Category: Announcement

Comment Letter Re: Boston Common Master Plan

Comment Letter Re: Boston Common Master Plan

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Nathan Frazee
Project Manager
Boston Common Master Plan
Boston Parks Department
1010 Massachusetts Ave.
Boston, MA 02118
via email: nathan.frazee@boston.gov 

RE: WalkBoston Comments on 2022 Boston Common Master Plan

Dear Mr. Frazee:

WalkBoston has followed the progress for the Boston Common Master Plan over the last few years, and we appreciate the time and attention that has been placed on creating an inviting public realm and an enhanced sense of arrival and safer crosswalks at all entrances. We’ve highlighted some sections from the draft report below.

Park Entrances: 

  • We encourage the Parks Department to work with the Transportation Department to ensure the important mid-block crossing of Charles Street at Mayor’s Walk is a raised crosswalk; the draft language hedges in saying it is “A large crosswalk, possibly elevated.” Many people drive way too fast on Charles Street; a raised crosswalk will help calm traffic between two significant parks. 
  • The Shaw 54th Memorial was left out of an earlier draft since it is not accessible from the Boston Common (and due to restoration work by the National Park Service); we are pleased to see that an accessible entrance to the Common from the Shaw 54th Memorial is incorporated into the draft as an early action project.
  • We are pleased to see an early action project for Park Street Station’s plaza will further develop a proposed grading scheme to create an accessible path similar to how Government Center combines stairs and ramps. We had concerns with the previous draft that seemed to frame a direct route down the hill near Park Street onto the plaza at a location near the curbs of Tremont Street. 

Seating & Benches:

  • The report states there are approximately 238 benches in different states of repair today on the Common, down from 390 at the time of the 1996 Management Plan. We are very pleased to see a commitment to both increasing the number of benches available in the Common and providing a higher level of accessibility for existing and new locations, including prioritizing bench locations with new tree plantings for shade. 
  • It is noted that “Armrests should be considered as an accessibility measure; armrests help the elderly and all park users more easily stand up from a seated position. In this way, benches can be used to further the social agenda of the park, making the experience more equitable and accessible for all visitors.” During our Age-Friendly work in Boston with the Age-Strong Commission, participants have expressed that benches with arms help them both with sitting and standing back up from a bench. 
  • We encourage you to look at the improvements the City of Boston made to Cassidy Playground in Allston-Brighton. The redesign created many different seating options, including benches with and without arms, that give park users the opportunity to find seating that works best for their needs at the time. We hope that you can find a solution that meets the needs of older adults without creating hostile architecture. 

Safer bike facilities to reduce bike/ped conflict:

  • Thank you for the continuation of the current policy of excluding bicycle riding in the park. We appreciate the support for the Transportation Department’s work to create better bike facilities on the streets surrounding the Common. If those lanes are a safe option, more people biking will use them. This policy assures the safety and calm of the paths for pedestrians and avoids conflicts between walkers and cyclists. 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Brendan Kearney
Deputy Director of Advocacy, WalkBoston

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, October 2022

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, October 2022

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Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here. Earlier this year, we released a year in review for 2021 to highlight common issues.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in September; ten were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in October 2022. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 40 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in October in the MassDOT Crash portal, 12 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in October was 50.75.
  • There were at least five arrests made in connection to October’s fatal pedestrian crashes. In at least two of the crashes, drivers left the scene and were later arrested; a driver was arrested for operating under the influence, resisting arrest, and assaulting an officer; a driver was arrested for unlicensed operation; and a dirt bike rider was arrested for several motor vehicle offenses.
Date 10/1/2022, 2:29 AM
Location I-93 SOUTH, MM 12.4
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 34
Sex M

MassLive reports that 34-year old Christian Yemga was struck and killed after he was struck on I-93 after his own car struck a guardrail and became disabled, prompting him to exit the vehicle. The driver of the car that struck him stopped, and another driver then crashed into that vehicle. The two people in the stopped car were taken to a hospital in Boston to be treated for serious injuries; the driver of the vehicle that hit the stopped car was charged with operating under the influence, resisting arrest, and assaulting an officer.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, I-93 is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a limited access highway, with 4 travel lanes in each direction with a divided median. The speed limit is 55mph. This section also includes a short shoulder/pull off.

Date 10/3/2022, 8:27 AM
Location 22 Coleman St.
Town Gardner
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 69
Sex F

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports that 69-year old Paula MacKenzie, a Gardner resident, was struck and killed by the driver of a Department of Public Works truck around 8:30am on a Monday morning. 

