Originally posted in JP Gazette

A bike lane is a separate, narrower lane for bikes running along the right-hand side of the road. A sharrow is an image of a bicycle and an arrow painted on the street as an encouragement for bicyclists and as a bike-rights reminder to motorists.

Bike lanes come to Jamaica Plain

The plan calls for:

• Bike lanes on both sides of the street on: Centre between Green Street and Lakeville Road; and Centre and South between Sedgwick and Burroughs streets.

• A bike lane going uphill and a sharrow going downhill on steeper sections of the corridor: Centre between Hyde and Jackson Squares; and South between McBride and Sedgwick streets.

• Sharrows on both sides of the street on: South between New Washington and McBride streets; Centre between Burroughs and Green; and Centre between Lakeville and Hyde Square.

The city is also considering adding short painted lines running perpendicular to the edge of the bike lanes to alert bicyclists to the “door zone.” That is the area where an opening door of a parked car can hit a bicyclist.

Signage and an education and police enforcement campaign are planned. Many motorists and bicyclists don’t know, for example, that using a bike lane is optional.

While the plan was generally well-received, there were some concerns that the variety of markings in central JP will be less safe, especially for younger riders. Gupta said the city will talk with merchants in the area between Burroughs and Green streets about possibly removing some parking. That would allow for bike lanes, rather than sharrows, to be installed there as well, creating a bike lane-only section between Sedgwick Street and Lakeville Road.

In a larger scale, the city also is looking at ways to mark bicycling routes on side streets to connect Centre/South to the Southwest Corridor and Emerald Necklace bike paths.

Mayor Menino Announces Jamaica Plain,

Centre and South Streets Redesign

City Will Work With Citizen’s Advisory Group to Create a More Vibrant Transportation Corridor

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that Centre and South Streets, from Jackson Square to Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, will be redesigned by the City of Boston.  To launch the redesign effort, the City has selected a citizen’s advisory group and a team of consultants and will kick-off the work with a public meeting on July 15 at Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain.

“The time is right to re-envision Centre and South Streets in Jamaica Plain,” said Mayor Menino.  “We now have the opportunity to create a more vibrant transportation corridor through Jamaica Plain, providing safer pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle connections, as well as a livelier street environment that will promote local business.  Today, I am proud to announce that we will be working hand in hand with the community to upgrade Centre and South Streets.”

The project area runs along Centre and South Streets between Forest Hills and Jackson Square, encompassing both Hyde Square and Monument Square.  Heavy through and local traffic, and the corridor’s busy intersections, currently present many conflict points for vehicles and pedestrians.  The City will redesign the corridor to improve traffic flow, simplify and improve pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, explore the addition of bike lanes, and create space for usable street furniture, landscaping and art.

The redesign is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.  The Boston Transportation Department (BTD), in partnership with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), will lead the City’s effort to develop a consensus design.  The consulting team of McMahon and Associates has been retained to work with the City and the community.  Von Grossman & Company, a landscape architecture firm that also worked on the Dorchester Avenue Roadway Design Project, is part of the design team as well as the engineering firm of HDR Engineering.

The Centre and South Streets redesign process will work in tandem with the MBTA’s ongoing effort to improve bus service on Route 39, which runs along Centre and South Streets, through the consolidation of bus stops and the addition of new bus shelters.

BTD and the BRA have held three community meetings since November 2008 to identify key issues and to develop a scope of work for the consultant team.  The citizens’ advisory group, consisting of local business owners, residents, and representatives of neighborhood groups, has been actively involved in the process.  At the July 15 community meeting, work will begin with the consultant team to develop an overarching vision for the corridor that will guide the design process.  Additional items in the scope of work include the development of corridor-wide streetscape guidelines, the redesign of major intersections, such as Hyde Square, and a parking management strategy.

Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin said, “The City will work with the community to make sure that Centre and South Streets will accommodate all modes of travel and be an asset for local residents and businesses.”

Hold on! Don’t freak out! I don’t want to get accused of starting a rumor, but after I read a couple of blurbs on the net I’m a little nervous. I found this on the

Parkway Blog

Boomerangs looking at filling old Decelle’s store

Posted on February 2, 2009 by David Ertischek
Filed Under Business, Centre Street Bizs |

On Monday night the West Roxbury Main Streets board will be hearing from representatives from Boomerangs about the possibility of moving into the old Decelle’s spot (1870 Centre Street), which has been vacant for some time.

From Boomerangs’ Web site:

Boomerangs is an award-winning resale store based in Jamaica Plain. Even better, all of our proceeds support the great programs and services of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. Since 1996, we have been selling a vast array of finds and treasures, and specialize in new and vintage clothing for men, women, and children as well as gifts, housewares, electronics and furniture.

WRMS Board President Nick Anastasopoulos said Boomerangs is seriously considering moving into the second and third floor for retail space.

An even more vague piece was posted at Universal Hub:

West Roxbury could get socially conscious second-hand store

#39 Bus, originally uploaded by TheBostonHomeTeam.

A common occurrence on Centre Street – the #39 bus blocking off traffic with it’s ginormous articulating body. It’s a damn good thing they pulled up those railroad tracks! There was a nearly bloody feud in Jamaica Plain regarding whether or not to bring back the MBTA E Line to Centre Street several years back. The Skeetches without won and the tracks were eventually removed or paved over. The big argument against was the increased traffic and lack of parking. It’s clear these huge busses are a big help in alleviating traffic. Even if the trolley had eliminated parking – who cares! Walk it! I’m gonna catch hell for this one – but I had to say it!

I’m sad to see Cafe D leave the front lines on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. I’ve enjoyed many a meal there, though, I was a little more fond of it when it was Arbor.

Cafe D - Soon to depart our company

I used to go there for my birthday dinners. I will say that the bar at Cafe D was a pleasant departure (sorry) from the rest of the bars in JP. They had a unique selection of beer. I was at a recent JPNC meeting where the incoming owner was discussed. Apparently a Southern Indian restaurant will fill the space. The owner is taking over the alcohol license, of course but will only be serving beer and wine so he says. I think the initial, knee jerk reaction from JP will be, “seriously, another Indian restaurant?” Whether or not it survives will depend entirely on the quality of the food. Hopefully the owner will be smart enough to come up with a menu that will set him apart from Bukhara.

Amazing restoration. And what marbles riding in the snow!

Vintage motorcycle & sidecar on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain