Watertown Complete Streets
What is a Complete Street?
“Complete Streets are streets for everyone.” SmartGrowthAmerica.org
A Complete Street is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes, including walking, biking, transit, and motorized vehicles, for people of all ages and abilities. Designing streets with these principles contributes toward the safety, health, economic viability, and quality of life in a community by improving the pedestrian and vehicular environments and providing safer, more accessible and comfortable means of travel between home, school, work, recreation, and retail destinations.
What are the benefits of Complete Streets?
Safety
Research shows that sidewalks reduce pedestrian crashes by 88%(FHWA); shoulders, 71%(FDOT); medians, 40%; road diets, 18 to 49% (ITE); and countdown signals, 25%(FHWA).
Roadway design and engineering approaches commonly found in Complete Streets provide long-lasting reductions in travel speeds. Although slower speeds benefit all users, they have a dramatic impact on pedestrian safety. 80% of pedestrians struck by a car going 40 mph will die. At 30 mph, the likelihood of death drops to 40%. At 20 mph, the fatality rate drops to just 5%.
Health and Equity
People in communities with sidewalks are 47% more likely to get regular physical activity. There is also a strong relationship between obesity and neighborhood walkability. Providing multiple transportation modes help people meet recommendations for physical activity. For others, walking, bicycling, or public transit are the only transportation options. Providing multiple transportation options provides individuals more control over their transportation expenses.
People with Disabilities and Aging Populations
Additionally, Complete Streets advance access and equity for people with disabilities and aging populations. Over 18% of Americans have some form of disability (2010 Census). In Massachusetts, the population of age 65 and older is increasing and is expected to exceed 20% in 2030. Watertown is also home to the Perkins School for the Blind. Providing accessible crosswalks, walkways, and other facilities increases safety and reduces isolation and dependence of those with disabilities. For example, it takes 50% more energy to push a wheelchair at a 3% slope than at 2%.
Indirect Outcomes for Walkable Places
Walkable places can reduce per-capita vehicle travel by 10 to 30%. Studies have calculated that 5 to 10% of urban automobile trips can reasonably be shifted to non-motorized transportation, which can reduce congestion and cut carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to Watertown's Climate and Energy Plan goals. Local businesses see many benefits when people can easily travel by foot or bicycle, as the ability to access business by methods other than car may introduce a new customer base.
Watertown Complete Streets Policy
The City Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy in May, 2017. The policy provides a set of guidelines for implementing Complete Streets principles as part of future street projects.
Complete Streets Prioritization Plan
In 2017, the City engaged Alta Planning to assist with development of a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, which identified opportunities to implement additional Complete Streets practices in Town.
View the final report issued by Alta Planning in May 2018. This plan is used to inform road design decisions and timelines.
Complete Streets 2026 Projects
The City has proposed the following streets for reconstruction as a “Complete Street.”
- Cottage St. Neighborhood
- Winter St.
- Brigham St. and Appleton Ter. as bid alternates.
Dexter Av. and Templeton Pkwy are projected to start construction for stormwater improvements as part of the MVP Grants program.
Complete Streets 2025 Projects
The City has proposed the following streets for reconstruction as a “Complete Street.”
- Green St.
- Poplar St.
- Pequossette St.
- Fifth Av.
- Royal St.
- N & S Irving Pk.
The changeover intersection of N Beacon St. and Arsenal St. is under construction as part of the MassDOT Bottleneck Program to reduce traffic congestion through these streets into Watertown Square.
The Mt Auburn St. Corridor Project has started substantial construction to convert the major corridor into a “Complete Street” and is projected to be completed in 2029.
A contractor and construction plan has been selected by the City to implement MBTA and pedestrian improvements to the intersection of Main St. and Whites Av.
Complete Streets 2024 Projects
The City has proposed the following streets for reconstruction as a “Complete Street.”
- Dwight St.
- Mangano Ct.
- Grandview Av (Desmond Av. to King St.)
- Bromfield St.
- George St.
Complete Streets 2023 Projects
The City, working with the MBTA, will be implementing pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements at the intersection of Main Street and Whites Ave. More information will be posted shortly.
Complete Streets Fall 2021 Projects
The City will continue implementing complete streets projects at the following locations:
Accessibility and safety improvements at Knowles Delta. The work will include the replacement of damaged sidewalk panels, selective widening of sidewalks to meet accessibility requirements, as well as signage and striping to increase pedestrian visibility and clarify lane assignments. As part of the work, a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) will be installed at a relocated crosswalk on Belmont Street near Knowles Road.
Pedestrian safety improvements at Casey Park. The work will include curb extensions and installation of an RRFB on Watertown Street at the entrance to Casey Park to improve pedestrian visibility and safety.
Complete Streets Spring 2021 Projects
In January 2021, the Town received funding through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Grant Program to perform pedestrian safety improvements at the following locations:
- Watertown Street at Belknap Terrace/Morse Street
- Watertown Street at 5th Avenue
- California Street at 5th Avenue
The project will also add a new BlueBike station at an access point to the Charles River Greenway (since Bluebikes’ Watertown launch in August 2020 - there have been over 2,000 Bluebike rides originating in Watertown). The project will install curb extensions (“bump-outs”) and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) across Watertown Street and California Street as well as install ADA-compliant ramps at the three locations.
Complete Streets 2020 Project
The City was awarded $289,000 from MassDOT to implement four of the Complete Streets projects identified during the 2017/8 planning process. These projects were completed during 2020.
- Raised crosswalk on Warren Street at the Cunniff School
- Raised crosswalk on Whites Ave. at Linear Park and widening of Community Path through Saltonstall Park, from 5-feet to 12-feet, to accommodate a shared use path.
- Crosswalk improvements on Watertown Street at Theurer Park.Climate and Energy PlanClimate and Energy PlanComplete Streets Policy