Walkers Brook Drive Redesign

planning status

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The Town of Reading received a $500,000 grant award from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program in the FY25 Round of the Community One Stop for Growth to advance the preferred alternative conceptual design to near construction level-ready documents. The Town is currently planning to advance the project through the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

In 2024, three (3) alternatives were developed along Walkers Brook Drive between John Street, and the I-95 interchange exploring bike and pedestrian improvements: On-Road Buffered Bike Lanes, a Shared Use Path, and an Off-Road Two-Way Cycle Track. In addition to the three (3) multi-modal alternatives along the corridor, there are two (2) alternatives at the existing signalized intersection, Walkers Brook Drive at General Way: a modified traffic signal with full access movement and a single-lane roundabout with a bypass lane from Walkers Brook Drive to Village Street. Concepts can be reviewed below under Design Alternatives.

Project Goals

Accommodate all modes of transportation in a safer and more efficient manner. Design alternatives will include a variety of pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular improvements while preserving the commercial use of the corridor by abutting businesses.
Provide the community and key stakeholders with design alternatives for the Walkers Brook Corridor and initiate a community engagement program to showcase alternatives and gather feedback.
Solidify an overall community vision for Walkers Brook Drive and future implementation efforts for the corridor.

After initial public engagement and reviewing preliminary designs, the Town will be further evaluating the following items:

Alternative 2 (Shared Use Path): This concept includes an off-road shared use path, 10-foot, on the south side with a landscape buffer of five (5) feet and an 8.50-foot sidewalk on the north side. This alternative for the corridor is desired to increase mobility options, including improved pedestrian and bicycle travel, and enhance access to community destinations, such as restaurants, retail shops, employment centers, and Lake Quannapowitt.
Modified traffic signal with full access movements for Walkers Brook Drive at General Way. This concept is not a road diet but aims to make turning movements along the corridor more efficient and allow through traffic to flow through the corridor. Additional improvements will be made to pedestrian crossings. Evaluations are being considered for Lakeview Ave, John Street, and Village Street.

As the design progresses, there will be an opportunity for additional public input. We will also continue coordinating with property owners and businesses abutting the project area to raise awareness and explore potential partnerships.

design alternatives

Existing Conditions

Intersection Improvement Alternatives

Project Redesign Report & Impact Analysis

General Way / Lakeview / John Intersection Concepts

Corridor Improvement Alternatives

Alternative 1 – On-Road Buffered Bike Lanes

Alternative 2 – Shared Use Path on the south side

Alternative 3 – Off-Road Two-Way Cycle Track on the south side

Public Engagement

2024 Public Presentation & Survey Results

2026 Public Meeting

Project History

In 2018, the Town of Reading performed a peer review of the Traffic Impact and Access Study (TIAS) related to the Eaton Lakeview Apartments. This review culminated in several recommendations at the intersection of Lakeview Avenue and Walkers Brook Drive. However, the community indicated an interest in a larger scope of analysis and a holistic study of the surrounding area. As a result, a Comprehensive Corridor Analysis & Conceptual Redesign was prepared. This comprehensive study produced several conceptual improvement alternatives for the Walkers Brook Corridor.

The Town then applied for and was awarded $250,000 in funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Housing Choice Grant Program to study the conceptual level designs in greater detail for improvements to the Walkers Brook Drive corridor and at key intersections with General Way, John Street, Village Street, and Lakeview Avenue. The Walkers Brook Drive corridor is a primary connection between the Town of Reading and the Town of Wakefield and serves as a primary connection to Lake Quannapowitt, restaurants, retail shops, employment centers, as well as regional open space assets, and it is a desirable location to improve multi-modal features.

This project offers an opportunity to bring the community together and, through a collaborative process, develop the areas long-term vision to create a vibrant and inviting street that enhances neighborhood connections. The desired outcome is to reach a community consensus for a preferred solution for the corridor that will increase mobility options to enhance access to community destinations.

The projects final deliverables are found above.

Additional Resources

Contact Us:

Questions about the project can be sent to: planning@readingma.gov