Moody Street in Waltham was closed to motor vehicle traffic for the past three years from May 1 to October 31, allowing restaurants to offer al fresco dining. However, city officials, business owners and residents are split on whether the street should close.
The Waltham Traffic Commission is meeting in the Government Center auditorium on March 30 to discuss the matter. The board will consider two proposals for closing the street. The public is invited to attend the in-person meeting and offer their opinion on each idea.
- From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Moody Street becomes one-way southbound (from Pine Street to High Street) from Sunday at 7 p.m. to Thursday at 4 p.m. and closes to motor vehicle traffic Thursday at 4 p.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m.
- Same setup from 2020 – 2022, with Moody Street becoming a pedestrian-only zone between Pine Street and High Street from May to October, with the block between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street open to traffic.
At a recent Traffic Commission meeting, Waltham City Councilor and mayoral hopeful Jonathan Paz proposed a three-pilot plan for a “Summer Moody Market” using the plan used in 2020 – 2022 but only from June until September, eliminating the need for annual approval meetings.
The idea for turning Moody Street into a pedestrian-only zone came out of necessity in 2020 to offer restaurants the ability to operate under strict pandemic regulations. The closure was hugely popular with diners across the region, prompting the city to continue the practice in 2021 and 2022.
In February, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy informed the Traffic Commission she lacked the authority to close the street because powers granted to her under COVID were removed. She supported the closure but said businesses must approach other city offices for permits.
The street closure does not affect restaurants from offering al fresco dining on sidewalks or private patios. However, permission from the Traffic Commission is needed to use the street or parking spaces.
Not all Businesses Support Closure
While restaurant owners enjoy the shutdown, other business owners are less supportive. Several owners said the closure resulted in losing most of their customers (Femi Nails told the Wicked Local last year it lost 90% of its patrons in 2021). Other businesses expressed concern about access for deliveries and emergency vehicles.
Over the past several weeks, residents, officials and businesses have taken to social media to discuss the issue without a consensus.
Your Opinion is Requested
Residents and businesses are invited to attend the meeting to voice their opinions.
The in-person meeting is on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. in the Government Center Auditorium at 114 School Street.
If you can’t attend the meeting, you can share your opinions with the Traffic Engineer by submitting an online form.