Washington Street

 

Washington Street is wide enough to accommodate parking, traffic lanes, bike lanes, and safer, more attractive pedestrian access. Eunice Kim, a former Bike Newton Steering Committee Member and graduate student at the Tufts School of Public Policy, researched and wrote, in 2009, a bike lane feasibility study. She noted the street-scape was both unsafe and unfriendly for non-motorists, but there were many potential improvements that would add both to safety and aesthetic appeal. She also collaborated with Northeastern University engineering students on a creative plan to make Washington Street into a complete street.

In that plan, some parts of Washington Street would have one car travel lane in each direction; this design is fully supported by studies of traffic counts. Other parts would have more than one travel lane in each direction. The critical philosophy in road design is to base decisions on actual and projected road usage by all forms of transport: cars, trucks and buses, bicycles, and pedestrians. Many parts of Washington Street had too many car travel lanes for the number of cars, which diminished the total road share of pedestrians and cyclists. In the parlance of urban planners, Washington Street needed to go on a road diet.

In 2019, the City of Newton undertook the Washington Street Vision Plan. Its goal was to evaluate how Washington Street, as a collection of neighborhoods and villages, should change over time consistent with City policy and objectives.” One aspect which the Vision Plan considered was changed in the transportation system. As one of the City’s major east-west connectors, one goal of the Vision Plan was to improve the driving experience, to reduce conflicts with walkers and bikers, and to ensure that safety and comfort were foremost goals whether somebody was walking, biking, taking the bus or driving. Creating a safe two-directional Shared Use Path on the south side of Washington Street, separated from motor vehicle traffic was a major goal of this project.

Washington Street Pilot

In 2025, Newton’s City Council passed what is now known as the Washington Street Pilot. Ground was broken for the Washington Street Pilot in spring, 2025, and the construction phase of the project is intended to run through the fall, 2025. Bike Newton and Bike Newton members played an important part in advocating for that project. 

CLICK HERE to see NBC News 10’s on-site coverage of Washington Street Pilot, August 13, 2025.

NOTE: You can learn more about the Washington Street Pilot and receive updates by visiting the Planning Department web page: Washington Street Pilot: Creating a safer, greener, and more welcoming Washington Street!

By being a Bike Newton member, you will be notified by email when any public meetings to discuss the Washington Street Pilot occur at which time your advocacy would be welcome.