Author: Ava Dimond

Worcester Neighborhood Mobility Stroll

Worcester Neighborhood Mobility Stroll

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On Saturday September 24, 2022 WalkBoston participated in a neighborhood mobility stroll organized by the Worcester Accessibility Advisory Commission in the Worcester-Polytechnic Institute neighborhood. Commissioners and resident disability advocates led participants in a taste of navigating city sidewalks blindfolded, or while using a manual wheelchair. Participants included city staff from the Departments of Transportation and Mobility,  Emergency Management and Communication. Other participants included leaders from WalkBike Worcester and students from WPI and Holy Cross working with the Commission on a fall project to increase access and awareness of public spaces for all residents. The Commission partnered with NuMotion and ReEquipment for the loan of the wheelchairs for Saturday’s event.

The Accessibility Advisory Commission educates and advocates for greater accessibility and universal design. Universal design refers to the process of creating environments and products that are accessible to people with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics. As it pertains to sidewalks and street crossings, increasing access means usability for everyone regardless of age or ability, including children, older adults, parents with strollers. The Commission uses mobility walks to educate local leaders and residents about some of the challenges faced by persons with different abilities navigating city streets in Worcester.

Wendy Landman, WalkBoston Senior Policy Advisor, participated in the stroll and found the experience enlightening as well as challenging both physically and emotionally. She said that, “our streets and sidewalks are truly barrier-full when traveling in a wheelchair or navigating with a white-cane (even when assisted by a trained guide!). A walk that is usually easy and quick for me became hard work, slow and disorienting. The walk gave me a deeper, more visceral understanding of the importance of fully accessible streets and sidewalks.”

WalkBoston’s participation in the Mobility Stroll was supported by an Age-Friendly Walking grant funded by Point32Health.

This November, Vote Yes on 4 for Safer Roads!

This November, Vote Yes on 4 for Safer Roads!

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As part of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, which seeks to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all, WalkBoston stands in support of the Yes on 4 for Safer Roads Campaign. This ballot campaign upholds the common-sense law known as the Work and Family Mobility Act, which was enacted earlier this year and allows qualified residents, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a standard driver’s license.

Image reads VOTE YES ON 4

As a Coalition focused on improving street safety, we know this law will meaningfully improve road safety for everyone, and will dignify all our residents with the freedom to travel safely and legally. Voting YES on ballot question 4 in November will preserve this law, improve mobility, and ensure more drivers on our roads are trained and licensed.

A YES vote on ballot question 4 will:

  1. Support safe mobility access in our communities, ensuring that all workers and families can safely and legally make essential trips like dropping off kids at school and getting to work, medical appointments, and the grocery store, and;
  2. Uphold the regulatory framework that ensures all drivers have passed a road test, bought insurance, and have a form of verified identification.

The Evidence + Support:

Voting YES ON 4 would allow Massachusetts to experience the safety and revenue benefits that many states with similar laws have enjoyed. The District of Columbia and 17 other states, including most of our neighbors, have similar laws; some of those states have had such laws in place for decades. States like California and Connecticut have seen significantly fewer hit-and-run crashes, and Utah and New Mexico have seen uninsured driving drop 80 and 60 percent respectively. In the Commonwealth, voting YES ON 4 is projected to bring an additional $5 million in taxes and $6 million from fees, inspections, and other services within the first three years.

Ensuring that all drivers in Massachusetts are tested, licensed, and insured will lead to safer roads for all of us, which is why the Work and Family Mobility Act was endorsed by a majority of Massachusetts city police chiefs, sheriffs, and district attorneys, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chief of Police Association.

Here’s how you can learn more + get involved: 

We hope you will vote YES on question 4 on the ballot this November!

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
WalkBoston

P.S. To learn more about the Vision Zero Coalition, click here! 

Comment Letter Re: 40 Roland Street

Comment Letter Re: 40 Roland Street

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August 25, 2022 

Sarah Black
BPDA

RE: WalkBoston Comments on 40 Roland Street Supplemental Filing

Dear Ms. Black:

WalkBoston has reviewed the revised 40 Roland Street project and attended the public meeting held on August 15th.

We believe that the project will improve the walking environment in this portion of Charlestown, which is currently neither attractive nor comfortable and safe for people walking. In order to successfully execute this very large development project, the development team has committed to investments in both the public realm and pedestrian safety. We are pleased to see these initial commitments.

We have several comments that we would like to see addressed in the next iteration of the design and permitting process.

