Fwd: Balanced Transportation for Newton — We Deserve Better Planning

[Anne Goldbach]

Please see my letter below 

From: Anne Goldbach <agoldb...@gmail.com>
Date: November 8, 2025 at 1:25:23 PM EST
To: City Council <cityc...@newtonma.gov>, "Marc C. Laredo" <mla...@newtonma.gov>, Ruthanne Fuller Mayor <rfu...@newtonma.gov>
Subject: Balanced Transportation for Newton — We Deserve Better Planning



Balanced Transportation for Newton — We Deserve Better Planning

I am writing to express serious concern about the direction of Newton’s Walk, Roll & Bike Network Plan and the Washington Street Road Diet Pilot. While I support making our streets safer for everyone, the current approach of removing traffic lanes on key corridors—particularly Washington Street—has created and will create more harm than benefit if not properly studied and implemented.  To date, these changes are producing daily congestion, longer travel times, and increased emissions from idling vehicles, undermining both safety and sustainability.

Transparency and Accountability

The City has not released detailed baseline data on traffic volumes, emissions, or emergency-response times. A “pilot” without measurable metrics and a public evaluation schedule risks becoming permanent by default. We also need to know the how these programs impact traffic on nearby streets. 

Residents deserve open data, periodic review, and the opportunity to provide meaningful input before Newton’s transportation network is permanently altered.  Importantly, there need to be definitions for the success or failure of these projects. 

Traffic and Emissions

Since the lane reductions began, Washington Street has experienced extended backups and stop-and-go traffic that trap vehicles at intersections. Moreover, Washington Street experiences additional emissions from the Massachusetts Turnpike, which experiences traffic jams in both directions at various times of the days. When vehicles idle or move in stop and go conditions, they emit the highest concentrations of pollutants including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and carbon dioxide.  

A 2021 MassDEP study confirmed that “air pollutant concentrations are highest within 500 feet of major roadways,” and that congested highways produce disproportionately high NO₂ and PM₂.₅ levels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirms that idling and low-speed congestion increase emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates—especially harmful near homes, schools, and businesses. During the winter, this effect worsens as vehicles idle for heat and defrosting while snowbanks narrow lanes even more.

Emergency Access and Safety

With only one lane in each direction, ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles cannot bypass stopped traffic when seconds matter. Newton’s emergency services rely on east-west corridors for rapid response. Lane reductions and snow-narrowed shoulders slow those responses and put lives at risk.

Neighborhood and Business Impacts

Traffic diverted from Washington Street now cuts through residential side streets such as Lowell Avenue, Watertown Street, Elm Road, and Crafts Street—routes never intended to carry that volume. Local businesses have lost convenient parking and delivery space, while double-parked trucks block traffic entirely. These outcomes harm small businesses and reduce the quality of life for nearby residents.

A Better Path Forward

Newton can achieve safer, more accessible streets without sacrificing mobility or air quality. I urge the City to:

1. Pause further lane-reduction projects until comprehensive traffic, safety, and air-quality analyses are completed and published.
2. Engage in robust community dialogue before committing to the Walk, Roll, Bike plan and the Washington Street pilot.
3. Adopt balanced solutions such as optimized traffic signals, safer crosswalks, and targeted intersection improvements.
4. Commit to full transparency by defining measurable goals, releasing data regularly, and holding public forums for review.
5. Altering these programs should the reviews reveal issues and/or the need for improvements.  

Our city deserves balanced, evidence-based planning that protects pedestrians and cyclists while keeping roads functional for residents, emergency vehicles, and local businesses. Let’s make Newton safer—without making it slower, more congested, or less livable.

Thank you for your service to our community and for considering these concerns.

Sincerely,

Anne Goldbach

Newtonville