Newton’s Washington Street redesign has become a neighborhood debate: bring back the old road, tweak the new one, or keep it as is?
A new survey from the Newtonville Area Council found nearly half of respondents want the city to undo the pilot project — but official traffic data shows the redesign has improved safety.
The NAC survey collected 861 responses:
- 45% want the old four-lane road restored
- 31% want the pilot made permanent
- 24% want changes to the current design
Most respondents came from the neighborhoods closest to the project, with 58% living in West Newton or Newtonville.
The $2.8 million pilot, launched in summer 2025, replaced the former four-lane layout between West Newton and Newtonville with:
- One travel lane in each direction
- A center turning lane
- A protected two-way bike and pedestrian path
Residents vs. the data
The survey found many residents feel traffic, parking, and safety have gotten worse. But city-commissioned analysis found the opposite:
- Daily traffic dropped by 2,835 vehicles near Chestnut Street
- Bike traffic increased 27%
- Crashes fell from six to three during the study period
- Speeds dropped from 30–35 mph to 25–30 mph
- Travel times increased by less than one minute
Engineers Emma Enteado and Valerie Chia wrote that the pilot is “on track to meet its objectives for safety and multimodal use.”
The NAC acknowledged its survey was not a scientific poll and said organized advocacy groups may have influenced participation, but argued the results show a disconnect between city data and residents’ day-to-day experiences.
What happens next
The Newtonville Area Council has shared the results with Mayor Marc Laredo and the City Council as officials decide the pilot’s future.
Laredo has expressed support for keeping the pedestrian and bike pathway, but the larger question — whether Washington Street keeps its current lane setup — remains unanswered.
No vote or decision timeline has been announced.