Walking Safety and Connections

The connection between this portion of Charlestown, west of I-93, with the rest of the neighborhood requires walking along Cambridge Street, and underneath I-93. On the south side of the street, pedestrians must cross the exit ramp from northbound I-93. Whether walking between the development sites and Sullivan Square MBTA Station or the heart of the Charlestown neighborhood, people walking will be confronted with both significant streets and intersections and an unpleasant under-highway walking environment.

Walking along and crossing Cambridge Street in the project’s immediate vicinity is also in need of significant improvements. 

With the project’s deep reliance on walking and transit (which of course also includes walking) as it’s primary transportation modes (75%+ of all trips per slide #57 from the presentation), we urge the developers to work with the City of Boston and MassDOT to create a detailed and specific investment plan to improve all of these elements of the walking environment. This should include walking along Cambridge Street, crossing Cambridge Street and crossing the base of the I-93 ramp. If improvements are made to these areas to prioritize people walking, then the residents and workers occupying the development’s buildings can truly become a part of the Charlestown community.

Multi-Modal Path Connection

We are very pleased that the development team has committed to including the path along the southern edge of the 40 Roland Street property which will be a part of the Mystic to Charles off-road multi-modal path network. The potential exists for the path to provide an important transportation connection for the project.

We request that the development benefits include a commitment to design and fund (at least some portion) extending the path through the small triangle of MBTA-owned land to meet and cross Cambridge Street.  This will entail working closely with the MBTA and the City. Given the extent of site work and excavation that the 40 Roland Street project will require, this opportunity to help complete this short portion of the multi-modal path will have a minimal impact on the project budget, but will provide essential connections for people walking and biking to the site.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. 

Wendy Landman
Senior Policy Advisor, WalkBoston

Joint Comment Letter Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

Joint Comment Letter Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

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Sep. 12, 2022

Secretary Bethany A. Card
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Attn: MEPA Office
Alexander Strysky, EEA #15278
100 Cambridge St., #900, Boston MA 02114

Re: I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Notice of Project Change

Dear Secretary Card:

Thank you for inviting public review and comment on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Notice of Project Change for the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project (AMP).

We would like to thank MassDOT for advancing the Modified At-Grade option for the I-90 Interchange th Multimodal Project. The modified at-grade option allows for, and advances, many of the items that the I-90 Taskforce and broader community have been advocating for. We believe that the project is now poised to move forward with strong public support because it includes:

  • Putting I-90, Soldiers Field Road (SFR), and MBTA commuter rail tracks all at-grade.
  • West Station as a truly multi-modal transit hub with rail, bus, walking, and biking connections.
  • Opportunities to improve the Charles Riverbank including stormwater management, bank stabilization, reestablishment of native species, and more,
  • Separated walking and biking paths, specifically upgrading the Paul Dudley White Path to a dual path with separate pedestrian and bike paths from River Street through the path under the Boston University Bridge, and eliminating the boardwalk under the BU bridge, which has a narrow and dangerous blind corner.
  • Enhanced community connections via the People’s Pike buffer park and Agganis Way Connector. The Agganis Connector and the People’s Pike buffer park are essential to repairing neighborhood connectivity so badly disrupted by the original construction of the turnpike and Cambridge Street Bridge over a half century ago.
  • The reconstruction of Grand Junction bridge over SFR with a two-track bridge, which provides improved clearance over SFR. This requires a workable profile and design for the replacement of the nearly hundred-year-old, structurally-deficient rail structure over the river, including pedestrian and bike facilities connecting the Cambridge and Boston Esplanades.
  • Readiness for air rights development within Beacon Park Yard, with an explicit plan to work with Harvard, and other stakeholders, to provide for air rights platforms to be constructed at the same time as the AMP.
  • Additionally, we would like to thank MassDOT for including the rebuilding of the Franklin Street pedestrian bridge as an early action item, and the full reconstruction of the Cambridge Street overpass within the unified project. Reconstruction of the Cambridge Street overpass would allow for street connection to West Station, lower profiles, and much better ped/bike connections.

