Northampton Main Street
Northampton, MA
Project Summary
For more than 300 years, the City of Northampton’s Main Street has been a center for civic activity and commerce in the Pioneer Valley. Its vehicle-dominated streetscape, however, creates safety challenges for people walking and biking and has contributed to documented bicycle and pedestrian crash clusters.
The City is responding through Picture Main Street, an initiative grounded in decades of planning and community input. The project will deliver transportation, utility, and streetscape improvements that strengthen Main Street’s role as a safe, connected, and vibrant downtown corridor.
Bringing A Community Vision to Life
Toole Design was involved in early planning and engineering documents — including the Main Street Walk/Bike Assessment (2016), Route 9 Road Safety Audit (2020), and a Functional Design Report submitted to MassDOT in 2021. Building on this foundation, Toole Design is now leading a multidisciplinary team to support the City from comprehensive design through to construction services.
A robust engagement process has guided every stage of this work. Public and stakeholder meetings using interactive and small-group formats were complemented by a comprehensive tactical demonstration project and an online StoryMap that provides project resources and tracks progress. Residents and business owners have played an active role in exploring alternatives and shaping the design.
The project has progressed to the 100% design phase and seeks to improve safety and access for all by:
- Narrowing the roadway and clarifying travelways,
- Significantly expanding sidewalks, green space, and amenities,
- Meeting or exceeding ADA standards for grades, crossings, and parking,
- Providing dedicated bike facilities, and
- Redesigning corridor lighting to enhance visibility and crossing safety.
Creating a Vibrant and Resilient Public Realm
Urban design and climate resilience strategies will further strengthen the project. Toole Design’s landscape architects are programming the public realm to include flexible spaces for dining, varied seating, and areas for gathering and informal play. Planting areas are designed to create a continuous shade canopy while emphasizing key locations such as crossings and historic architecture. Expanded soil volumes will support healthy, long-lived trees, and stormwater-infiltrating curb extensions are intended to reduce runoff and filter pollutants. Thoughtful material selections will also help lower emissions and mitigate urban heat.
Advancing toward Construction
This $29M project is currently slated for funding under the State Transportation Improvement Program in FY 2026. It is municipally led with review by and heavy collaboration with MassDOT. Once completed, Northampton’s Main Street will not only be a hub for community activism, arts, and culture, but also set the standard for investing in a safer, more accessible, and more climate-resilient streetscape.