The vision of the Hillsborough Street Project is to transform a major thoroughfare from a congested four lane street to a safer two lane avenue, and to create a pedestrian friendly environment with shorter crossings for pedestrians.  The project hopes to:

• Improve vehicular and pedestrian safety
• Improve pedestrian access
• Create a sense of place
• Promote economic redevelopment and
• Improve appearance.

The project started out with 2 segments:  the business area from Gardner to Enterprise to include 2 roundabouts, and the bell tower area from Enterprise to Oberlin to include 2 roundabouts.  It has since become a hybrid of the two segments.  The project currently includes a seven foot median, two eleven foot traffic lanes, a five foot buffer, parking along both sides of the street, eight foot walkways with 13 crosswalks, and underground utilities.  It is a $6.5 million project that will reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour and increase parking to 178 spaces, which is an addition of 101 parking spaces.

For more information about the Hillsborough Street Project, visit the project website:  www.hillsboroughstreet.org