Holland St & College Ave Mobility Improvements

I used to ride my bike up and down Holland frequently. These designated bike lanes are much needed. The improvements for pedestrians and bus riders are also appreciated.

Thank you for collecting community input and for engaging us with the plan.

One issue I see with the proposal is that there is no parking/loading option coming from Teele into Davis for Atrius Health, the T station, and the daycare before 9am. The Atrius parking lot on Buena Vista is outrageously expensive ($3 for 30 minutes), so it is not a viable option in the current state.

Like others have expressed, I don't understand the proposal for the parklets. Further, the existing Spoke parklet makes visibility very difficult for left turns coming from Simpson onto Holland. I only see that getting worse with a bike lane in the mix.

Have more radical solutions been studied/considered? It seems like this proposal takes the current traffic patterns as given, but I wonder if there could be an even better solution if navigation through Davis Square was dramatically different (e.g. what if Winter was used more effectively? What if Holland was one way past Buena Vista? What if Holland was one way and cars were routed down Broadway the other direction? What if there were stop lights and pedestrian crossing signals across from the Atrius Health or the T station?).

Finally, I agree with other commenters (and have been writing in to 311 and to Mayor Ballantyne directly for YEARS) about safety on Broadway. Can Broadway please become a priority?

Broadway could also be part of the solution since it also runs into Teele Square. Like with the radical car navigation ideas, there could also be one for protected bike lanes - a protected bike lane in one direction from Davis to Teele on College/Broadway and another heading from Teele to Davis on Holland.

I would love if this solution was a true fix and not a bandaid.

Thanks for listening to our feedback!

I really like the Holland Ave bike lanes design! I have two pieces of feedback - 1. The corner of Curtis and Fairmont has very poor visibility. I take that often from both directions, and it's really hard for cars on Curtis and cars approaching on Fairmont to see each other. I don't know what could be done - maybe a bigger no parking zone on the corner, or maybe just a big mirror? 2 - a traffic light at Holland and Cameron (with a big "do not block" area on Holland) would be fantastic. Left turns at that intersection are difficult in both directions, and lead to cars cutting off bikes and pedestrians as the only possible way to make the turn (it's one of the only ways to get between Somerville and Mass Ave, so I think it does need to remain easy for cars and
bikes ).

As a parent and Somerville resident, I highly encourage you to build bollard-protected bike lanes along Holland St and College Ave.

Electric bikes and scooters are our family’s primary mode of mobility within and around Somerville, and dedicated infrastructure absolutely makes it more viable for us to get around safely and quickly for work, shopping, and other activities.

Cycling and micromobility are good for people’s health, wallets, and the environment. Basic geometry reveals that less space dedicated to cars creates opportunity for more people to visit, work, play, and buy.

I suspect you will get pushback from people that do not use these modes of transit. They tend to claim harm to their business or personal interests whenever car infrastructure is modified to be more inclusive, equitable, or sustainable by accommodating other modes of mobility.

Please be assured that they will all be OK given the abundance of dedicated infrastructure they enjoy. We also own and occasionally use a car, and we are happy to trade a fraction of the space dedicated to cars for improvements like those being considered here.

Overall this looks great! Thank you for prioritizing safety!

A couple points that I think could be looked into:
1) Please actually install and maintain the bollards! Those are literally lifesavers. In existing PBLs where the bollards have been run over or removed, we don't have any protection!
2) The area in front of hodgkins park would be improved and simplified if you pullled the bike lane up to sidewalk elevation and ran it behind the bus stop. You could also add back some parking in that stretch if the bike lane were straightened.

I live off Broadway in Teele and cycle via Holland to get to Cameron, Davis, etc.

Currently (and seemingly with this revised plan) there is no safe/protected means of connecting Broadway to Holland for bike traffic.

Cyclists currently have the following options to connect Broadway to Holland:

Ride East from Teele down Broadway to Simpson, use Simpson to connect to Holland - this bypasses the vast majority of the protected lanes and puts cyclists on a narrow residential street w/ often fast moving cut through MV traffic

Dismount and use 2x crosswalks in Teele Sq (1x to cross Broadway in front of the aux SPD office, 1x to cross Holland in front of SFD)

Illegally turn onto Holland from Broadway at Teele Sq

Cut through Lou Anne David park (currently has no curb cut appropriate for cyclists & existing curb cut has no bikes sign spray painted on)

As this revised plan is directly in response to the tragic death of one of our community members riding on Broadway, I’d argue that it is absolutely necessary to provide a means for cyclists to legally and safely turn from Broadway onto Holland in Teele Sq OR appropriate infrastructure must be built at Lou Anne David Park to facilitate safe cycling from Broadway to Holland.

