Challenge
The Mystic River Watershed Association is leading an effort to enhance recreational access, transportation options, and ecological value along a two-mile stretch of Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford and Winchester. The project focuses on creating a shared use path along the eastern shorelines of the Upper and Lower Mystic Lakes, with the goal of improving safety and accessibility for people walking, bicycling, and rolling. A key challenge is balancing the needs of recreational users with those traveling for transportation while also addressing environmental conditions and cultural resources in the project area.
Solution
As part of the project team, Kittelson is advising on the transportation components of the shared use path. This includes collecting and analyzing traffic speed and volumes and pedestrian and bicycle data to inform safe design solutions. Our team looked at national best practices to recommend how different modes can interact comfortably along the path and at roadway crossings.
Public engagement is a central part of the planning process. Our team participated in outreach led by the Mystic River Watershed Association, which included resident-led steering committees, public meetings, and onsite pop-up engagement events. These conversations help ensure that the design reflects the priorities of the people who use the path. In addition, our team is collaborating with Halvorson on conceptual alignments, cross section design, and renditions to illustrate how the path could look and function.
The Outcome
Demystifying Shared Use Paths Along the Mystic Lakes
The concept design will provide a framework for advancing a shared use path that improves multimodal safety, expands access to the Mystic Lakes, and strengthens connections to surrounding neighborhoods and cultural destinations. By combining technical analysis with community feedback, the project creates a path that serves both recreational and transportation biking uses while enhancing the environmental and cultural assets of the corridor.
