Installation of Bus Only Lane on River Street Coming Soon

As the River Street Reconstruction approaches substantial completion this fall, several traffic pattern changes will be taking effect. Over the next few months, workers will install new signage, paving and street markings, including a new dedicated bus-only lane. This work will happen in sections rather than all at once. At the end of construction, River Street will have sidewalks, a parking and loading lane, one general-purpose travel lane, a dedicated bus-only lane, and a sidewalk-level bike lane.

Rendering of River Street at Rockwell Street, looking towards Central Square, showing dedicated bus lane in red and sidewalk-level bike lane (which will have green paint only at intersections)

More information on how this new design was chosen and how to use the new street design, is below.

How did we develop this new street design?

City staff and community members in a project Working Group developed design goals, alternative concepts, and ultimately this new layout of River Street during the design phase of the project (2019 - 2022).

Street Design Goals Developed With Project Working Group

Source: Transportation Design Report (2021)

Some of the main transportation and mobility motivations for this new street design include:

• Reducing bus delay and unreliability where buses carry many people on the street
• Reducing high traffic speeds and traffic safety concerns
• Aligning with Cambridge's long-term goals and recommendations for zero-emission transportation and citywide comprehensive plans

Reducing bus delay and unreliability, especially where buses carry many people on the street

During our study, we examined bus and vehicle volumes on River Street. In 2019 and today, during the busiest hour of the day, around 30% of people on River Street are riding MBTA Route 64 and 70 buses. Bus service on River Street experiences concerning levels of delay and unreliability. The City identified River Street as a location of concern for bus delay and unreliability in 2018. The MBTA also identified a need for bus lanes and transit signal priority in 2023. By dedicating a lane to buses, River Street will be able to unlock street space to move more people while improving the street as a public space.

MBTA has also committed to improvements to bus service on River Street through the Better Bus Network program. The MBTA recently upgraded Route 64 schedules to have a bus at least every 30 minutes every day of the week from morning to late at night. In addition, the MBTA plans to improve Route 70 schedules to Frequent Bus Route standards. This means Route 70 will have a bus at least every 15 minutes, every day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. With the new bus lanes and service increases, Cambridge community members will have years of reliable access to daily necessities and opportunities by public transit.

Reducing high traffic speeds and traffic safety concerns at intersections

Early in the design study, the City identified that parts of River Street have significant speeding and intersection safety concerns. A vehicle speed study showed parts of River Street have most drivers driving above the 25 m.p.h. posted speed limit. Slower speeds on main streets are important, because we know that people walking are more likely to experience severe or fatal injuries when people drive faster than 25 miles per hour.

Likelihood of severe or fatal injury for pedestrians struck by drivers traveling at the above speeds.

With our project working group, we considered alternatives to reduce traffic speeds. The working group recommended that we look at alternatives with 1 vehicle travel lane to manage speeds. On River Street, we know that a single vehicle travel lane can accommodate the volume of vehicles paired with traffic signal changes that improve efficiency at key intersections.

City staff worked with design consultants and consulted with city departments to examine alternative designs. This technical group ruled out street designs with only a single travel lane and parking lane on street. The main reason was a lack of space for vehicles to pull away from emergency vehicles and concerns how the street would work during regular repair/maintenance, during trash pickup or street sweeping, and if a vehicle breaks down.

The new street design with 1 general purpose travel lane and 1 dedicated bus lane is expected to have similar reduction in speed. At the same time, bus riders would experience more reliable bus trips, and the design would not have operational concerns for emergency vehicles, maintenance and repair work, or regular trash pick-up and street sweeping.
In addition, we examined the history of crashes at intersections to make improvements to traffic safety and efficient operations on River Street. These include:

• Adding separated bike lanes
• Changes to curb lines to slow vehicle turns
• Adding new signage and flashing beacons
• Making new traffic signal timing plans
• Adding a new traffic signal at Franklin Street

These street design changes work toward the City's comprehensive plan and goals to become a more sustainable community

The street design changes on River Street are supported by the City's Envison Cambridge comprehensive plan and Zero Emission Transportation Plan.

Envision Cambridge is the City's comprehensive plan that guides future growth, housing, transportation, sustainability, and economic development. This plan establishes long-term goals for creating a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable community.

Zero Emissions Transportation Plan (ZETP) makes recommendations and specifies actions to support the goal of Cambridge becoming a net zero community by 2050.

How to use the new street design?

You can learn more about how to safely use the new street design features in the Street Code The Cambridge Street Code is a resource for everyone. Whether you walk, bike, drive, or use public transportation, we all want to get around safely in Cambridge.

Street code images for safely travelling on streets with bus lanes in Cambridge.

Read the Street Code in:

See more information about using bus lanes on Bus Priority webpage https://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/transportation/regionalplanning/masstransit/buspriority

More questions?

Send an e-mail to [email protected].