The City Council Voted to Restore Two-Way Traffic on Garden Street. Should that Change?

For the better part of 100 years, Garden Street was a street that allowed two-way automobile travel.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation determined that Garden Street should be converted to one-way automobile traffic, with separated bicycle lanes on either side of the street.

Since this change, cut-through traffic has increased on adjacent side streets and traffic congestion in the surrounding area has increased exponentially.

In response to these developments, in April of 2025, the City Council voted to restore Garden Street to two-way automobile traffic, while maintaining separated bicycle lanes. However, the construction to return Garden Street to two-way traffic never occurred.

On Monday, April 13, 2026, the City Council, without prior notice, proposed a vote to keep Garden Street one-way for automobile traffic. Councilor Tim Flaherty exercised his charter right, preventing an immediate vote and allowing residents additional time to voice their opinions.

On Monday, April 27, 2026, the vote will take place.

Make Your Voice Heard:

Tim Flaherty believes that the residents of this neighborhood who are directly impacted have the right to be notified of this proposed change and be given an opportunity to be heard.

Email your opinion to the city council: citycouncil@cambridgema.gov.