$400K Medford Grant Funds Haines Square Safety Improvements

MEDFORD, MA — Medford received a $400,000 Complete Streets grant from MassDOT for pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety improvements in Haines Square. The grant, announced at a press conference with state and transportation officials Thursday, will allow the project to proceed earlier than expected, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said.

The intersection has been the subject of ongoing community planning and discussion since 2016. It was identified as a priority Complete Streets project to curb the number of pedestrian crashes.

"Haines Square is one of Medford’s busiest business districts and a major connection between the City of Medford and surrounding communities, yet this critical intersection has been in dire need of traffic mitigation and safety improvements, that we will finally be able to bring to reality," Lungo-Koehn said.

The proposed project will provide safer pedestrian connections, particularly for school and transit access, and improve access for people with limited mobility. It will also reduce speeds and highlight bicycle use by adding shared-lane markings, signs and bike-friendly drains.

Infrastructure improvements include resurfacing, retro-reflective pavement markings, pedestrian signs with proper reflectivity, reducing the complexity of the intersection, lessening curb radii, reducing crossing distances, an improved pedestrian refuge island, curb extensions, improved street lighting, additional linear feet of sidewalk and ADA-compliant ramps.

The city expects the bid process to begin this winter, with work potentially starting as early as spring or summer 2022.