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Coleman Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two way street, with one lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. The speed limit is not indicated in the database. 

Date 10/4/2022, 8:57 PM
Location 35 Spring St.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 57
Sex M

WCVB reported that a person was struck and seriously injured after they were struck by a vehicle on Spring Street in West Roxbury, and that rain was falling at the time of the incident. We could not find any additional news coverage of this incident; the 57-year old person passed away from the crash.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with two lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. A bus stop shelter is on one side of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 10/6/2022, 8:19 PM
Location SR-28 SOUTH (158 Main St.)
Town North Reading
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 55
Sex F

We could not find any additional news coverage of this crash. If you have any information, please let us know.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with two lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. The speed limit is 40mph.

A little over a mile away on Route 28 in Reading, Streetsblog MASS reported that MassDOT implemented a pilot road diet on Route 28 to make the street safer; last year, it was converted from pilot to permanent. The road diet removed one vehicle lane from two state-run segments of Route 28 to convert the roadway from a four-lane roadway to a three-lane street with shoulders and a center-running left-turn lane.

Also in the news in North Reading in October, WCVB reported that a driver was arrested after striking and injuring a 4-year old who was being pulled in a wagon by a parent: 

Near the crash site, the girl’s family has posted a picture of her lying in a hospital bed with injuries to her forehead and wearing a neck brace. A message posted next to the picture reads, in part, “The driver left my daughter on the side of the road bleeding and helpless after speeding away.” The stretch of Lakeshore Boulevard has no sidewalks, has several twists and turns and small hills. Neighbors said for years they’ve been asking for speed bumps or some other way to keep walkers safe. “If you’re not safe on a sunny, bright, dry day walking your child in a wagon, when are you safe?” Garvey said.

Date 10/8/2022, 5:14 AM
Location I-495 NORTH, MM 36
Town Plainville
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 41
Sex M

The Boston Globe reports that a 41-year old man was struck and killed by the driver of a Volvo SUV on I-495 in Plainville. A car registered to the victim was found unoccupied in the breakdown lane a short distance away.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, I-495 is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a limited access highway, with three travel lanes in each direction with a divided median. The speed limit is 65mph.

Date 10/8/2022, 8:23 PM
Location 482 Springfield St.
Town Chicopee
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 34
Sex M

WWLP reports that 34-year old Nickolas Weichel was walking to his car when he was hit by 22-year old Nazier Grandison who was speeding at 70mph on the wrong side of the road. He was arrested and charged with motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash. 

Western Mass News interviewed Nikolas’ friends and family:

[Former co-worker Carl] Scheinost told Western Mass News that Weichel was a man who absolutely loved life, made everyone laugh, and didn’t know a stranger. “Nick was the kind of guy who worked to live. His life after work was the most important thing to him,” he added. Most of all, Scheinost said that his friend did not deserve to die so young, as he had so many years ahead of him to bring joy to those who knew him. However, he said that he will continue to remember the biggest lesson he learned from Nick. “What are we working for? You’re working for a better life. Live your life. It can be over quick, as we all learned the hard way,” Scheinost said.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Springfield Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with one travel lane in each direction. There is parking on each side of the street, and a sidewalk on both sides. The speed limit is unclear, with fields showing 25mph and 35mph in the database; the WWLP article above says the DA’s office said the speed limit is 30 mph.

Date 10/13/2022, 6:33 PM
Location 248 Great Rd.
Town Acton
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 44
Sex M

44-year old Kevin Shaw was struck and killed on Great Road (Rt 2A/119) in Acton by the 17-year old driver of a Subaru wagon near the Gould’s Plaza, which includes a Donelan’s Supermarket. 

From the Metrowest Daily News: 

Since the pedestrian crash, the Acton Select Board has voted to put crosswalk lighting in the area where the crash occurred. It still needs approval by the state. 

Last week, a 13-year-old boy was struck by a hit-and-run driver, also on Great Road. The boy, who was in a crosswalk, was flown to a Boston hospital with serious injuries. Police said Monday they have seized a vehicle they believe was involved in that incident.

Friends have created a “Safe Streets for Kevin” form so people can email the Acton Town Manager, John S. Mangiaratti, and Barry Lorion, who is the State District 3 Highway Director which includes jurisdiction over Great Road in Acton, MA. “It’s the wish of his friends and family that action be taken immediately to improve the road crossing where he was hit. This was a known dangerous crossing. Steps have been taken by the town and state to make improvements, but we want to guarantee that quick action will be taken to prevent something like this from happening again.” You can send an email here.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with one lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one side of Great Road, opposite the shopping plaza. There is a crosswalk at the intersection of Brooks Street and Great Road. The speed limit is 40mph.