Overall, I really like the new plan. More protected bike lanes help everyone, and there's plenty of parking along Holland and adjacent side streets. A few specific thoughts:

- My biggest concern is the removal of a PM bus lane into Teele Sq. Especially given that we are trying to convince the T to maintain meaningful bus service to Clarendon Hill in their new bus system plan, it's important for the buses to be able to avoid the traffic when heading through Teele Sq. Is there space to have the metered parking become a PM bus lane, and then have the last section be a full bus/bike lane as you have at the Davis Sq. end?

- Second, I'm confused about the parklets. The design shows them literally on top of the bike lane. Would people need to awkwardly walk through the bike lane to use the parklets?

- Third, I worry about the lack of a loading zone for the restaurants across from the Davis T station (and I think the Tufts shuttle picks up there, too?). Not sure how to solve that, though.

- Last, I think the Cameron/Holland intersection could really use stop signs or something like that. Turning left from Cameron onto Holland can be tricky when there's traffic, and trying to get through the intersection quickly while simultaneously threading between the new traffic islands is a little harrowing. I feel like a 3-way stop there would help slow down traffic, and would make that turn easier/safer for everyone.

Love the new design. I do think there should be some consideration for drop off/pickup areas but overall, I think everyone needs to give a little to keep people safe. Agreed with the comments that there needs to be serious improvements on Broadway from Powderhouse to the Arlington line.

Thank you for all the city does to be considerate of everyone.

I am in favor of this improved design. For too long Holland Street has been inhospitable to people who bike, this will remedy that problem. I bike daily, and this will improve my safety and that of my children who ride with me on the bike (and are beginning to ride on their own).
I do have some suggestions for the design: At the top of Holland, at the Teele Square triangle, there should be a sign that instructs people on bike to take this as a two-stage left, and use the bike box that is on Broadway. Without a sign many cyclists will not know what to do here, and will try to make the left turn in mixed traffic. That left is particularly dangerous because some drivers continue left-straight on Curtis. Making the left turn in mixed traffic is also dangerous for cyclists because of the bus stop at the corner of Broadway & Cutis. A bust may appear to be making the left, and then pull towards the curb to get to the bus stop without being able to see a cyclist. Clear signage will help for now, and hopefully one day the whole Teele Triangle could be reconfigured to improve this flow (and better yet, make the "square" more of a destination with a public plaza instead of just a crazy traffic triangle).

I am in favor of this improved design. For too long Holland Street has been inhospitable to people who bike, this will remedy that problem. I bike daily, and this will improve my safety and that of my children who ride with me on the bike (and are beginning to ride on their own).
I do have some suggestions for the design: At the top of Holland, at the Teele Square triangle, there should be a sign that instructs people on bike to take this as a two-stage left, and use the bike box that is on Broadway. Without a sign many cyclists will not know what to do here, and will try to make the left turn in mixed traffic. That left is particularly dangerous because some drivers continue left-straight on Curtis. Making the left turn in mixed traffic is also dangerous for cyclists because of the bus stop at the corner of Broadway & Cutis. A bust may appear to be making the left, and then pull towards the curb to get to the bus stop without being able to see a cyclist. Clear signage will help for now, and hopefully one day the whole Teele Triangle could be reconfigured to improve this flow (and better yet, make the "square" more of a destination with a public plaza instead of just a crazy traffic triangle).

I am pleasantly surprised by this redesign. I live on Elmwood St and commute to work via bike. My route takes me through much of this area (Holland to Teele to Curtis and beyond), and these protected bike lanes would significantly help reduce my risk of death on the road. This is a good start and similar plans should be implemented throughout the city.

Please ignore the concern-trolling about parking. As a multi-year resident of the area, we have more than enough street parking in the area. There's always extra available parking spaces, even at the busiest of times. Somerville is the densest city in New England, and shouldn't be designed around private vehicles. This redesign is a step in the right direction.

