEWednesday, October 16, 2019
TIME12 p.m.
AUDIENCEEmployees of 1010 Mass. Ave.
DATEThursday, November 21, 2019
TIME12 p.m.
AUDIENCEMembers of the Newmarket Business Association

Download materials from the biking and walking tours:

Biking and Walking tour of Mass. Ave. flier

FOLLETO DE LA RECORRIDO A PIE Y EN BICI POR MASS AVE.

Project flyer

We flyered and distributed materials along Mass Ave., advertising a series of walks and rides of the corridor. We made phone calls or sent emails to neighborhood association leaders and other identified stakeholders, posted on social media, and handed out flyers to businesses and posted flyers on light posts.

We later canvassed the corridor three times in order to visit every business when it was open. On these business walks, we provided information about the project, answered questions, and offered a future meeting as needed.

DATE TIME Actigivey
DATEFriday, September 13, 2019
TIME4 p.m.
ActigiveyFlyering for walk/rides
DATEMonday, September 16, 2019
TIME4 p.m.
ActigiveyFlyering for walk/rides
DATEThursday, January 30, 2020
TIME2 p.m.
ActigiveyBusiness walk
DATEThursday, February 13, 2020
TIME9 a.m.
ActigiveyBusiness walk
DATEThursday, March 12, 2020
TIME9 a.m.
ActigiveyBusiness walk

Download materials from the flyering:

Biking and Walking tour of Mass. Ave. flyer

FOLLETO DE LA RECORRIDO A PIE Y EN BICI POR MASS AVE.

Project flyer

We informed civic and business associations along the Mass. Ave. corridor about the project. 

DATE TIME LOCATION
DATEMonday, November 4, 2019
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONColumbia-Savin Hill Civic Association
DATETuesday, November 5, 2019
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONHancock Street Civic Association
DATETuesday, November 12, 2019
TIME6 p.m.
LOCATIONUphams Corner Westside Neighborhood Association
DATEWednesday, November 13, 2019
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONJones Hill Neighborhood Association
DATETuesday, November 19, 2019
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONMcCormack Neighborhood Association
DATEMonday, November 25, 2019
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONPolish Triangle United
DATEWednesday, December 18, 2019
TIME9 a.m.
LOCATIONNewmarket Business Association
DATEThursday, January 16, 2020
TIME7 p.m.
LOCATIONEastman-Elder Neighborhood Association

Download materials from the meetings:

PROJECT HANDOUT

PROJECT AREA MAP

Project flyer

Project area

The project included the section of Massachusetts Avenue between — but not including — its intersections with Melnea Cass Boulevard and Columbia Road.

Massachusetts Avenue Better Bike Project area

Back to top