A lively New England city is sharply divided over a proposed bike-lane overhaul that could take five years to complete, while downtown businesses worry prolonged construction may push customers away.
The dispute is unfolding in Northampton, Massachusetts, a city of roughly 31,000 people known as the “Paradise City.” Northampton is located about 100 miles west of Boston.
The $43.3 million proposal would transform Main Street with protected bike lanes, fewer parking spaces and narrower traffic lanes. In some areas, the roadway would shrink from about 90 feet across.
Construction on the first phase of the project is scheduled to begin in 2028. The full downtown redevelopment, known as Picture Main Street, could take five years, according to the Boston Globe.
Robert McGovern, the 81-year-old owner of Packard’s bar, said the plan would be disastrous for downtown. He argued that shoppers would not ride bicycles into the city to visit local businesses.
“Grandma is not going to be sitting in a … basket while you pedal her to Packard’s for a beer,” McGovern told the outlet. “It’s not going to happen.”
Other residents, however, have welcomed the proposed redesign and said the city should go even further in reducing space for cars.
“I would love to do away with all parking on Main Street,” Jennifer Nery, a local acupuncturist, told the outlet.
Northampton residents are divided over the $43.3 million proposal to remake Main Street with protected bike lanes, fewer parking spaces and a narrower roadway
The first phase of Picture Main Street is expected to begin in 2028, with the complete downtown project potentially taking five years
Nery said she would prefer to see an even more ambitious version of a public square created downtown.
McGovern, meanwhile, maintained that years of roadwork would make it harder to attract visitors.
“The big crowds of people we had in the ’80s and ’90s, they’ve gone away,” McGovern said. “And they’re not coming back.”
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra is among the strongest supporters of Picture Main Street, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to redesign downtown Northampton.”
Sciarra said the city needed to create more ways for residents to make trips without relying on motor vehicles.
“Some people need to roll, walk, or bike,” she said.
Anna Bowen, who owns Strada Shoes on Main Street, said the proposed changes have left her “very nervous.”
“I’ve survived online shopping,” she told the outlet. “I’ve survived Trump twice now. I’ve survived COVID.”
Even so, Bowen acknowledged that she was “not 100 percent sure” her store could withstand the disruption caused by the redevelopment.
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Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has described the proposed Main Street overhaul as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the downtown area
Northampton is expected to contribute $11.8 million toward the project’s estimated $43.3 million price tag
Wayne Feiden, who headed Northampton’s planning department for 25 years, said Main Street was designed in the 19th century.
Residents once had to shop downtown, he said, but consumers now have many more choices.
“It has to be a different kind of place,” Feiden told the Boston Globe.
Northampton resident Liza Styles said she was enthusiastic about the bike lanes, while recognizing that the scale of the changes could be difficult for some locals.
“It is a huge change, and change is hard,” Styles said.
Elizabeth Sharpe, co-director of the Historic Northampton museum, said Main Street represents an idea that some residents may view through a nostalgic lens.
“It represents order, your values, responsibility, civic virtues,” Sharpe told the outlet. “It’s a place where people come together.”
Strada Shoes owner Anna Bowen said her business had survived COVID and other challenges but was “not 100 percent sure” it could make it through the redesign
Northampton, about 100 miles west of Boston, has around 31,000 residents and is widely known as the “Paradise City”
Northampton’s website promoting the project says the separated bike lanes would benefit the entire community.
The plan says the lanes could reduce injuries, improve traffic flow, make sidewalks safer, benefit the environment and encourage healthier lifestyles.
The city is expected to cover $11.8 million of the project’s projected $43.3 million cost.
The remaining $31.5 million would be funded through state and federal construction grants.
Despite its “Paradise City” nickname, Northampton has faced challenges including a shortage of affordable housing and traffic collisions.
The Northampton Police Department investigated 497 crashes in 2025.
Of those incidents, 421 involved either personal injury or property damage exceeding $1,000.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Northampton mayor’s office for additional comment.