Could we please have a light , or 3 way stop sigh at the intersection of Holland and Cameron.
I am a Somerville resident, and home owner since 1996.
Thanks , Marianne McElroy
15 Newbury St

The plans on these protected bike lanes for Holland look great. I am curious if the seasonal parklet by Dave's and Spoke will block the lanes.

In general, I appreciate your work and hope you can push back on those who insist on car convenience above human lives. I would also say that this is a good step but more is needed, especially on Broadway. Why can't quick-build lanes be implemented there? Why only on Holland?

I am concerned about the decrease in parking near the Tufts Admin Building, where the city's senior center is located. On the best day, parking is limited. The various road work projects in the past year or so have further limited parking. In the meantime, the large parking lot next to the building has been almost totally empty since Covid hit and Tufts employees have been working from home. Tufts has made parking available there for a few higher than the city charges in for lots, including a few even for handicapped spaces. As a senior who regularly attends classes in th e senior center, I do not understand why the city was so short-sighted when making the deal with Tufts to share this building. Now that parking on the street is going to be further limited I would like the city to negotiate some short-term parking in that lot, reserved for free for seniors attending programs in the senior center.

Hi I am in favor of adding more bus-only & bike lanes as proposed; even if it results in reduced street parking. The city needs to make sure that buses have priority to flow through the squares and that bikes can move safely up and down Holland.
Thank you
Matthias
Somerville, Massachusetts

As someone that invariably goes through Davis Square at least four times a day, I am against any protected bike lanes. The ridiculous comments I have read so far will only cause more accidents. Cyclists seem to think they are above the law and these lanes are some kind of force field. Cyclists refuse to follow the rules of the road. At least once a week I am almost hit by someone on a bike that refuses to yield to pedestrians (as I walk to/from Davis station) in the cross walk or blows through the light in front of Mr. Crepes. When is the city going to address this? Why do they get even more rights when they continuously violate the laws? They wonder why they are getting hit when they come flying down the street not paying attention to vehicles making right turns then have the audacity to yell at the driver?? I look when I turn, but they come down the street so fast, that when I go to actually turn, they are coming out of no where.
Additionally, the traffic coming from Highland clearly does not understand they have to yield to Holland traffic when the Holland light turns green. I can’t even count how many times I have almost been t-boned.
The double parking on Elm Street needs to be addressed too, now that restaurants have taken over and it’s down to one lane through Davis Square.
They also need to clearly mark these ridiculous extended sidewalks and islands on Holland. They are hard to see at night and not having driven towards Teele Sq. in a while, I almost hit the curb on Paulina, not seeing the bump out.
Somerville should also starting putting signs at every street corner for pedestrians to STOP and LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING! I don’t know when parents stopped teaching their children this, but maybe stop looking at your phone and actually look before you cross. You may have the right of way, but when you are running down the sidewalk and come out of no where, you aren’t going to win the game of chicken.

Also you need to repave Broadway instead of bandaid fixing the awful potholes and sinking manhole covers.

Easier accessibility to the community path. Cameron ave is also a bit of a mess.

I live on Holland st by Nine bar espresso. I am supportive of protected bike lanes. However, I would ask the city to provide a safe pick-up drop-off area near our building, that does not require us to cross traffic. The current plan has the nearest loading zone by College ave, which is very far, and requires us to cross traffic.

- We have residents whose parents are mobility impaired and needs to be dropped off as close to our entrance.
- We do not have much of residential permit parking in the area, therefore, we frequently need to quickly drop-off groceries/children/elderly folks, then drive away to find parking. With no loading zones nearby, I am afraid we will have to find unsafe parking (park in traffic, park by the intersection, park across the street) for these purposes. This will lead to unsafe conditions.
- With ever increasing restaurant delivery business in the area, there will be lots of drivers looking for temporary parking. Many of these drivers will turn into Holland st from Davis sq. If they can't find a pick-up area near Life Alive, Waikiki, or the upcoming restaurant, the drivers will be forced to doing very unsafe actions in the area including U-turns, park in traffic, and park in intersections; essentially making it unsafe for pedestrians, bikers, and traffic.

I live in Teele Square and biking is my primary method of transportation. I find myself going northbound on Holland more often than not so the full bike lane on that side is much appreciated. This is a great improvement but would also like to see better bike protection going all the way through Davis square as it's basically nonexistent today.

Protected Bike lane PLEASE!