Newton’s $2.8 million Washington Street redesign has delivered some promising results: crashes have been cut roughly in half, traffic speeds are down, and more people are walking and biking.
But not everyone is convinced. A community survey found nearly half of respondents want the old four-lane road back.
The city’s yearlong pilot transformed a 0.9-mile stretch of Washington Street between Newton Lower Falls, West Newton, Newtonville, and Newton Corner by:
- Reducing the road from four travel lanes to two
- Adding a center turn lane
- Building a two-way shared-use path along the Massachusetts Turnpike
- Improving pedestrian and bicycle access
The city’s evaluation found:
- Collisions dropped by about 50%
- Average speeds fell from 30–35 mph to 25–30 mph
- Daily traffic decreased from about 14,900 trips to 12,000
- Travel times increased by no more than one minute
- Bike and pedestrian activity increased
- Parking remained available, with about 40% of spaces typically open
The study also found no major traffic problems shifted onto nearby streets.
But a Newtonville Area Council survey of 861 residents showed the community remains divided:
- 45% want the original four-lane design restored
- 31% want the pilot made permanent
- 24% want changes before making a decision
Critics have raised concerns about parking, driving conditions, and whether the redesign works for everyone. The survey was not a scientific poll and included a large share of responses from West Newton and Newtonville residents.
Mayor Marc Laredo has held listening sessions with residents but has not announced whether the redesign will become permanent. The city plans to collect more data during the pilot’s second year before making a decision.
For now, Washington Street remains a test case: a project that appears to have improved safety metrics — while continuing to spark a very public debate over what Newton’s streets should look like.
