Inman Square redesign imminent as Cambridge secures necessary state okay

State lawmakers have provided a necessary approval for Cambridge to move forward with a redesign of the city’s busy, busy Inman Square in an effort to increase safety for bikers and pedestrians in particular.

The plan involves installing a new plaza to bend traffic on Hampshire Street as it reaches Cambridge Street.

Some are skeptical of the plan’s ability to actually increase safety with the new plaza and resultant traffic flow. Others aren’t pleased that the plan involves shrinking a park called Vellucci Plaza, which will mean the loss of trees in the area at a time when Cambridge in general is seeing its canopy shrink.

Opponents of the recently passed plan, in fact, had their own proposal, which also involved a new plaza but that saved the existing one.

As it stands, it’s the city’s call. The proposal now returns to the Cambridge City Council for its final tweaks and for the requisite funding approvals. Stay tuned.

• State okays petition to remake Inman Square; plan returns to City Council to approve details [Day]
• Inman Square redesign would bend vehicle traffic in effort to increase safety [Curbed Boston]
• Cambridge tree canopy might need a permit process to preserve it: Councilor [Curbed Boston]