The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and the City of Malden announced Thursday the completion of a series of multimodal roadway treatments in Malden as part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program.
The roadway treatments include shared bus-bicycle lanes, bicycle lanes, and improved pedestrian crossings to enhance access to the MBTA Orange Line’s Malden Center Station and the surrounding downtown area.
The collaborative effort will improve bus speed and reliability for over 3,100 bus riders daily.
“These street improvements are a wonderful example of how public space can be shared to benefit all travelers,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “We thank City of Malden officials for their leadership to make this project possible, which will provide a vital last-mile link for bus customers and people walking and bicycling between Malden Center, the Orange Line station, and other important destinations, including the Northern Strand Community Trail.”
The City of Malden completed the project with the help of $211,715 in funding through MassDOT’s Shared Streets program. As of October 2020, Shared Streets and Spaces has funded 124 projects in 103 communities for a total of over $10 million.
“The City of Malden is doing everything we can to ensure our residents are safe and supported throughout the pandemic,” said Mayor Gary Christenson. “Transportation is a key component of our city’s response; from improving bus service reliability to upgrading bike safety, and creating more open space to supporting small businesses, Malden is meeting the challenges faced by COVID-19.”