PICTURE MAIN STREET

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Update for January 2025: The project is currently in the 100% design phase.

The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office conducted an environmental review of the project due to the proposed removal of over 5 shade trees of 14"+ diameter and the proximity of Main Street to Environmental Justice communities. The EEA No./Project ID is 16817 on the  MEPA Environmental Monitor  website. Two meetings were held between January and April 2024, and an Environmental Impact Report was filed.

MEPA certified the project as complying with its policies.

Picture Main Street in 2030 and beyond. Businesses are thriving along a street that is alive with people sharing meals, browsing for a great find, and admiring the work of a local artist. People come and go on foot, in wheelchairs, by bike, on transit, and by car with a feeling of safety, comfort, joy, and ease. A lush landscape of trees and greenery and a connected network of underground utilities support a smart, enduring, and sustainable Downtown. The City attracts visitors of all ages from out of town who want to return and tell their friends about their experience. 

The City of Northampton is embarking on a reconstruction project to invest in the future of our beloved Main Street. Decades of planning and study have brought us to this moment. Most recently, the hardship and havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed not only our weaknesses but also opportunities and a common desire to see Northampton prosper now and for generations to come. The City is excited to invite each of you to join us in picturing the Main Street of our future.

This website expands communication, knowledge sharing, and feedback opportunities for the  Picture Main Street  project. On this website, you’ll find information about the project history and background, learn about potential project elements and how they work, share feedback on the project, and stay up to date on project progress.  Sign up for our Planning Newsletter  to receive updates on Picture Main Street and other projects.

Scroll down to see all the content presented in order or jump quickly to a section using the navigation bar pinned to the top of the screen.

The website contains the following sections: The Background & History section reviews the decades of planning and information gathering that has led us to this moment, the project goals, and the project scope and funding​. The What We Know section summarizes existing conditions and data about Main Street. The What We’ve Heard section provides an overview of the main themes we have heard from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders so far. The Design Alternatives section shows detailed alternatives and discuss the trade-offs between them. The Timeline section keeps everyone up-to-date on the full project timeline​. The FAQ section provides answers to the questions we’ve heard the most from the community​. The Contact section provides a place to get in touch with the project team.

This project will provide transportation, utility, and streetscape investments as a foundation for the future success of Main Street. However, this project cannot achieve everything by itself. There are many Citywide initiatives that are complementary to the Picture Main Street project with overarching goals to support a safe, thriving, and sustainable Northampton for all, including:

• A  ValleyBike Winter Pilot  to test year-round bikeshare service and upcoming expansion of stations in Northampton.
• A Safe Routes to School program to Improve sidewalks and crosswalks around Bridge Street Elementary School at the gateway to downtown
• A Pleasant Street complete streets project (Hockanum Road to the roundabout) that will add bicycle and pedestrian accommodations (2021) .
• New solar-powered and smart wayfinding signs in Downtown.
• The  Local Rapid Recovery Planning  (Spring 2021) that will help downtown recover from the COVID-19 economic crisis.
• An ongoing process to reform zoning in Downtown that will connect the dots between land use, transportation, and climate goals.
• The  Open Space, Recreation, & Multi-Use Trail Plan (2018-2025)  which serves as a blueprint for Northampton to become one of the most sustainable and resilient communities in the Commonwealth and nationwide. 
• A  Community Resilience Hub  that will support all Northampton residents who face chronic and/or acute stress due to natural and human-caused disasters, climate change, and social and economic challenges.
• Installation of new  newspaper boxes  with uniform city-owned boxes with a smaller footprint (2021)
• Continued flexibility to allow outdoor dining adjacent to restaurants on city-owned sidewalks, streets, parking lots, and other public land.

The project will include a complete reconstruction of the public space within the project area. Every physical aspect of the street - including the roadway, sidewalk, civic spaces, traffic signals and underground utilities - will be assessed and potentially be part of the design and construction process. The project will include various  amenities including street trees, benches and seating, lighting, bike and vehicle parking, bus stop amenities, and planting areas. As part of the project, the entire street will be made fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The project will use state and federal funding provided through the  State Transportation Improvement Program  (STIP). Currently, the Picture Main Street project is projected to receive $19.2M in 2025. When compared and scored against all other proposed projects, this project was identified as the highest priority project in the region.

As a project funded using money from the federal and state governments, the project is a partnership between the City of Northampton who owns and maintains the street, the State (MassDOT) who will help fund, review, and approve the project, and the community. One portion of the project - upgrades to the underground water and sewer utilities - is not eligible to be funded by the state. The City will use funding from enterprise fund assets through our  Capital Improvement Program  for this portion of the project. 