There are several project components that we look forward to seeing explicitly included as part of the preferred alternative in the next environmental filing:

  • Commitment to include construction of the People’s Pike and Agganis Way connector as part of the project.
  • Coordination with Harvard and other stakeholders to ensure investments in the air rights deck to allow decking to be constructed at the same time as I-90.
  • Provision of temporary bike and pedestrian safety improvements along Cambridge Street during pre-construction.
  • Preparation of preliminary design of the Grand Junction bridge across the Charles River to Cambridge. It is crucial that the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project include preliminary design and feasibility of this bridge, including transit and dual pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, in order to ensure that this project happens in the future. It is a critical transportation, GHG reduction, and economic need for the region.
  • A more thorough analysis and explanation of the layup yard and intrusion of this element which would disturb the urban fabric, and disrupt the 15 minute or better frequency of regional rail service required to support a regionally significant West Station. The concept of a mid-day layup at Allston was proposed in the South Station expansion final EIS, but subject to environmental analysis to be carried out in the Allston document, which has not occurred.
  • A more detailed study of the Paul Dudley White Path and its relationship to the riverbank and watersheet to find a design solution that maximizes the safety and experience of cyclists and pedestrians without increasing interference and hazards to boaters.
  • A more detailed study/design of the boardwalk and riverbank edge.
  • The project design should not preclude future lane reduction.

We thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the NPC, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with our state partners in the review process and beyond.

Board of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association

Coalition for a Just Allston Brighton

Magazine Beach Partners

Alba Oliver, Allston resident

Alex Shames, Brighton resident

Anna Leslie, Director, Allston Brighton Health Collaborative

Anthony D’Isidoro, President, Allston Civic Association

Becca Wolfson, Executive Director, Boston Cyclists Union

Cheryl Pavlik, Brighton resident

Deb Pasternak, Chapter Director, Massachusetts Sierra Club

Douglas Arcand, Allston resident

Erika Johnson, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Allston Resident

Fred Salvucci, Brighton resident & I90 Taskforce member

Fred Yalouris, Cambridge Community representative on the I90 Taskforce

Galen Mook, Executive Director, Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, Allston resident & I90 Taskforce member

Harry Mattison, Allston resident & I90 Taskforce member

Jack Wofford, Cambridgeport resident

Jarred Johnson, Executive Director, TransitMatters

Jay & Rita Arcand, Allston business & property owners

Jessica Robertson, Allston resident and I-90 Task Force Member

Jo-Ann Barbour, Director, Charlesview Inc.

Laura Jasinski, Executive Director, Charles River Conservancy

Staci Rubin, Vice President, Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation

Stacy Thompson, Executive Director, LivableStreets Alliance

Tina Chan, Allston resident

Yongxing Wang, Brighton resident

Wendy Landman, Senior Policy Advisor, WalkBoston

WalkBoston Attends the NACTO Designing Cities 2022 Conference

WalkBoston Attends the NACTO Designing Cities 2022 Conference

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Last week three of our WalkBoston staff had the exciting opportunity to attend the NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials) Designing Cities 2022 conference! Our Executive Director Stacey, our Deputy Director Brendan, and our new Senior Program Manager Iolando spent the week exchanging ideas with over 1,000 officials, planners, and practitioners in NACTO’s first in-person conference since 2019. They participated in “Walkshops” (mobile workshops that allow attendees to visit, learn about, and reflect on local transportation projects) and attended talks whose topics ranged from best practices in public communications to universal basic mobility. WalkBoston attendees also got to hear from compelling speakers such as Mayor Michelle Wu and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. 

             

The conference was pervaded by a spirit of optimism for the future of cities which Iolando found contagious. He left feeling “upbeat and happy,” because NACTO was “such a great opportunity to build relationships with like-minded people who are working on the ground on these topics,” including how to make transportation more equitable. Iolando attributes this energy in part to the many transportation experiments conducted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; experiments whose failures and successes provided plenty for practitioners to come together and reflect over. “As a person who is new to this organization, it felt like ‘Wow, this is such an awesome time to get started!’”

               

Iolando believes this positive energy (even in the midst of Boston’s current struggles to adapt to the Orange Line closures) is a testament to the conference’s skillful highlighting of the strides Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville have made towards a more equitable, safe, and sustainable transit system. For example, Iolando attended a Walkshop in Cambridge entitled “Reimagining Shared Spaces in Cambridge’s Cultural District” that took participants to explore Central Square. It focused on how transforming parking for cars into places for people improves walkability, thereby expanding the community’s access to services, arts, and cultural items. Another Walkshop Iolando attended, “Making Tremont Street Safer: A Journey through Space and Time,” looked at Boston’s South End and featured an interesting discussion of what it looks like to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility while balancing historical preservation in a storied neighborhood. Participants even observed construction crews building safety features such as raised crosswalks, lane reallocations, and separated bike lanes. 

WalkBoston is immensely grateful for the opportunity to attend NACTO this year. Thanks to generous support from the Barr Foundation, NACTO was able to provide funds to support attendance to the conference for people from New England cities.