Downtown Framingham is a hub of multi-modal transportation, with vehicles, MBTA Commuter Rail, regional buses, pedestrians/bicycles, and CSX freight operations converging at the Route 135/Route 126 Intersection. The vitality of Downtown Framingham is in part dependent upon the ability of the of this transportation network to service residents, businesses and visitors. The market potential for development and urban design opportunities will also be a determinant in the future success of the Downtown and the estimated range of supportable development will directly affect and be affected by the future transportation network. The goal of this study was to develop a Preferred Alternative to revitalize the Downtown that would provide the optimum balance of transportation improvements and development potential. The overall project tasks included transportation strategies, land use/urban design features, and an assessment of economic potential in the Downtown. The project location is presented in Figure 1. The transportation methodology included an evaluation of traffic, public transit, and commuter rail strategies, which were then advanced to an assessment of land use and economic growth associated with each alternative.
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