Date 10/20/2022, 7:01 PM
Location 2 High St.
Town Monson
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 56
Sex F

Western Mass News reports that a 56-year old woman was struck and killed by a motorcyclist on High Street. From the article:

Monson Police said that they were alerted around 7 p.m. Thursday that Ware and Palmer Police tried to stop a motorcycle, that was described as a dirt bike, in their towns and that it was seen heading toward the area of State Avenue and Upper Palmer Road in Monson. Both Ware and Palmer Police reportedly ended their attempts to stop the motorcycle before it got to Monson. A Monson police officer found the motorcycle traveling south on Margaret Street, near Quarry Hill School, and another officer saw it pass him heading south on High Street as the officer headed north. “While both officers were attempting to locate the motorcycle, they discovered it had struck a pedestrian in the vicinity of the Monson Free Library on High Street and crashed,” police explained…The operator of the motorcycle was arrested and charged with several motor vehicle offenses.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with one lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. This location is in front of the Monson Free Library, and there is a crosswalk and stop sign. The speed limit is 30mph. 

Date 10/22/2022, 9:41 PM
Location I-93 SOUTH, EXIT 15A
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 49
Sex M

49-year old Mark McAuliffe was struck and killed by the driver of a Toyota Highlander on I-93 near South Bay in Boston.  

Preliminary investigation from Mass State Police reveals that the victim was attempting to cross Route 93 in the area of exit 15 from west to east. The pedestrian crossed the southbound lanes and the median and then entered the northbound side, where he was immediately struck by a 2019 Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicle in the left lane.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, I-93 is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a limited access highway, with 4 travel lanes in each direction with a divided median. The speed limit is 55mph. This section includes an additional service road / on ramp.

Date 10/23/2022, 9:35 PM
Location 330 Middlesex Ave.
Town Medford
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 77
Sex M

77-year old Walter Wishoski from Malden was struck and killed by the driver of a Ford Fiesta on Middlesex Ave near Wendy’s and Townline Plaza. The plaza is near the Medford/Malden town line, where Middlesex Ave in Medford becomes Highland Ave in Malden. NBC Boston reports that the driver, Everton Candido, was arrested and expected to be charged for unlicensed operation.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with two lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. A bus stop is on each side of the street. There is not a crosswalk to access the plaza. The speed limit is unclear, with fields showing 25mph and 30mph in the database.

Date 10/29/2022, 6:16 PM
Location 417 Springfield St.
Town Chicopee
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 73
Sex F

A 73-year old woman was struck and killed on Springfield St in Chicopee. We could not find any additional news coverage of this crash. If you have any information, please let us know.

This is 1/10 of a mile – just a 2 minute walk – from a fatal crash on Springfield Street earlier in the month. In the distance of this Google Street View, a person is crossing the street at a crosswalk that has highway crash barriers along the street. 

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Springfield Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with one travel lane in each direction. There is parking on each side of the street, and a sidewalk on both sides. The speed limit is unclear, with fields showing 25mph and 35mph in the database.

Date 10/29/2022, 10:08 PM
Location SR-9 EAST + South St.
Town Shrewsbury
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 20
Sex F

Community Advocate reports that 20-year old Ghufran Mutar was crossing Route 9 at the intersection with South Street on her way home from working at CVS just after 10 p.m. on Oct. 30 when she was struck and killed. Jerry Santiago Jr, the driver of a Dodge Journey SUV, left the scene. He was arrested days later and charged with leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Route 9 is under MassDOT jurisdiction, and South Street is under local jurisdiction. Route 9 is a two-way divided roadway, with two lanes in each direction and additional left turn lanes at the intersection. There are no sidewalks on either street, and no crosswalks for any leg of the intersection. The speed limit is unclear, with fields showing 35mph and 99mph in the database.

There is a grocery store plaza on one side of Route 9 and the CVS that Ghufran worked at is on the other side of Route 9.

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2022 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).

WalkBoston is Hiring a New Executive Director!

WalkBoston is Hiring a New Executive Director!

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WalkBoston Executive Director Job Description

What we’re looking for:
WalkBoston is looking for an Executive Director to lead the organization into an exciting next phase which will include implementing the newly developed Strategic Plan, expanding our organizational reach statewide, and continuing our advocacy and organizing efforts in support of safe pedestrian infrastructure and public policy. 

