Walking Toward Safer, Healthier Streets in Brockton

Walking Toward Safer, Healthier Streets in Brockton

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This summer, WalkMassachusetts and Old Colony Planning Council partnered with community members to complete a series of walk audits across four Brockton neighborhoods: Campello, Montello, East Side, and West Side. Each audit brought together residents, local leaders, and advocates to identify barriers, share personal experiences, and recommend solutions to make walking safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Why Walk Audits Matter

A walk audit is a hands-on way for community members to assess the safety and comfort of their streets. Participants walk a set route together, observe conditions, and document challenges and opportunities. The result is a community-driven report that highlights both short- and long-term improvements, shaping future investments in infrastructure and public space.

Key Findings from the Brockton Walk Audit Series

Montello (May 21, 2025)

  • Concerns: Faded crosswalks, broken sidewalks, high vehicle speeds, and chronic flooding.
  • Recommendations: Restriping and relocating crosswalks, repairing sidewalks, permanent traffic calming (curb bump-outs), and engineering drainage solutions.
  • Community Insights: Stakeholders highlighted Montello’s strong access to public transportation, but emphasized the need for safer crossings, more shade, and clear wayfinding for pedestrians.

Campello (June 26, 2025)

  • Concerns: Missing bus stop signage, poorly maintained crosswalks, excessive litter, and sparse tree canopy.
    Recommendations: Replace street signs, repaint high-visibility crosswalks, install trash bins, and coordinate street tree planting with the Greening the Gateway Cities Program.
  • Community Insights: Campello’s busy streets and active businesses show promise, but participants noted obstacles like lifted concrete and the need for improvements near Vicente’s Supermarket.

West Side (July 23, 2025)

  • Concerns: Lack of crosswalks to key features like bus stops, overgrown vegetation along sidewalks, litter from car crashes, and limited tree coverage.
    Recommendations: Add more crosswalks at intersections, maintain vegetation regularly, create a public-private waste management partnership with local businesses, and expand shading through tree planting.
  • Community Insights: Residents noted the disparities in walkability between different Brockton neighborhoods. West Elm Street stood out as an example of well-paved sidewalks with space for wheelchairs and strollers—highlighting how streetscape improvements here could be a model for Belmont and Moraine Streets.

East Side (August 14, 2025)

  • Concerns: Short walk signal times, lack of ADA compliance, missing sidewalks, and minimal shading.
  • Recommendations: Lengthen signal times, install ADA-compliant ramps, add raised crosswalks along key locations such as Caffrey Towers and Brockton Hospital. Implement shading systems with trees or sunshades as shopping plazas are developed.
  • Community Insights: Residents shared concerns about accessibility challenges for people with disabilities and older adults. They also pointed to shaded bus stops as a model for what the rest of the neighborhood needs.

Moving Forward

These walk audits show both the strengths and opportunities in Brockton’s neighborhoods. While each area has unique challenges, common themes emerged:

  • The need for safer crossings and clearer street signage.
  • The importance of shade, seating, and trash management to create a more welcoming environment.
  • The opportunity to leverage Brockton’s strong transit access to encourage walking as a safe, reliable option for all.

With community voices at the center, these reports provide a roadmap for improvements that can build healthier, more connected neighborhoods across Brockton.

📑 Explore the full reports here:

Blogpost by Emma Itri, Development and Communication Coordinator

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