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New development, new sidewalks, and new protected bike lanes line Washington Street in Brookline Village. The town is moving forward with a proposal to set aside one lane in each direction on the newly-reconstructed street as dedicated bus lanes for the MBTA's route 60, 65, and 66 buses.

MBTA Will Paint 4.8 Miles of New Bus Lanes This Summer

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 28, 2021 | No Comments

The MBTA has reached agreements with the cities of Boston, Somerville, Revere, Malden, Lynn, and the Town of Brookline to paint roughly 4.8 miles of new dedicated bus lanes this summer in an effort to improve bus service reliability as traffic congestion comes roaring back in the wake of the pandemic. Most of those new […]

25% design plans for the Rutherford Avenue corridor, showing the reconfigured Sullivan Square. The current traffic circle would be replaced with a grid of streets, new developable lots, and an expansion of the Ryan Playground. Courtesy of MassDOT and the City of Boston.

Boston, MassDOT Reveal Plans to Reconfigure Sullivan Square By 2026

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 24, 2021 | No Comments

Although it would be narrower, with more crosswalks, wider sidewalks, and dedicated bike infrastructure, there's little doubt that the new Rutherford Avenue will still be a high-speed, multi-lane highway.

Stats Show Black and Indigenous People Suffer Disproportionate Road Deaths

By Kea Wilson | Jun 23, 2021 | No Comments

The U.S. is still failing to make meaningful progress to end the decades-long racial disparity in fatal car crash rates across modes, a new study finds — and things got worse during the pandemic.

A quick-build protected bike lane on State Street in downtown Boston, pictured in October 2020. Courtesy of the City of Boston.

Report: Workplace Parking Subsidies Could Drive A Return to Gridlock

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 22, 2021 | No Comments

"Boston and other municipalities should accelerate the reconfiguration of roadways for the highest and best use of that space," the report urges.

Walking from one side of McGrath Highway to the other along Mystic Avenue requires pedestrians to cross multiple highway ramps and and along a "sidewalk" in the middle of the highway.

Bowing to Pressure, MassDOT Will Fast-Track Traffic Calming in Somerville’s ‘Corridor of Death’

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 21, 2021 | No Comments

Under intense pressure from Somerville advocates and elected officials, MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver reported on Monday afternoon that the agency would accelerate key safety improvements around the intersections of Mystic Avenue and the McGrath Highway ahead of a three-year highway viaduct repair project in the area. At Monday’s meeting of the MassDOT Board of […]

Lessons on building bike culture from Latin America

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 17, 2021 | No Comments

Latin American cities can provide insights on how to build bike culture. Mobility experts from Mexico City and Bogotá shared how their cities are creating a bike culture.

Does A Fare-Free 28 Also Need to Pay For A Free RIDE?

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 16, 2021 | 1 Comment

“Giving primarily white and wealthy transit riders a free trip, while forcing primarily Black and low income riders to jump through hoops to access similar fare-free service, is exactly what structural racism looks like," says Stacy Thompson, executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance.

How green, walkable, bikeable, play-friendly streets promote good mental health

By Sharon Hoyer | Jun 16, 2021 | No Comments

Urban design that makes space for residents to safely and easily interact with the outdoors and each other plays a major role in both physical and psychological well-being.

Advocates Demand Better Car Safety Standards From Senate

By Kea Wilson | Jun 15, 2021 | No Comments

The next baseline infrastructure bill can no longer ignore the need for common-sense vehicle safety improvements that save vulnerable road users’ lives, a coalition of advocates and lawmakers said on Tuesday.

During the morning rush hour on July 11, 2019, dozens of safety advocates gathered to create a "people-protected" barrier for the painted bike lanes on Park Drive in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

At Long Last, DCR Releases Master Plan for Safer Parkways

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 14, 2021 | 1 Comment

DCR also revealed Friday that the agency had created an "office of Green Transportation" to lead implementation of the Master Plan's recommendations.

A City of Boston rendering illustrates the center-running bus lane concept for Blue Hill Avenue near Walk Hill Street. Under the plan, bus lanes and dedicated stations would run in the middle of the street, away from double-parked cars and turning vehicles. Pedestrian crossings would also be significantly shorter. Courtesy of the City of Boston.

Advocates Praise House Transportation Bill that Includes Policy Reform, More Transit Funding

By Kea Wilson | Jun 11, 2021 | No Comments

The House bill also includes hundreds of earmarks for specific projects in Massachusetts.

On-street dining in Hanover Street in the North End, pictured in the mid-afternoon of May 26, 2021.

Poll: Metro Boston Voters Strongly Support Reconfigured Streets With Fewer Cars, More Public Space

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 10, 2021 | 1 Comment

A new poll of Boston-area voters finds strong support for more diverse uses of the public space on city streets, with a desire for more space for outdoor dining, expanded sidewalks, dedicated bus lanes, and protected bike lanes, and less space dedicated for privately-owned motor vehicles. Over the past year, cities in towns across Massachusetts […]

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