Category: Announcement

Good news: Mayor Walsh proposes an increase in funding for staff & capital improvements in Boston!

Good news: Mayor Walsh proposes an increase in funding for staff & capital improvements in Boston!

By |

Kudos to Mayor Marty Walsh & the staff for moving Go Boston 2030 from plan toward reality!

Bottom line – this means 15-20 new positions at the Boston Transportation Department to work on many of the things that we care about: Vision Zero, signals, transit, sidewalks. Funding will come from increased parking fines, which will need to be approved by the Boston City Council.

Read the press release from City of Boston: https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-walsh-announces-transformative-investments-go-boston-2030-transportation-plan-part

New website is live

New website is live

By |

Our new site is live! We’re excited to present a refreshed site that will allow us to emphasize the work we do in communities across Massachusetts. We’ll be using the new community pages to upload project work that we do, so that walk audits and other recommendations can be more readily available. Bear with us as we flesh out those pages with a backlog of reports from recent years. Feedback is welcome – let us know what you think on our contact form. Thank you!

Annual Party on March 29th!

Annual Party on March 29th!

By |
NETWORK WALKING + CONNECTIONS = STRONG COMMUNITIES
Communities and advocates are stronger when they connect, learn, and help each other. We are excited to launch the WalkMassachusetts Network to support local committees and organizers. Come learn about the network’s valuable peer-to-peer forums and technical assistance.
WalkBoston was the nation’s first pedestrian advocacy organization.  Please join us on March 29th, 2018 to celebrate and thank the many people  who have advocated and contributed to 28+ years of progress.
What: WalkBoston Annual Party
When: March 29, 2018 5-8PM
Where: Fort Point Room / Atlantic Wharf 290 Congress St, Boston, MA – please note, this is a different location than last year!
Cost: $25 – Beer, wine + food included with your ticket
This year’s Golden Shoe Awards:
• MBTA’s Plan for Accessible Transit Infrastructure Team: Laura Brelsford, Kathryn Quigley, Chris Hart, Melissa Dullea & Erik Scheier
Transit user accessibility and safety champions
• Underground at Ink Block: MassDOT, National Development & partners
Art and environmental public space magicians
• Matt Lawlor & Hillary Borcherding Board and Board/Staff heroes

SPEAKER | JEFF SPECK | Walkable City author, TED speaker

Head to wbmarch29th.eventbrite.com for more info & to register.

Want to volunteer that evening? Email Brendan!

WalkBoston awarded $100,000 in Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100″ program!

WalkBoston awarded $100,000 in Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100″ program!

By |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Wendy Landman, WalkBoston, 617-367-9255, wlandman@walkboston.org
Contact: Julie DeSilva, Cummings Foundation, 781-932-7093, jmd@cummings.com

WalkBoston awarded $100,000
Boston nonprofit receives Cummings Foundation grant

Boston, May 26, 2017 – WalkBoston is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100” program. The Boston-based organization was chosen from a total of 549 applicants, during a competitive review process.

WalkBoston is a non-profit pedestrian advocacy organization dedicated to improving walking conditions in cities and towns across Massachusetts.

Representing WalkBoston, Wendy Landman, Executive Director, and Stacey Beuttell, Deputy Executive Director, will join approximately 300 other guests at a reception at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $170 million to local nonprofits alone.

“This wonderful grant will enable us to work with community based organizations to help them create safer pedestrian environments in communities supported by the Cummings Foundation,” said Wendy Landman.

WalkBoston will use these funds to train and empower residents to be change agents for safe streets.

The $100K for 100 program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is benefiting 35 different cities and towns within the Commonwealth.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings of Winchester, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages more than 10 million square feet of space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“Nonprofit organizations like WalkBoston are vital to the local communities where our colleagues and clients live and work,” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s executive director. “We are delighted to invest in their efforts.”

This year’s diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including homelessness prevention and affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. Most of the grants will be paid over two to five years.

The complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

About WalkBoston
WalkBoston was founded in 1990, becoming the first organization in America dedicated to pedestrian advocacy. We strive to bring walking and pedestrian needs into the transportation discussion, collaborating closely with other advocacy, community and civic/educational groups. WalkBoston makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment and more vibrant communities. For more information, visit www.walkboston.org.

About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester. With assets exceeding $1.4 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

###

Signal Timing Recommendations

Signal Timing Recommendations

By |

5/2017

11 ways to make Boston’s traffic signals work better for people walking

  1. Add concurrent signals at most locations. Concurrent signalization means that people walking receive a WALK signal in the same direction people driving have a green light (i.e., everyone can continue along Mass Ave). This should always be paired with the next item —
  2. Add a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) at signals to give people walking a 5-7 second WALK signal so that they can start into the crosswalk before people driving get a green light. 
  3. Automatic recall of WALK signals should be provided (this means that a WALK signal appears as part of each signal cycle without a push button) at all but rare, mid-block locations. Eliminate all non-functional and irrelevant push buttons. If middle of the night conditions warrant the elimination of WALK signals, change to flashing red signals.
  4. Short signal cycles should be the standard to make walking convenient, reduce delay and encourage compliance by walkers and drivers.
  5. High degree of consistency in signal operations should be used among as many locations as possible so that people walking and driving know what to expect. Perhaps there should be signage noting non-standard timing (e.g. “Wait for All Way Pedestrian Scramble” or “Heavy Turning Volume, Do Not Walk on Don’t WALK”)
  6. Addition of accessible audible signals with activation button should be provided at all signals.
  7. Countdown of full signal should be provided so that pedestrians know how much time remains before opposing traffic will get a green light. Flashing Don’t WALK and then solid Don’t WALK  should be based on appropriate clearance times.
  8. No “leading left” green arrows should be used. This sets up a dangerous situation for people walking who cannot see the leading left and think that crossing is safe, also people driving who turn on a leading left often block the crosswalks for pedestrians. If a protected left turn is required, have it at end of the green.
  9. Set signal phasing with recognition of pedestrian volumes, not just vehicle volumes (e.g. Park/Tremont, Dewey Square, Walk to the Sea). If technically feasible phasing should correspond with time of day and day of week (for example, mid-day Saturday Walk to the Sea, dozens of pedestrians must wait for a very long time while only a small number of vehicles pass by, leading to much crossing against the signal).
  10. Use stop signs to replace traffic signals in areas with light vehicle traffic and short crossing distances (e.g. Milk/Devonshire, Washington/Milk).
  11. After changing the timing for signals, post temporary signage near it: “We recently adjusted the signal timing at this intersection. Did we get it right? Let us know! Use BOS:311”