Central Square Improvements Included Cigarette Disposal, New Public Toilet

CAMBRIDGE, MA - If you've strolled through Central Square recently you may have noticed a few minor improvements that Cambridge officials are hoping will make a big difference. They include a new public toilet, hanging cigarette receptacles and new sidewalks. (Subscribe to Cambridge Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.)

Public Toilet

After starting excavation activities in August, construction is nearing completion on a new public toilet in Central Square on Western Avenue, just south of Massachusetts Avenue. The project received an initial green light last year as part of the City’s Participatory Budgeting process.

In 2016, $320,000 in the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget was allocated for the project.

Accoring to Dan Riviello Public Works Community Relations Manager the project is expected to be completed by this fall/winter.

Riviello said the first Portland Loo, like the one being installed in Central Square, was installed in MacArthur Park in Harvard Square in February 2016.

Riviello said Central Square was picked after reviewing locations with the Human Services, Police, Community Development, and Public Works departments, as well as discussing the options with the Central Square Advisory Committee, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, and Central Square Business Association and reviewing their feedback

"The groups picked Western Avenue based on access to city utilities, proxmitity to restaurants, transit and pedestrian traffic as well as available, space," Riviello said.

Cambridge City Engineer Katherine F. Watkins said the other existing public toilet of this style was installed in Harvard Square approximately 18 months ago and has worked very well.

Watkins said the City does not have any other locations planned at this time.

Cigarette disposal

Last year, Cambridge Citizens for Smokers’ Rights Emily Wieja discovered the Sidewalk Buttler while walking around Salem.

Last week, over two dozen of the aluminum receptacles were attached to sign posts in Central and Harvard Squares in Cambridge.

According to Watkins, approximately 30 cigarette butlers were recently installed in Central.

"They cost approximately $100 each," Watkins said. "We are monitoring their use and are looking to expand the program into Harvard Square and focusing on locations with high restaurant and bar activity."

The 'Buttlers' are the brainchild of Mike Roylos, a restaurateur in Portland, Maine.

According to the Sidewalk Buttler website, "all receptacles come equipped with an RFID chip that is used with our custom Android mobile application. Collectors use this system to verify date and time of collection and keep track of collection totals.”

The Buttlers are designed for no-touch emptying and recycling.

Sidewalks

In addition to cigarette disposal and a new public toilet, Cambridge Dept. of Public Works crews have reconstructed two sections of sidewalks this year between Sellers and Inman & Carl Barron Plaza and Pearl.

"Both of these sections are reconstructing the sidewalk to make them more accessible for pedestrians and to continue the City’s commitment to maintenance of our infrastructure," Watkins said.

She said these sections were prioritized because the adjacent property owners had recently completed improvements on their buildings to remove areaways, which are underground areas that extend from adjacent buildings under the public right of way.

Photo by Dana Forsythe