Who we are and what we do:
WalkBoston, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization, makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment and more vibrant communities. We have a vision of a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks. Our small, committed staff work as a team to make change: whether it’s getting a crosswalk painted in a neighborhood or influencing Massachusetts state policy to make streets safer for all. Key to our effort is the value we place in Community, Equity, and Partnership.

As the first pedestrian advocacy organization in the country, for over 30 years WalkBoston has been an industry leader and cutting-edge advocacy organization. As an innovator in the walkability field, WalkBoston has helped pass legislation and write pedestrian design manuals; created walks, maps and wayfinding systems; led the nation’s first Safe Routes to School program; promoted healthy living campaigns; and publicized the economic value of good walking environments for business success. We’ve used tactical urbanism and social media to tell people’s stories to help make changes to street design, policies, and to drive public sentiment for projects.  

What the Executive Director will do:
Our next Executive Director will lead the organization and further our mission of making walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment, and more vibrant communities. The Executive Director will be a leader who believes in WalkBoston’s mission, vision and values, and is an excellent communicator and coalition builder with a demonstrated commitment to racial equity principles. The Executive Director will be tasked with implementing our newly developed equity-centered Strategic Plan.      

The Executive Director will uphold WalkBoston’s values of community, equity and partnership and work towards a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks. 

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a track record in managing budgets, staff, and fundraising and/or comfort with asking for money. Professional or lived experience in the following is desired but not required; fundraising for a small non-profit, advocating or organizing among diverse populations, knowledge of transportation planning, urban planning, or public health, and board recruitment / retention. 

WalkBoston is seeking a diverse (race, age, geography, background and experience) candidate pool.  The Executive Director is a leader who can apply a varied set of professional and lived experiences to the betterment of WalkBoston. We encourage individuals to apply who share a passion for our vision, mission, and values and enjoy contributing ideas on how we can become stronger as an organization.

Job responsibilities:
Administration and Management
Lead 5 to 6 person staff to execute day-to-day responsibilities that further the mission and achieve the strategic plan.

Hire, supervise, and evaluate all staff while maintaining up-to-date human resources practices and protocols for the organization.

Develop annual operating budget, monitor grant and contract budgets, review monthly financial reports, oversee payroll, and manage our accountant and bookkeeper consultants.

Program Support
Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence in advocacy initiatives and grant-funded projects. Guide and support staff to ensure program goals and deliverables are met.

Monitor new program development to advance WalkBoston’s reach in Massachusetts.

Maintain relationships with state agencies, municipal staff, advocates, allied organizations, and subject matter experts to stay informed of and shape policies and project implementation.

Fundraising
Oversee implementation of annual fundraising plan with the Deputy Director of Operations. 

Cultivate relationships with various organizations, foundations, corporate and individual donors, and perform other donor stewardship activities.

Negotiate fee-for-service agreements with partners dedicated to the advocacy and awareness building goals of the organization.

Board of Directors Coordination
Meet regularly with the Board of Directors (currently 10 evenings/year) to provide program, financial, and advocacy updates. Solicit feedback and input from Board members to shape WalkBoston advocacy initiatives, policies, and procedures.

Meet regularly with the Executive Committee to review monthly financials, set Board meeting agendas, and address any other organizational issues.

Support recruitment and training of new board members.

Develop and maintain relationships with Board members to best support their engagement with the organization.

Desired qualifications:
Expertise in non-profit and/or business management, including but not limited to skills in organizational structure, operations, and finance.

Strong public presentation skills to represent the organization in the media and other public forums.

Collaborative leadership style that values broad perspectives and provides an environment for people of all races, genders, abilities, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive.

Coalition builder.

Demonstrated commitment to racial equity principles.

Lives in or willing to move to Massachusetts. 

Compensation:
Full-time position (37.5 hours/week)

Annual salary range: $90,000 – $110,000 based upon prior work experience

Standard benefits include holiday compensation, paid time off, health insurance, and flexible scheduling.

In-state travel is required.

Availability for occasional early morning, evening, or weekend hours is required. 

Currently, WalkBoston staff is working on a hybrid model, with a flexible number of days spent in-person. We have a shared office space at the CIC in Downtown Boston which we share with several other transportation advocacy organizations.

If you are interested in the job but do not meet all the desired skills and qualifications, please do not hesitate to apply! The successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed and will undoubtedly grow into others.

WalkBoston is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, ability, age, or veteran status. We work hard to ensure diverse slates of candidates for openings at our company.

To apply email a resume and cover letter answering the question “What relevant experience, skills and assets would you bring to the role of Executive Director?” to jobs@walkboston.org by December 16th.

