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Committee Approves Final Concept for Great Plains Avenue Bike Lanes; Striping to Follow August Resurfacing
Summary
The Mobility Planning and Coordination Committee reviewed a final restriping concept for Great Plains Avenue that keeps most parking, adds a protected bike connection to Dedham, and schedules striping after an August roadway surface treatment; members discussed parking impacts, hashing/green paint, two‑stage bike turn boxes and public notice.
The Mobility Planning and Coordination Committee on July 14 reviewed and endorsed a final restriping concept for a commercial and residential section of Great Plains Avenue that creates a continuous bicycle connection toward Dedham while retaining most existing parking.
The plan, presented by Tyler Gabrielski of the Department of Public Works, uses pavement striping (no curb or sidewalk work) to convert part of the roadway into a mix of sharrows and protected bike lane segments. "It is the final iteration of this project," Gabrielski said, adding the layout was designed to be upgradable over time and to tie into a Harris Avenue connection.
Why it matters: the restriping is funded in part with transportation network company (TNC) revenue earmarked for sustainable multimodal transportation. The town plans to do a surface treatment on the Great Plains pavement in August and to lay temporary markings immediately afterward, with final striping to follow. Gabrielski said the markings crew typically returns a week or two after resurfacing to apply permanent lines.
Most on-street parking will be retained in the small business district near Dunkin' and the pharmacy, but the design moves some parked cars off the curb into inset bays so bike lanes can run behind parked vehicles in selected segments. The residential section farther east will have wider buffer areas and a two‑stage left‑turn box at the Greendale Avenue intersection so bicyclists can make protected left turns without blending directly with motor vehicle left turns.
Committee members asked about parking loss and enforcement. One member noted that many current parking uses on Great Plains are transactional (landscapers, deliveries) and said he did not anticipate significant long‑term resident displacement. Another asked whether hashed buffer markings would be included; Gabrielski said the recommended practice is to add hatchings (diagonal cross lines) to reduce confusion about the bike lane, but that hashing and wider striping are more expensive and the town can choose lower‑cost alternatives.
Members also discussed green painted bike lane panels and odor complaints associated with some high‑durability paints. Gabrielski said green pavement compounds are more durable than latex, can produce a temporary odor, and usually wear off after a month or two; he noted only two contractors statewide perform road markings for MassDOT and municipal work, so timing will depend on contractor schedules.
On timing and outreach, the committee agreed the town should notify adjacent property owners before striping but did not commit to a large public hearing. Gabrielski said staff will seek to present the concept to the Select Board on Aug. 12 to secure general support before implementation and that striping will proceed after the August surface treatment if schedules align.
Ending note: the plan is explicitly framed as an interim, low‑cost measure that can be refined later if the larger intersection concept (signal upgrade or roundabout at Greendale/Great Plains) moves forward with design funding in future capital cycles.
