Medford’s Residential Shared Streets Program To Return This Summer

MEDFORD, MA — The City of Medford’s residential Shared Streets program is returning this summer and fall, by resident request.

Shared streets are temporary interventions with cones and signage to give people more space to get around in their neighborhoods car-free and safely. Local traffic, deliveries, and emergency vehicles will still have access to the street, but these interventions discourage cut-through traffic and prioritize the safe use of streets for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Medford’s Shared Streets program was launched as a pilot on three streets in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the city expanded this program to nine streets chosen via a neighborhood nomination process. This year, the city is re-opening applications for street nominations for the 2022 season and anticipates that five streets will be chosen in the first round.

In order to be selected, the city asks that nominated streets show strong support from people who live on and around the street. The nomination form is available here. Main streets will not be considered, but secondary and side streets will. Nominations for round one are open through July 19th.

Anyone with questions about the program may reach out to the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability at ocd@medford-ma.gov. More information is also available at www.medfordma.org/shared-streets.