On Wednesday, February 5, the Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study Working Group (NCLT) met online. The NCLT is tasked with creating a report with up to six alternative conceptual plans to improve the Newton Corner I-90 Interchange. The meeting discussed sixteen (transportation-related) components that can be ‘layered upon each other’ to create the plans for the group’s final report.
MassDOT and its contractor, VHB Consulting, gave a summary of future Newton Corner conditions projected out to 2050. They anticipate stable pedestrian and bicyclist levels and a slight increase in vehicular traffic.
This summary was similar to the ten-year projections in the Newton Corner Improvements Project Study Final Report released on December 20, 2024. It said:
“Traffic volumes and congestion are expected to increase over the next ten years due to new developments in Newton, Watertown, and Brighton. The Newton Corner area will continue to be a bus transit hub with six routes serving the neighborhood after the MBTA implements the Bus Network Redesign plan between 2024 and 2029, consolidating the current eight routes down to six. There are no current plans beyond this study to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, despite the growing demand.” (page ES4)
MassDOT and VHB also created the Newton Corner Improvements Project Study Final Report linked above. It covered short-term work and made recommendations for mid-term improvements the City could “champion.”
Phase II of the short-term work will be completed with the addition of a traffic signal on eastbound Washington Street where it merges onto Centre Avenue heading south. (Note: Centre Avenue is the southbound bridge over I-90 that connects Washington to Centre Street, forming the southwest part of the Newton Corner traffic circle.) The Newton Department of Public Works is working on the design of the new traffic signal.
MassDOT reviewed the 16 alternative components suggested to meet the goals of the study to improve safety, access, and mobility for all, and to reconnect the neighborhood. Some of the components are:
- Two-way traffic on Washington Street to ‘increase connectivity.’
- A one-way, shared-use path connecting St. James St. to the Dudley White bike path along the Charles. (A participant noted some bicyclists have already created an impromptu path along this route.)
- Decking over I-90 to create a village center or park (Ward 1 Councilors Oliver and Leary were enthusiastic about this idea.)
- Full interstate access at West Newton to relieve pressure on Newton Corner
- Constructing a new pedestrian/bicyclist bridge over I-90
- A Newton Corner Commuter Rail station
- Roundabouts
- Relocating the westbound and eastbound off-ramps
- A road bridge connecting Centre Street
When Working Group members and the public asked MassDOT about the economic feasibility or traffic impacts of the 16 components, MassDOT sai dthat the components were at the conceptual stage and that those issues would be assessed during the next stage.
A participant noted that Milton had a park similar to the deck component. In the 1990s, Manning Park – a 40,000-SF open space located on a bridge deck crossing the I-93 expressway – was constructed with State, Local, and $7 million in Federal funding. Manning Park was recently redesigned to improve traffic flow and park use.
The 16 alternative components will be presented at a public meeting of the NCLT Planning Study Working Group on Zoom on February 25 beginning at 6:30 PM.
According to Josh Goggin, MassDOT Communications, “The Newton Corner Long-Term Planning Study is currently scheduled to conclude by the winter of 2025. The project team will communicate any timeline updates and other project updates with the public throughout this year. The PowerPoint from the February 5 meeting is in the process of being uploaded.”
For information on past NCLT meetings and to register for the upcoming meeting, visit https://www.mass.gov/newton-corner-long-term-planning-study
Or drop into the virtual NCLT Planning Study Room created by VHB Consulting, where visitors can add their site-specific comments on a map of the study area.
All NCLT Planning Study Working Group meetings are open to the public.
Ed. Note: Lucia Dolan is a member of the Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study Working Group.
