Overview
The project begins at the Sumner Avenue intersection with Churchill Street and continues 3,400 feet east to the intersection with Daytona Street. The Belmont Avenue project limits begin just northwest of its intersection with Burlington Street and continue 1,650 feet south to the intersection with Ormond Street. The Dickinson Street segment begins at the intersection with Burlington Street and runs south 1,050 feet to the intersection with Cliftwood Street. Side streets that are included within the project area include Cliftwood Street, Lenox Street, Ormond Street, Burlington Street, Oakland Street, and Commonwealth Avenue. Project improvements include:
- Traffic pattern changes and the addition of transition lanes (i.e. auxiliary lanes).
- New traffic signals and traffic signal coordination.
- 5 foot bicycle lanes and widening and reconstruction of sidewalks to shared-use paths.
- Pedestrian facility and accessibility upgrades.
- Bus stop and shelter upgrades.
- Replacement of street lighting, furnishings, and landscaping.
Background and public process
Increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the Sumner Avenue, Belmont Avenue, and Dickinson Street intersection in Springfield's Forest Park community has resulted in significant safety, delay, and connectivity concerns for residents, school-aged children, motorists, and businesses. A fully connected transportation network, for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit, is essential for preserving resident’s quality of life and fostering a vibrant local economy.
The improvements have been designed following the Massachusetts Green Department of Transportation (GreenDOT) Policy Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The design promotes healthy transportation alternatives (e.g. walking, cycling, and public transit), and supports Smart Growth Development. In addition, the improvements have been developed with a Complete Streets approach to provide safe and appropriate accommodations for different roadways user (i.e. motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users).
During the design development phase, the City of Springfield conducted an extensive public involvement process that consisted of the following efforts:
| Outreach Activity | Details | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Public Meeting | City of Springfield held a public meeting as part of the “X” Improvements Planning Study | October 6, 2015 |
| Public Meeting | City of Springfield held a second public meeting as part of the “X Improvements Planning Study | February 10, 2016 |
| Media Coverage | Media coverage of the project posted to MassLive and WWLP (local news station) | May 10, 2017 May 16, 2017 |
| Stakeholder Meeting | City and Fuss & O’Neill (F&O) presented a Pre-25% Concept plan to the Forest Park Civic Association | December 12, 2017 |
| Direct Mailing | City of Springfield sent all property owners within project limits a letter soliciting comments on the 25% plans. Comments were received and responses issued by Springfield Department of Public Works. | Fall 2017/Winter 2018 |
| Design Public Hearing (DPH) | A DPH was held at Forest Park Middle School. City and F&O presented an updated design based on previous public feedback and solicited additional public feedback to develop the 75% and 100% final design plans. | September 17, 2019 |
| Historic Commission Meeting | Historic Commission Section 106 Review; open to the public. | November 18, 2021 |
| Historic Commission Meeting | Historic Commission Section 106 Review; open to the public. | December 2, 2021 |
| Environmental Justice – Screening Form | Distributed and available online in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. | May 10, 2023 |
| Community Meeting | John J. Shea Bright Nights Building – In-Person. | July 18, 2023 |
| Public Notice of Environmental Review | Placed in the Springfield Republican and MA Environmental Monitor, in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. | July/August 2023 |
| Construction Phase Public Meeting #01 | In-Person, Forest Park Middle School | May 14, 2025 |
| Construction Phase Public Meeting #02 | In-Person, Forest Park Middle School | April 8, 2026 |
Project schedule
Schedule updates will be provided as the project progresses through regular stakeholder updates, public information meetings, and updates to website information.
| Timeline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | Third-Party Utility Work and Site Preparation Activity |
| Summer 2025 to Summer 2026 | Drainage Construction |
| Summer 2025 to Summer 2027 | Water Line Construction |
| Summer 2027 to Summer 2028 | Electrical and Conduit Work |
| Summer 2028 to Summer 2029 | Roadway Construction |
| Summer 2029 to Project Completion | Project Landscaping, Sidewalk and Site Improvements |
| Estimated Project Completion (Summer 2030) | Project Completion |
Design development
The project design was developed by the City of Springfield and Fuss & O’Neill to improve safety and increase economic development opportunities for nearby businesses. Project goals include improvements in the following areas:
- Intersection safety
- Congestion and delays
- Cut through traffic
- Pedestrian facilities
- Bicycle accommodations
- Traffic signals
The design includes the following specific elements:
Vehicular traffic improvements
- Additional turn lanes on Sumner Avenue.
- Reconfigure portions of Belmont Avenue to a one-way road.
- Reconfigure Cliftwood Street to a single left-turn lane and through-right lane.
Pedestrian and cyclist facility improvements
- Add 4 new crosswalks at Cliftwood Street and Sumner Avenue, Belmont Avenue and Burlington Street, and at Ormand Street.
- Add two pedestrian plazas at Sumner Avenue and Belmont Avenue.
- Reconfigure the existing sidewalk on the north side of Sumner Avenue to an 8-foot-wide shared use path between Cliftwood Street and Churchill Street, and on the South side of Sumner Avenue between Churchill Street and Parkwood Street.
- Signalize the Ormand Street intersection with signal-controlled pedestrian crossing.
- Add 5-foot wide, on-street, painted bike lanes on Sumner Avenue and Belmont Avenue.
Transit service enhancements with the addition of 13 new bus shelters
- Transit facility and landscape improvements
- Increase landscaping vegetation and concrete median islands, including a pedestrian island at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Burlington Street.
Project landscaping
The project landscaping and increasing public shade trees were key elements in the project design development. The project will result in a 34% total increase in trees within the project limits. The preferred design kept an additional 35 trees than originally proposed at the 25% design project milestone. The below table summarizes the location, existing trees, removed trees, tree planting, and the total gain and loss of trees by location:
| Roadway | Existing Trees within Project Limits | Removed Trees | Proposed Tree Plantings | Gain/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumner Avenue East | 23 | 8 | 15 | 7 |
| Sumner Avenue West | 66 | 17 | 29 | 12 |
| Belmont Avenue East | 24 | 13 | 21 | 8 |
| Belmont Avenue West | 14 | 9 | 23 | 14 |
| Dickinson Street North | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Dickinson Street South | 9 | 6 | 13 | 7 |
| Oakland Street | 8 | 7 | 12 | 5 |
| Ormond Street | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Commonwealth Avenue | 3 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Burlington Street | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cliftwood Street | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lenox Street | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 169 | 61 | 118 | 57 |