Downtown Planning & Parking Study

BETA led a multi-disciplinary team in the development of a long-term plan to revitalize the Downtown business district. Downtown Framingham is a hub of multi-modal transportation, with vehicles, trucking, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail, Amtrak passenger rail, Local Inter Framingham Transit (LIFT) buses, pedestrians/bicycles, and CSX freight operations converging in the core Downtown area. This area is typified by a general high level of congestion and delay.

The three focuses of the study — transportation, urban design/land use, and economics — began an iterative process in which alternatives developed for each discipline were matched to form scenarios that represented overall strategies for the revitalization of Framingham.

Numerous at-grade rail crossings of heavily utilized vehicular corridors result in conflicts, and exacerbate vehicular delays. The detailed traffic evaluation of Downtown Framingham examined the grade crossing issue in order to comprehensively improve traffic operations in the area.

Existing urban design and land use conditions were also assessed, both to describe the existing character of the Downtown, but also to serve as a base for potential alternatives to create an identity within Framingham. The third component was a market and economic assessment of the Downtown area to develop strategies that would optimize the balance of various business activity, complementary commercial activity, and related residential development.

BETA has also conducted a concurrent City-wide parking study, which included field surveys of accumulation, duration and overnight parking to assess existing supply and demand. This information was the basis upon which existing parking regulations were evaluated. A City-wide two-hour limit, winter and snow emergency restrictions, and a Resident Permit Parking program were all investigated. The evaluation consisted of cost/benefit considerations, demand for such programs and the impacts to residents, commuters and the business community.

The parking study also included an evaluation of existing parking signage, and development of a conceptual Wayside Signage Program to direct motorists and pedestrians to existing off-street parking locations.