Bike Committee Votes to Press DCR on Trail Safety

Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee · Meeting of June 1, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee voted unanimously to send the state Department of Conservation and Recreation a letter about a dangerous rail trail entrance on Beaver Street, just over the Watertown line. Members described the Central Mass Rail Trail access point as unsigned and hazardous, with a narrow roadway, concrete median and a low-visibility railroad crossing. A city transportation planner identified as Zeke reported the Department of Public Works plans to stripe a new crosswalk at the Arlington/Nichols Greenway crossing, likely in August, and said staff would push to extend pedestrian signal timing there by about 10 seconds.

Later, Grove Street residents told the committee construction debris and curbing have sat near Saltonstall Park "for over a year," with one resident asking why "2,000 linear feet of sidewalk" were torn up if contractors install only "400 a week." Staff said the Mount Auburn Street project is run by the state with Newport Construction as contractor and pledged to relay residents' safety concerns.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Open Space Plan Presentation
• Sergeant Samson Scheduling
• Subcommittee Updates: Get Out Your Bike and Live Well Watertown
• Arlington/Nichols Greenway Crossing
• Beaver Street / Central Mass Rail Trail Entrance
• DCR Ribbon-Cutting and Bike Racks
• Cottage Street Crossing Concerns
• City Leadership Debrief Meeting and Representative Selection
• City Council Presentation and Hosmer Bike Bus
• Washington Square and Mount Auburn Street Project Updates
• Public Comment: Mount Auburn Street Construction Concerns
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,503 words

Source: the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.