The Town of Chelmsford is working with NMCOG to create a vision for Chelmsford Street (Route 110) and surrounding land uses, from Center Square to Alpine Lane. This vision will help the Town work with MassDOT and other partners to improve the streetscape, which may include sidewalks, travel lanes, parking, and other amenities like benches, street trees, or undergrounding utility lines. It may also include recommendations for new types of development that may be appropriate for this area. The goal of this project is to determine the best way to use the limited space available in the roadway right of way, enhance accessibility for people of all abilities, and safely and comfortably accommodate all types of users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, buses, and vehicles, both now and into the future as development changes occur.
The project also seeks to enhance the street’s attractiveness and “sense of place” to encourage more visitors to park once—or walk or bike to Center Village—and explore the shopping and dining opportunities throughout the Village on foot. This includes analyzing what the land in the area is used for, what's allowed to be built, and what changes are possible. An equally important part of this work is understanding how Chelmsford residents and visitors use the area, what they would like to see on and along the street, and what special meanings the Village has for them. This vision will be developed into a series of conceptual alternatives that build upon previous studies and work by the Town, NMOCG, and MassDOT. Using these alternatives, these partners will work together to determine their feasibility and identify a path toward funding and constructing the improvements.
Improvements
The concept plan will incorporate specific improvements recommended by residents, businesses, and other
stakeholders guided by goals from the Chelmsford Village Master Plan and a 2024/2025 analysis of the plan.
- Improve access to businesses
Parking, way-finding signage, and other improvements
- Improve traffic flow and safety
Lane markings, street lighting, traffic calming, and other improvements
- Improve pedestrian safety and facilities
Sidewalks and crosswalks, street lighting, benches, bicycle facilities, and other improvements
Chelmsford Street Vision and Goals
The vision and goals for this project were directly informed by multiple engagement events and activities thorughout the fall of 2025, including a townwide survey, public workshop, and two pop-up events at Navigation Brewery and Chelmsford Market on the Common. The presentation from the February 26 public workshop shows how public input led to the vision and goals below.
Vision
Chelmsford Street and the surrounding area will become a walkable, vibrant corridor that links Center Village Square with the surrounding neighborhoods through safe streets, attractive public spaces, and thriving local businesses. A streetscape revitalized with greenery and accessibility will transform the area into a destination for residents, visitors, and users of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Goals
- Develop a safe, accessible, and multimodal corridor that prioritizes vulnerable road users.
- Optimize parking access and wayfinding to support a park-once-and-walk village center.
- Strengthen and expand local businesses in Chelmsford Center Village.
- Invest in coordinated infrastructure and maintenance improvements to support safety, accessibility, and resilience.
- Promote context-sensitive infill and redevelopment to reinforce walkability.
- Enhance placemaking and community identity through high-quality streetscape design
Chelmsford Street Streetscape Concepts
From Billerica Rd to Fletcher St
Concept 1: Billerica Rd to Fletcher St
Concept 1 aligns with most project goals, although requires cyclists to use the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail exclusively for access. This concept introduces up to six foot wide sidewalks and landscaped areas with street trees on on both sides of Chelmsford Street. Closer to Center Village, the west side of Chelmsford Street would provide time-limited on-street parallel parking for quick access to local businesses.
Note: The concept would require Town or grant funding and would not be eligible for state and federal Transportation Improvement Program funds due to the lack of a bike lane.
Concept 2: Billerica Rd to Fletcher St
Concept 2 also aligns with most project goals, by introducing six foot wide sidewalks and landscaped areas with street trees on on both sides of Chelmsford Street. A northbound buffered bike lane at street level would connect cyclists from areas east of Center Village to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Note: This concept is potentially eligible for state and federal Transportation Improvement Program funds, requiring less local funding, due to the inclusion of a bike lane.
Concept 3: Billerica Rd to Fletcher St
Concept 3 minimally aligns with project goals, however instead of providing on-street parallel parking, it preserves parking along the front of Chelmsford Street businesses. It provides five foot wide sidewalks on both sides of the street, but no landscape areas or bike lanes.
Note: This concept is not eligible for state and federal Transportation Improvement Program funds, and would therefore require Town funding or grant funding to implement.
From Fletcher Rd to Alpine Ln
Concepts 1 and 2: Fletcher St to Alpine Ln
Concept 1 provides five foot sidewalks adjacent to sidewalk-level bike lanes, as well as landscaped strips with street trees on both sides of the street. Parallel parking would be provided on the east side of the street.
Concept 2 (rendering not available) provides five foot sidewalks and street level buffered bike lanes on both sides of the street. Parallel parking would be provided on the east side of the street between the northbound travel lane and the bike lane buffer to minimize bicycle/vehicle conflicts. A landscaped strip with street trees would be provided on the east side of the street.
Note: Both concepts are potentially eligible for state and federal Transportation Improvement Program funds, requiring less local funding, due to their inclusion of bike lanes and sidewalks.
