With questions about traffic, construction and emergency access circulating across the North Shore, the Swampscott Tides is taking a closer look at the Lynnway Multimodal Corridor project and what the proposed redesign could mean for neighboring communities.

The project would change how a roughly 2.5-mile stretch of Route 1A in Lynn accommodates cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists. The MBTA, Lynn and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are working on the proposal, which includes dedicated bus lanes, new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, upgraded traffic signals and streetscape improvements.

The MBTA released a draft concept design in May 2026 and invited public feedback. The draft is not a final construction plan.

For Swampscott and neighboring towns, the question extends beyond the Lynnway itself. Local officials are asking how the redesign could affect commuting, emergency response and traffic on surrounding roads, particularly alongside the planned replacement of the General Edwards Bridge and construction of a new Revere High School near Wonderland.

Where Is The Project Located?

The project covers the Lynnway, which is a major north-south section of Route 1A. It extends from the General Edwards Bridge in Revere to just north of Market Street in Lynn. DCR owns and operates the road. Roughly 2.5 miles will be part of the project.

As of a Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2016 study, the Lynnway carries roughly 41,000 to 44,000 motor vehicles on an average weekday. The study suggests that the Lynnway reaches near capacity during rush hour but that it has excess ability throughout other times of the day.

The MBTA previously said that counts in 2023 and March 2026 showed similar results. The MBTA also cites that more than 3,000 people ride buses on the Lynnway each day. 

What Changes Are Actually Proposed?

The May 2026 draft concept design shows several specific changes. 

Dedicated Bus Lanes

The draft includes about 2.6 lane-miles of bus lanes, intended to improve bus reliability and speed. This is said to provide better connections to the Blue Line, Lynn commuter rail station, ferry terminal and downtown Lynn.

There would also be improved bus shelters and traffic signals. 

Bicycle Path

There would be up to 0.6 miles of new shared-use pathing, which is proposed to provide safer bicycle connections, improve local access and help connect the Lynnway with wider networking including routes toward Nahant Beach and the Northern Strand Trail.

Safer Crossing Sidewalks

The concept includes more than 600 feet of new sidewalk, with up to 34 new or rebuilt ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps. 

Streetscape Improvements

The draft also calls for up to 250 new curbside trees. 

Does This Mean The Lynnway Will Lose Driving Lanes?

The published concept says it will maintain two through lanes in both directions. It also proposes dedicated bus lanes and separate bicycle infrastructure, reallocating road space to the bus lanes rather than adding new infrastructure. 

The precise effect of individual intersections, turning movements, curb access, and congestion depends on detailed layout.

General public concern is around if traffic is already near theoretical capacity in peak hours, how reallocating road space could affect travel times. 

How Is Swampscott Affected?

People traveling from Swampscott toward Boston, Revere or other destinations south of Lynn may use Route 1A and the Lynnway. 

The main potential effects are delays during commutes and congestion during return trips. Drivers, however, may divert to other local roads if the Lynnway becomes slower, potentially shifting traffic into surrounding neighborhoods. 

Swampscott residents who use Lynn’s bus connections, commuter rail or ferry services could benefit from improved transit reliability.

What Are Swampscott Officials Worried About?

Select Board officials from Swampscott, Marblehead and Nahant signed off on a letter on September 3 to Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, raising concerns about the Lynnway Multimodal Corridor Project. 

The boards said they support the project’s goals of improving public transportation and both pedestrian and bicycle safety, but they raised concerns over traffic, mobility, emergency responses and the effects on neighboring communities. 

The letter asked the state to evaluate the effects the project – in addition to the General Edwards Bridge replacement and the new Revere High School near Wonderland construction – will have on the area. 

The three Select Boards also raised concerns about emergency access, asking state officials to consider whether congestion or overlapping construction projects could affect fire, ambulance and mutual-aid response times. They called for a regional assessment rather than evaluating the Lynnway redesign in isolation.

State Rep. Jennifer Armini previously said she planned to discuss options with project managers,including a possible shuttle connecting Swampscott and Marblehead residents to the Swampscott commuter rail station during construction.

State Sen. Brendan Crighton previously noted that legislators had asked for traffic information during the planning process.

What’s Going On With the General Edwards Bridge and Revere High School?

Both projects are in the same area as the Lynnway. The concern is not simply the impact of any one project, but whether construction schedules, truck traffic, lane restrictions and detours could compound one another across the Route 1A network.

The General Edwards Bridge is being planned for replacement because of its structural condition. The almost 90-year-old bridge has been described as structurally deficient by MassDOT. A new bridge is being planned immediately downstream of the existing one. The project is one MassDOT’s fiscal 2027-31 capital investment plan. It is in the preliminary design phase.

The new Revere High School is already under construction at the former Wonderland Greyhound Park site. The major school construction project has a reported budget of around $400 million. Initial demolition and site preparation took place in 2025. The project’s construction update reports now show foundation-related work, ground improvements, geothermal well installation and utility work. 

The published dashboard lists the high school construction as 21% complete.

What Has Happened So Far?

On August 12, 2022, MassDOT and the MBTA announced that the federal government had approved more than $20 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant program for the Lynnway project.

The project then appeared in regional transportation funding documents and Lynn, the MBTA and DCR continued to develop the corridor proposal. 

A June 2025 public-information notice described the project as part of the area’s broader transportation, with a new waterfront public space and overall redevelopment.

The MBTA made the design available and open to a public survey on May 8, 2026. They hosted four public open houses in the spring. 

Representatives from a variety of agencies met with Swampscott residents at the Senior Center. Attendees walked around a room, learning about the project from a number of poster boards spread out that showed blueprints and statistics. MBTA and DCR employees were there to help explain the project and break down concept visuals.

“This project stems from a decade or more of different plans and studies led by a variety of agencies including the city of Lynn, DCR, MBTA and MassDOT that have identified a need to redesign the Lynnway to make it safer and more multimodal,” said MBTA Project Manager Phillip Cherry.

How Much Money Is Involved?

The federal RAISE grant, announced in 2022, provides more than $20 million. Boston MPO listed the cost at $27 million, including the federal funding.

What Happens Next?

The next milestones to watch for are the final design, construction funding and procurement, the start of construction and other overall coordination with other projects.