This section summarizes existing information and data about Main Street today, including insights about Main Street’s crash history, the condition of street trees, traffic operations, parking, and more. 

For details on the operational aspects of Main Street, see the  Functional Design Report  prepared as part of this project.

Sewer, drainage, and water utilities - many of which are over 100 years old - run underground along Main Street. The drainage pipes are for stormwater and connected to the infiltration beds of the trees along the corridors. All sewer, drainage, and water pipes are near the end of their lifespans and need to be replaced. This project will give the City an opportunity to replace the aging utilities simultaneously with surface-level improvements that incorporate surface level stormwater management and avoid future utility disruptions. 

The feedback and support of residents, business owners, visitors, and other stakeholders is tremendously important to move the project from planning to construction. Below, we’ve summarized what people have shared with us so far.

That’s part of why we created this website. A lot of planning, analysis, and study has been completed before now and we want to make sure everyone has all the information.

Based on feedback from meetings, surveys, and conversations held throughout 2020, the City developed several high-level alternatives to consider for Main Street. These alternatives represent the spectrum of opinions that were shared with the city and Northampton’s overall goals for safety, accessibility, vibrancy, and sustainability. From the preservation of parking to shorter crosswalks to adding bike lanes to reducing traffic congestion, a wide range of priorities were expressed by many stakeholders in Northampton. 

After several rounds of community meetings, review of over 1,200 survey responses, and consideration of safety, accessibility, vibrancy, and sustainability goals, Mayor Narkewicz  announced  that Alternative 3 would be carried forward into the next design phase. Alternative 3 includes three vehicle travel lanes, expanded sidewalks, separated bike lanes, and a mix of parallel and angled parking. As the City moves into the next phase, there will be additional opportunities for the community to review and weigh in on specific design details.

While alternatives for Main Street were being considered, the city invited the community to explore the benefits and trade-offs of each of the alternatives presented below. While the alternatives include the full project area (from West/Elm to Market/Hawley), the greatest differences between alternatives are seen in the section of Main Street between the West/Elm intersection and the King/Pleasant intersection.

The alternatives that were explored include:

• Alternative 1A: Four vehicle travel lanes with a mix of expanded and reduced sidewalks, angled parking, and a mix of separated and shared bike lanes
• Alternative 1B: Four vehicle travel lanes with expanded sidewalks, angled parking, and no bike lanes
• Alternative 2: Four vehicle travel lanes with expanded sidewalks, parallel parking, and a mix of separated and shared bike lanes
• Alternative 3: Three vehicle travel lanes with expanded sidewalks, separated bike lanes, and angled parking

Although Alternative 3 was ultimately selected to be advanced into detailed design, all of the alternatives considered are documented below for reference (tree and parking space numbers are more accurately reflected with a 25% design.)

To help the community and stakeholders understand the benefits and drawbacks of the alternatives, each was evaluated using a range of criteria that are aligned with the project's goals. This evaluation was intended to provide a relatively objective approach to decision-making, with the understanding that the process of creating a safe and vibrant Main Street is not entirely scientific. The evaluation criteria for the alternatives include:

Goal 1: Provide Safety and Access for All

• Crosswalks are short and minimize conflicts
• All modes have separate and dedicated space for travel
• All sidewalks provide at minimum 5 feet clear space
• Space for accessible parking is provided on every block
• Emergency vehicle access is preserved

Goal 2: Promote a Vibrant and Attractive Downtown

• Businesses have sidewalk space for outdoor dining and commerce
• On-street vehicle parking is preserved
• Space for art, seating, civic gatherings, and other amenities is provided
• A diversity of business, customer, and civic needs are met

Goal 3: Create a Functional, Enduring, and Sustainable Streetscape

• Space for commercial loading is defined and convenient
• Delay for people driving and taking transit on Main Street is minimized
• Delay for people walking and biking on Main Street is minimized
• Existing trees are preserved
• Space for new trees and green infrastructure is provided
• Snow management and removal operations are considered

Here is what has happened so far, and what you can expect in the future.