World Day of Remembrance is this Sunday, November 20th

World Day of Remembrance is this Sunday, November 20th

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World Day of Remembrance is an annual international event during which we gather as a community to reflect upon those we’ve lost and commit ourselves to improving our roads.

In 2022 so far, over 2,000 lives have been lost to, or seriously injured by, a traffic crash in Massachusetts — not including the countless friends, family, and loved ones impacted as well. On November 20th, we’ll recognize each person impacted during this year’s World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic crashes. The MA Vision Zero Coalition is marking the occasion by laying down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts State House, one blossom for each person killed or seriously injured in a crash in 2022, and supporting events across the state to remember those lost in traffic deaths.

We invite you to join WalkBoston and the rest of the MA Vision Zero Coalition in recognizing World Day of Remembrance by taking individual action or joining/planning events in your community. Please see our World Day of Remembrance 2022 Toolkit to learn more about how you can recognize World Day of Remembrance. Here are the list of events happening across the state:

  • The MA Vision Zero Coalition will be laying down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts state house, one blossom for each person who was killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash in 2022. The display will be out from 10am through the rest of the day. The following buildings and structures will be lit up in yellow on the night of the 20th: Government Center MBTA Station, Boston City Hall, the Zakim Bridge, the Fore River Bridge, the Burns Bridge, and the Longfellow Bridge.
  • Walk Bike Springfield & the Holyoke BikePed Committee will host an event on November 20th at 2pm at the Springfield Library (220 State Street).
  • WalkMedford will be hosting a vigil on November 18th at 11am with Mayor Lungo-Koehn. Exact location in Medford Square TBD
  • WalkBike Worcester and District 5 City Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, are hosting a Worcester World Day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20th in front of Chandler Magnet School, 525 Chandler Street, at 3:00 pm.
  • The City of Pittsfield will light-up facades at all downtown locations in yellow in honor of World Day of Remembrance.

For more information and a complete list of events, visit https://www.visionzerocoalition.org/wdr.

Additionally, to address this public health crisis, the Coalition is urging our legislators to take action that could save lives. We have sent a letter to legislators demanding the passage of H.5103, An Act to reduce traffic fatalities — crucial legislation that could drastically improve traffic safety. This is a common-sense bill that would improve the safety standards for large trucks and protect vulnerable road users sharing the road with them. You can send a letter using our sample script below.

SAMPLE COMMENT LETTER

To: Representative William Straus (William.Straus@mahouse.gov), Senator William Brownsberger (William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov)

CC: info@visionzerocoalition.org

Recommended email subject: Please take action on H.5103 An Act to reduce traffic fatalities

Sample script: 

Dear Representative Straus and Senator Brownsberger,

Please support the swift passing of H.5103 An Act to reduce traffic fatalities — a common-sense bill that would improve the safety standards for large trucks and protect vulnerable road users sharing the road with them. This legislation will save lives on our roadways, and I encourage you to take rapid action to pass this law to make our roads safer now, not later.

[Talk about why this issue matters to you: how you get around the city, how you or someone you know has been impacted by a crash, etc]

The World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic violence is this Sunday, November 20th. I hope that come that day, we can celebrate the passing of this significant step toward safer roadways.

Thank you,

[full name

street address

city/town, state, zip

phone:

email: ]

From Pilot to Permanent– Sidewalk Snow Clearing Progress in Boston

From Pilot to Permanent– Sidewalk Snow Clearing Progress in Boston

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WalkBoston was excited to see that Boston City Councilor Kenzie Bok announced this week that the City of Boston has plans for more sidewalk plows and an expanded Sidewalk Snow-Clearing Program this winter. This is a big deal!

Thank you Mayor Wu, Councilor Bok, Public Works, and the many people that have worked to move sidewalk snow clearing from plan to pilot to what will be a normal part of Boston’s snow clearing response, with ~80 Bobcats available for the effort. This is very exciting, and we know many people that have volunteered or worked at WalkBoston are really, really, pleased since this has been a frustration (and opportunity for improvement) that has been highlighted for years!

Ensuring people can continue to navigate sidewalks and curb ramps in the days after winter storms is critical to making a year round livable city for everyone. Thank you for recognizing that, and finding a way to make this a reality. It is really appreciated!

Lastly, sidewalk snow clearance isn’t just “a Boston thing.“ The most recent round of MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Funding Program for the first time allowed communities to use the money to buy snow removal equipment for pedestrian & bicycle facilities: as shown in the press release, 43 communities across the state did just that!