NEWTON- RECONSTRUCTION OF COMMONWEALTH AVENUE (ROUTE 30), FROM EAST OF AUBURN STREET TO ASH STREET

The proposed improvements to Route 30 (Commonwealth Avenue) and the adjacent carriageway begin at the westernmost driveway of the Boston Marriott Hotel, just east of Auburn Street, and end at Ash Street, including the intersection and all approaches. For the segment from the hotel to Woodbine Street, Route 30 is a divided 4-lane roadway with no sidewalk (except for a short segment on the south side at the westernmost edge of project limits) or bicycle facilities and a wide median. The proposed cross section will narrow this median and re-purpose the space on the north side of the roadway to either a shared use path or separated bicycle and pedestrian facilities. East of Woodbine Street, the existing 22-foot carriageway will be converted to the shared use path or separated bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The existing cross section of Route 30 will be maintained but 5-foot shoulders will be striped to allow for on-road bicycling facilities as well. Driveways and side streets will be extended from where they currently intersect the carriageway to Route 30; the pedestrian and bicycle facilities will be raised across the driveways and side streets to create safer crossings for the most vulnerable users. There will be three mid-block crossings with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) installed at MBTA bus stops and the Blue Heron trail entrance. The intersection at Ash Street will be reconstructed to improve pedestrian and bicycle crossings and address circulation issues at Lyons Field. This will include signal reconstruction, wheelchair ramps, and crosswalks. One 5-foot sidewalk with a 3-foot buffer will be constructed on the south side of the project to build a continuous pedestrian network. Lighting and utilities in the median are expected to be retained and drainage impacts should be minor.