Select Board conditionally backs Washington Street Complete Streets design, sends preferred plan to MassDOT

The Brookline Select Board voted Feb. 11 to advance the Transportation Board’s preferred Washington Street Complete Streets design to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and separately passed a second motion tying the board’s continued support to several town-led follow-ups intended to address local concerns.

DPW Commissioner Erin Schute and engineering staff presented the Transportation Board and Design Review Committee’s recommended alternative and described two related studies: wayfinding design and curb/parking analysis for Brookline Village (and Washington Square). The Transportation Board had voted Feb. 5 to recommend the preferred alternative and the added studies; DPW staff brought a draft letter of support for the Select Board’s approval so the project can be forwarded to MassDOT.

The public comment period lasted roughly 45 minutes and included more than a dozen speakers representing bicycling organizations, residents, and business owners. Supporters said a protected, continuous bike facility will improve safety, encourage sustainable travel, and spur more street life. Business owners and other residents warned that the projected loss of curbside spaces and removal of some on-street parking — particularly in Brookline Village and Washington Square — could harm small businesses, reduce short-term customer access and complicate deliveries and outdoor dining.

After discussion the Select Board took two separate, recorded actions:

1) Approve and transmit the Transportation Board’s preferred alternative to MassDOT with a letter of support. That first vote passed 4–1; Select Board member John Vanscoyak voted no while the other members voted aye.

2) Adopt a second vote making the Select Board’s continued support contingent on town-led measures to mitigate local effects. The contingency items required by the Select Board (and to be completed prior to the 75% design submission) are: inclusion of improved wayfinding in Brookline Village; parking/curb-use studies for Brookline Village and Washington Square with findings to be reviewed by the Select Board; creation of stakeholder advisory groups for those parking/curb studies; and regular progress reports to the Select Board on matters of public concern (items documented in the meeting record, such as deliveries, electric bicycle considerations, loading/timed zones, and outdoor dining impacts). That second motion passed unanimously.

DPW staff and the consultant team said they will implement the work program and return with results and recommended mitigations. Staff said MassDOT will hold a formal public hearing after the municipality forwards the 25% design (the current milestone). The board specifically directed staff to pursue parking/curb studies and to form advisory groups that include business owners and residents so the town can identify replacement curb spaces or other mitigations before the 75% design milestone.

Select Board members emphasized the project remains a MassDOT-led capital redesign and that some technical approvals fall to state review; however, the board said it expects the town to address many of the commercial-district impacts locally. The board recorded the two votes to make clear it supports the corridor-level design while insisting the town develop specific mitigation measures for business and resident concerns before the next major design milestone.