MassDOT meeting recap: December 17, 2025
(6-8 minute read)
For residents looking to stay up to date on key town matters, this recap highlights the major takeaways from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) meeting held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Review the project information on the MassDOT website.
Introduction
According to MassDOT, the proposed project aims to enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and other multimodal users accessing Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) and Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School via Oakland Road. Improvements are intended to make walking and biking to school safer and more appealing while strengthening connections to surrounding neighborhoods.
Key takeaways
The project focuses on improving safety along Oakland Road, where wide lanes, poor sightlines, and outdated pedestrian crossings currently pose significant risks for walkers and cyclists, particularly students.
MassDOT proposes a series of major safety upgrades, including a road diet, ADA-compliant crossings, improved signage, a shared-use path, and curb bump-outs to shorten crossing distances and enhance visibility.
Right-of-way acquisition will be required, including 15 permanent and 16 temporary easements. The Town of Reading will handle acquisitions, and affected residents will be contacted directly.
Presentation overview
The project originated in early 2023 through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) processes. Following a scope meeting in January 2024, survey work and design development have brought the project to 25% design.
Existing conditions
Currently, Oakland Road presents several safety challenges:
Wide travel lanes that promote high vehicle speeds
Long pedestrian crossings
Poor sightlines between drivers and pedestrians
Crossings that require pedestrians to step into the roadway to be seen
Project goals
The project is designed to:
Improve pedestrian and student safety
Add Complete Streets features, including a shared-use path
Encourage walking and biking to school
Enhance accessibility for all users
Proposed improvements
MassDOT outlines the following significant enhancements:
A road diet, reducing lane widths from 16 feet to 11 feet
Striped on-street parking to organize roadside conditions
ADA-compliant pedestrian crossings
New signage to alert drivers to pedestrian activity
Curb bump-outs to shorten crossings and improve sightlines
These upgrades aim to reduce vehicle speeds and prioritize the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Image from the MassDOT presentation showing the proposed improvements at Waverly Road, Birch Meadow Drive, and Oakland Road.
Right-of-Way requirements
A notable aspect of the project is the requirement for easements, comprising 15 permanent easements and 16 temporary easements. The Town of Reading will contact affected residents. Because the project is federally funded, the acquisition process must comply with federal regulations, though donation options may be available to reduce Town costs.
Environmental and construction details
Work will occur within wetland buffer zones, but is not expected to cause permanent environmental impacts.
Most construction is planned for summer 2027 to minimize disruptions to RMHS and Coolidge.
Access to homes and businesses will remain open, with only brief driveway closures expected.
No night work is anticipated.
Project cost & timeline
Estimated cost: $3.5 million
Funding: 80% federal, 20% MassDOT
Right-of-way costs are not included and will be borne by the Town
Project advertisement: Late fall 2026
Anticipated construction start: Spring 2027
Image from the MassDOT presentation showing the proposed improvements at Longfellow Road, Parkview Road, the access road to the RISE Preschool lot, and Oakland Road.
Community discussion
Community members raised a number of questions and concerns following the presentation. Several residents expressed frustration that they had not received earlier notification about the project. MassDOT clarified that public engagement typically begins at the 25% Design stage, once planners are confident that the project is feasible and that the impacts being presented to abutters are accurate and actionable. Earlier outreach is often not possible because project scope and feasibility are not yet established.
Residents also asked how visibility and safety will be improved for both drivers and pedestrians. In response, MassDOT provided details on the elements being considered:
Raised intersections to slow vehicles
High-visibility crosswalk markings to increase driver awareness
Curb bump-outs that reduce crossing distances
Narrower travel lanes designed to reduce vehicle speeds
Focused improvements at key intersections along the project area
The project’s scope is limited to Oakland Road and several connected intersections:
Birch Meadow Drive
Waverly Road
Longfellow Road
Parkview Road
The access road leading to the RISE Preschool lot
These upgrades are intended to modernize safety infrastructure near two of the town’s busiest school facilities and to address long-standing concerns about high speeds and poor visibility.
