View source for Park Ave Safety Improvement Project - Mar 31st, 2025

Meeting held at town hall.  Materials were available from
https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/News/News/14699/225.

(Jim Feeney, Town Manager) Mr. Feeney introduces town staff and
elected leaders that are present.  Park Avenue was prioritized in the
Connect Arlington plan, and two pedestrian collisions have led the
town to prioritize the road for safety improvements.  Town staff
worked with the Finance Committee to find resources for the design
work, and this is a meaningful first step in the construction of a
complete street.  This phase focuses on improvements at the
intersections of Oakland Ave, Appleton St, and Wollaston Ave.  The
town has already reduced the speed limit on Park Ave to 25 MPH and
added more signage.

(Erin Cameron, Stantec) Ms. Cameron was one of the planners who worked
on improvements to the Mass Ave and Appleton Street intersection.
Tonight we'll see several high-level designs for Park Avenue.

Park Ave is a key connector between Mass Ave and Route 2.  There's
high pedestrian use, and a high number of vehicle crashes.
Automobiles make up about 98% of the road's mode share and the
majority of traffic is above 30 MPH.  The road was designed for high
speed; to improve safety we'll have to change the design so that
people drive more slowly.  Stantec is taking a complete streets
approach that considers all roadway users.

Park Avenue is designed for fast-moving traffic, with travel lanes
that are 12' and 13' wide.  These are the same lane widths that you'd
see on an interstate highways.  70% of automobile trips on Park Ave
are pass-through trips, that neither begin nor end in Arlington.

The design priorities are reducing speed, simplifying intersections,
providing a safe walking environment, and providing multi-modal
options.  There are several ways to achieve these goals, including
chicanes, curb extensions, crossing islands, and reducing the width of
travel lanes to 11'.

The Wollaston Ave intersection is very large with lots of pavement.
They plan to use bump outs to channelize traffic.  Paul Revere Road
sees a high volume of cut-through traffic, which it was not designed
for.

That's the end of the presentation.  Attendees are given time to look
at different designs, and to talk with Stantec's transportation
planners.

[[Category:Public Meetings]]