Protected bike lanes, crosswalk improvements, traffic calming, and parking changes coming to Holland Street this Fall
The Somerville Traffic Commission voted to approve the Holland Street Safety Update Plan at the October 13, 2022, meeting. This plan includes protected bike lanes from Teele Square to Buena Vista Road in addition to reconstructing sidewalks, repaving the street from Claremon Street to Simpson Avenue, and implementing safety improvements such as raised crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and expanded bus stops. The new pavement markings will be implemented this fall after repaving is complete. The new design maintains parking on one side of Holland Street, but restricts parking on the other side in order to create protected bike lanes. Meters and loading zones will also be added to side streets. An overview of the final design is described below. You can also check out the presentation slides from the Traffic Commission meeting for more details.
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Construction Update
Weather permitting, starting Monday, October 17, or soon after, City contractors will install the three raised crosswalks included in the approved plan, requiring a road closure on Holland Street westbound (Elm to Broadway). Construction is expected to take one to two weeks. Please note:
Holland Street westbound from Davis Square to Teele Square will be closed 24/7 during construction. Westbound vehicles and cyclists will be detoured to College Ave. and Broadway.
Holland Street eastbound will remain open.
MBTA bus routes 87 and 88 will offer modified service during crosswalk construction. Visit mbta.com/bus for details.
Please email construction@somervillema.gov or call the Engineering Division at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5400 with questions.
Design Overview
Below are the final designs approved by the Traffic Commission on October 13.
From Teele Square to Claremon Street, the new design retains parking on the north side of the street and restricts parking on the south side of the street. The north side parking is located seven feet from the curb, with a westbound protected bike lane against the curb. When parklets are in operation, the seasonal outdoor dining would remain at the curbside and the bike lane would go around it. In the wintertime, the parklet would be removed and the bike lane would be on the curbside. Parking is currently planned as mixture commercial loading zones, accessible parking, metered parking and overnight resident parking.
From Claremon Street to Elmwood Street, parking will be maintained on the north side of the street and restricted on the south side of the street. The north side parking is located seven feet from the curb, with a westbound protected bike lane against the curb. A protected bike lane runs eastbound toward Davis Square. Pedestrian-focused traffic islands and an expanded bus stop have been installed at the corner of Holland Street and Cameron Avenue. The will be a mixture of metered parking and resident permit required parking.
From Elmwood Street to Simpson Ave, parking will be maintained on the north side of the street and restricted on the south side of the street. The north side parking is located seven feet off the curb, with a westbound protected bike lane against the curb. A protected bike lane runs eastbound toward Davis Square. Pedestrian-focused curb extensions have already been constructed at Paulina and at Hodgkins Park crossing. New raised crosswalks will be implemented across Holland at Paulina Street and at the Hodgkins-Curtin Park crosswalk. North side parking is currently planned as mixture of accessible parking, commercial loading zones, 30-minute parking, and resident permit required parking.
From Simpson Ave to Wallace Street, parking will be maintained on the north side of the street and restricted on the south side of the street. The north side parking is located seven feet off the curb, with a westbound protected bike lane against the curb. A protected bike lane runs eastbound toward Davis Square. When parklets are in operation, the seasonal outdoor dining would remain at the curbside and the bike lane would taper around it. There will be a mixture of metered and accessible parking on the north side. Their will be an eastbound loading zone and morning peak hour bus lane opposite Wallace Street.
From Wallace Street to Davis Square, a large loading zone for passenger and commercial loading and peak hour bus lane will implemented on Holland Street eastbound from Buena Vista Road to Winter Street. This will turn into 24/7 bus bike lane from Winter Street to Davis Square. New protected bike lanes will run along the north side. The City has added new loading zones and parking meters on side streets to provide loading and short-term parking options.
