The Town of Natick is studying potential improvements to pedestrian/
Before moving into this more detailed design work, Town staff are forming a working group to help further refine the design concept. Comprised of Town staff, board and committee members, Natick Center business owners, and residents at large, the working group will review the concept, share feedback, and vote on endorsing a revised design prepared by the project team.
Apply to be a member of the Main Street Improvement Working Group
- Click here to learn more and access the application. Applications will close on February 19, at 11:59pm.
- Members will attend 2 hybrid meetings over the course of 9 weeks
- Total time commitment of 4-10 hours, depending on role and interest
- Expected topics: pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility; general wayfinding; lighting; streetscape design along Main Street (Route 27), from Cottage Street to South Avenue; and more.
If you’re interested in giving your thoughts on the project but cannot make the Working Group, the Town will in late March hold a public forum for folks to weigh in on the design. Date and location information TBD.
Click here to learn more about the Main Street Improvement Project.
Not starting from scratch
The Town of Natick has already been working with engineering firm McFarland Johnson, which has shared concepts to improve mobility and safety along the stretch between the Natick Center train station and Cottage Street.
A couple of the project’s “non-negotiables,” as identified by McFarland Johnson based on community input, include no taking of private property, and no change to Main Street’s overall right-of-way.
Although there has been broad-based agreement that pedestrian safety improvements are needed along the corridor, there has been less of a consensus regarding parking, and bicycle infrastructure. In past meetings, some have called for less space dedicated to cars and more space dedicated to bike lanes, while others have advocated for the opposite.
Based on these stated priorities, a hybrid concept has emerged as the preferred model for the corridor. The hybrid concept provides bicycle accommodations along the corridor while maintaining the existing number of parking spaces.
The town recently received a $500,000 state grant from the Commonwealth’s MassWorks Program that will allow Natick to advance this design work, which is estimated to take approximately two years to complete.
When will the rubber really hit the road, so to speak? The final phase of the project—as in the time when Main Street will become a major construction zone—is estimated to take place starting in the late 2020s and last through the early 2030s.
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