Newton Square and Highland Street Improvement Project

At a Glance

• Reconstruction of Newton Square to modern roundabout standards, Improvements to Highland Street between Newton Square and Highland Street to improve access to Doherty High School, address speeding, and provide safer accommodations for all users
• Accommodate access to Doherty High School and incorporate Safe Routes to School priorities
• Complement and enhance the Newton Square Veterans Memorial and the community space in the center of Newton Square
• Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin Summer/Fall 2026 and will be overseen by the Department of Public Works

Corridor & Intersection Overview

This project will accomplish a long-standing community goal of improving Newton Square to better clarify intersection movements, improve safety, reduce pedestrian crosswalk distances, and provide safer and more comfortable accommodation for all users. In addition, the segment of Highland Street extending from Newton Square to Park Avenue will be resurfaced, providing the opportunity to reconfigure the street to better accommodate all roadway users, improve access to Doherty High School, and improve roadway safety.

This portion of Highland Street is classified as a Minor Urban Arterial roadway and carries an average of about 18,700 each day. While the speed limit is 25 mph, the observed average speed of vehicles traveling on Highland Street is 26 mph and the 85th percentile speed is 33 mph, meaning that 15% of traffic is traveling 8 mph or more over the speed limit.

There were 55 crashes reported to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation along this portion of Highland Street over the last five full calendar years (2021-25). 42 involved property damage only, 11 involved non-fatal injuries, and two were unknown due to being classified as 'hit and run'. This corresponding crash rate is 3.95 crashes per million vehicle miles traveled, which is about 33 percent higher than the statewide average for Urban Minor Arterial roadways.

Newton Square is a 5-leg circular intersection with a small, raised center island and large exterior radius, leaving a large expanse of roadway within the intersection with no defined lane management or clear travel paths. Crosswalks exist across all legs of Newton Square, though crossing distances are excessive, ranging from 37 to 66 feet on the 4-lane June Street crossing.

Design features common to modern roundabouts are absent from Newton Square, making it difficult to navigate for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike. Sixty crashes were reported to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at the Newton Square intersection over the last five full calendar years. This translates to a crash rate of 3.95 crashes per million vehicle miles traveled, which is double the average for urban unsignalized intersections. 53 crashes involved property damage only, five involved non-fatal injuries including one with a cyclist, and two were unknown severity.

Project Timeline

• Initial Project Design: Fall – Winter 2025-2026
• Project Information Meeting: February 11, 2026
• Final Design & Project Bidding: Spring 2026*
• Construction: Summer – Fall 2026*

* The project aims to begin construction in Summer-Fall 2026.

Public Meeting

An informational meeting concerning the preliminary complete streets project design will be held on February 11, 2026.

Doherty High School
299 Highland Street
Guidance Seminar Room E230
6-8 p.m.
View Meeting

Questions or comments about this project may be sent to mobility@worcesterma.gov.