• Northampton Streetscape Improvement Plan (2005)
• Route 9 Railroad Overpass Safety Study (2006)
• Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan (2008 and amended through 2021)
• Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (2015)
• Main Street Walk/Bike Assessment, an element of Sustainable Northampton (2016)
• Walk Bike Northampton Plan, an element of Sustainable Northampton (2017)
• Route 9 Safety and Livability Study (2017)
• Transit Mobility Alternatives Study (2018)
• A Downtown Northampton for Everyone: Residents, Visitors, Merchants, and People at Risk (2019)

• Community Meeting #1
• Project Advisory Group Meeting #1
• Business Group Meeting #1
• Joint Parking and Bike/Ped Committee Meeting #1
• Community Survey #1

• COVID-19 pandemic begins affecting life in Northampton
• Route 9 Road Safety Audit (2020)

• Outdoor Dining on Lower Main Street installed
• Temporary Shared Streets & Spaces Project Installed on Upper Main Street
• Community Survey #2
• Business Stakeholder Meeting
• Temporary Project Removed on Upper Main Street 

• ADA Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan and Section 504 Plan (2020)
• Transportation & Parking Commission Meeting
• Bicycle & Pedestrian subcommittee Meeting
• Planning Board Meeting
• Downtown Northampton Association Meeting 
• Project Advisory Group Meeting #2 
• Community Meeting #2
• Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Committee Meeting
• Community Survey #3

• Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan, an element of Sustainable Northampton (2021)
• Community Meeting #3 - Launch Website
• Community Meeting #4 - Design Alternatives Meeting
• Community Survey #4
• Community Meeting #5 - Selection of Preferred Alternative
• Community Forum 1 - East Section from King/Pleasant to Market/Hawley Intersections
• Community Forum 2 - Middle Section from Masonic Street to King/Pleasant Intersection
• Community Forum 3 - West Section from Elm Street to Masonic Street
• Design Development

• MassDOT 25% Design Submittal (January 2022)
• MassDOT review period for 25% design submittal

• MassDOT 25% Design Public Hearing
• 75% Design

• 75% Design and Permitting Review
• Final Design
• Pre-Construction Meetings
• Construction

These are the most common questions we have received on the project to-date. If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to contact us.​

Why do we need to make any changes at all to Main St?​

Beyond addressing well-documented safety concerns, the underground utilities on Main Street have reached the end of their design life and are in need of replacement. In addition, Main Street is in need of investments to the public realm that can help usher in prosperity and longevity for our existing businesses as well as future investors. Downtowns all over the country are evolving and consumers, who have many choices and little absolute need to come downtown, are increasingly voting with their feet and their pocketbooks for downtowns that provide rich experiences and outdoor environments. Changes to Main Street (and other streets in the City) are also essential to addressing the threats of unmitigated climate change, such as stormwater surges during intense rain events and increasingly hot temperatures.

Will parking be removed?​

We understand the critical importance of on-street parking as an amenity to Downtown businesses.  The future design of Main Street strives to maintain as much on-street parking as possible while addressing critical safety needs and balancing the functionality of Main Streets for future businesses. The current design proposes 73 on-street parking spaces compared to 130 under existing conditions. The project’s design does provide an increased supply of accessible on-street parking with spaces provided on every block.

Within a 5-minute walk of Main Street 400 on-street parking spaces and 1,000 public off-street spaces are available. The City has also updated its  parking policy  (March 2023) to reflect people’s parking habits and ensure is availability for users who value its convenience.

How will traffic and congestion be affected?​

Today, traffic congestion is caused in part by the number of vehicles that travel through Main Street, but also by the street design and the traffic signal programming. Traffic analysis is being conducted as part of the redesign of Main Street to evaluate future conditions and to maximize efficiency while balancing other priorities for the street. Overall future traffic operations are anticipated to remain generally at the same level of accommodation for vehicles as existing conditions while the project will incorporate significant enhancements to improve the experience pedestrian and bicycle users.

How will emergency response vehicles travel through the corridor?​

Concern about increased emergency response time is common when discussing any street project. However,  research  shows that some measures actually can improve or maintain existing response time while improving safety for vulnerable users, like people walking and biking. Additionally, emergency response vehicles are allowed to use the full width of the street in both directions during emergencies, which makes it easier for them to maneuver around pulled-over vehicles.

Though the installation was only in place for four weeks, response times measured during the temporary Shared Streets & Spaces project over the summer of 2020 showed no change in response time when compared to existing conditions.

How will this project affect people experiencing homelessness on Main Street?​

This project is not intended to unsettle people experiencing homelessness or others who are panhandling who spend time on Main Street. The City is working to create a  Community Resilience Hub  to support all community members who face chronic and acute stress due to natural and human-caused disasters, climate change, and social and economic challenges, including providing services for those who otherwise will be panhandling.​ 

How will construction activities affect Main Street?

Prior to any construction activities, a detailed construction management plan will be prepared to help make construction safe and efficient. Keeping Main Street open for business during construction will become a major focus for the project team when we get closer to construction. The design team has already begun  collecting examples and ideas  from places around the world that have completed major reconstruction activities while preserving civic, business, and other activities on the Street.