Cleveland Circle Intersection And Safety Improvements
The Boston Transportation Department is working with you and your neighbors to plan changes at Cleveland Circle to quickly improve mobility and pedestrian safety.
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Cleveland Circle is an important intersection for Brighton and for the City of Boston. Situated in the western section of Brighton, Cleveland Circle is an important transit hub. There are three Green Line stations in close proximity, as well as a destination for recreation at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
We've heard a lot from you and your neighbors about how dangerous Cleveland Circle can be. Many avoid the area because of dangerous crosswalks, confusing angle parking, and unsafe bicycle facilities. The City is planning changes to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and calm vehicular movements through the intersection.
In the short term, we will use striping, flex posts, signal changes and signage to increase safety and efficiency at the intersection. In the future, we will use the performance of these near-term actions to guide design of a larger-scale redesign of the intersection.
Current Safety Challenges
Current Safety Challenges
Unsafe Pedestrian Conditions
People walking or rolling through Cleveland Circle have to deal with:
- faded pavement markings
- long crossing distances, and
- inconvenient crossing locations.
Curb ramps, sidewalks, and crosswalk surfaces are damaged in many places. These factors combine to make crossing Cleveland Circle on foot or while using a mobility device time-consuming and stressful.
Lack of Safe Cycle Infrastructure
Cleveland Circle is a critical connecting point for the City and the region. But, there are no protected bicycle facilities in the entire intersection. Painted lanes on Chestnut Hill Avenue and Beacon Street west of the intersection do not continue through the intersection. The western portion of Beacon Street does not have any bike lanes at all.
Bike parking also varies in quality and availability. While there are some racks available near the Cleveland Circle Green Line Station, there is often little parking near businesses and destinations. A BlueBikes dock exists to the southwest of the intersection, near Cassidy Playground. But, it is difficult to reach from other parts of the intersection. The current arrangement of bicycle infrastructure does provide a low-stress bike route through the intersection from any direction.
Hazardous Parking and Delivery
Currently, Beacon Street westbound has two aisles of front-in angle parking. This style of parking is dangerous. It results in increased pedestrian and vehicular crashes due to the inherent risks of reversing a vehicle into a travel lane.
Businesses also often receive deliveries from trucks parking in the travel lane due to the lack of dedicated delivery space at the curb.
Proposed Changes
Upgraded Pedestrian Infrastructure
Pedestrian crossings will be repainted to create a safer environment. Through quick-build barriers and traffic signal changes, crossings will be safer and less stressful. In the current near-term phase of the project, we will be unable to add additional crosswalks. But, we are actively planning for longer-term reconfiguration of the intersection that will include redesigned pedestrian paths.
Upgraded Bicycle Infrastructure
Striping, signage, and flex posts will be used to create separated bike lanes. In many cases, parking-protected bike lanes will be appropriate quick fixes to separate moving bicycles from moving vehicles. Bicycle facilities will be constructed along Chestnut Hill Avenue through Cleveland Circle, This will complete a gap in the regional bike lane network between Commonwealth Avenue and Brookline, and along Beacon Street through the intersection. We will connect existing bike lanes on Beacon Street in Brookline with bike lanes on Beacon Street near Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
Lane Readjustments
We plan to change lane assignments, modify curb regulations, and alter traffic flows through the intersection. This will reduce confusion and danger, and slow speeding cars through the intersection. Based on business needs, we will also work to provide dedicated space for deliveries and pick-up/drop-off activity.
Public Realm Improvements
By reclaiming slip lanes and roadway for people, we will make improvements to the pedestrian environment and increase the amount of plaza space at the intersection. This could include seating, plantings, and street-level footways. By making these improvements to the public realm, we hope to increase foot traffic and encourage visits to the area.
Events and Outreach
Events
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