Tag: Boston

Shared Spaces Tremont Street Site Visit April 2025

Shared Spaces Tremont Street Site Visit April 2025

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We are ‘Shared Spaces’, a coalition of advocates from the community, Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL), Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG), Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), WalkMass, Boston Cyclists Union (BCU), and MassBike.

Our mission is to promote collaboration and understanding of the challenges associated with shared spaces – such as bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and bus stops statewide. We are committed to advocating for safety and accessibility in the design of these shared spaces, with a focus on the unique experiences of individuals with disabilities. Through education, outreach, and active engagement, we will advocate for and support inclusive policies that enhance the safety and accessibility of shared spaces for all people with disabilities, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit riders.

We organized this site visit to bring together individuals from the city and provide them with a firsthand understanding of these shared spaces, their limitations, and potential conflicts—this initiative aimed to promote more informed decision-making. Additionally, the visit facilitated relationship-building between our communities, allowing for a more authentic and accurate experience of these shared spaces.

We want to express our gratitude to the participants of this site visit, which included representatives from the MBTA’s System-Wide Accessibility Department, the City of Boston’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the City of Boston’s Street Cabinet, the Boston Transportation Department, and the Institute for Human-Centered Design. Thank you for your time, consideration, and efforts to make our streets safer for vulnerable users.

Please find at the link below a summary of the key observations from our group’s site visit of Tremont Street on April 14, 2025. We have included photos and can provide more examples if that is helpful. We recognize that some of our recommendations outline ideal scenarios. However, any improvement to roadway safety benefits all users. If achieving the ideal is not possible, we should still take action. Slowing down all users minimizes harm in case of conflicts.

Read the PDF report

MBTA Draw One Bridge Replacement Project NEPA Draft Environmental Assessment Comment Letter

MBTA Draw One Bridge Replacement Project NEPA Draft Environmental Assessment Comment Letter

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January 6, 2025
Re: MBTA Draw One Bridge Replacement Project NEPA Draft Environmental Assessment 
Sent via email: drawone@mbta.com

Dear project team,

My name is Brendan Kearney, and I’m co-executive director of WalkMassachusetts, a statewide pedestrian advocacy organization previously known as WalkBoston. We have followed the slow progression and implementation of the New Charles River Basin Master Plan for decades. The North Station Draw 1 Bridge Replacement project is an important component to the multimodal network of the Boston region, and we want to ensure this location includes the proposed pedestrian and bicycle connection.

The drawbridge crosses over the Charles River directly behind North Station. It currently has two moveable spans with four tracks. Existing piers are supporting the spans already in place. The new drawbridge will have three moveable spans with additional tracks. We are concerned that the current draft of the design for the bridge does not include a pedestrian path, the 2nd of three important pedestrian connections within the Master Plan. This crucial pedestrian and bicycle connection was a commitment by the Commonwealth as part of the Central Artery project mitigation. It should be restored to the project and built on the same timeline as the rail crossing. 

If that is deemed unachievable at this time, please commit to advancing the design and construction plans as well as a funding plan for this important pedestrian/bike connection during the 8-year construction timeline for what is now solely a train drawbridge. 

WalkMassachusetts would like to remind the MBTA, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and MassDOT that the North Bank bridge which connects Cambridge and Charlestown and passes underneath the Zakim Bridge was also dropped at one point roughly 20 years ago. At the time, officials were sympathetic, but said the holdup was simply due to lack of funding. As we now know, that bridge is a heavily used, beautiful and well-loved part of the Charles River Reservation.

We should not make the mistake of leaving out the connection between the North Point Park and North Station which will also become a heavily used, and well-loved part of MassDCR’s Charles River Reservation.

Thank you,

Brendan Kearney
Co-Executive Director, WalkMassachusetts

Statewide fatal crashes in MA, March 2024

Statewide fatal crashes in MA, March 2024

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Throughout the year, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from a previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here. 

In our previous post, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in February; seven were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in March 2024. 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 22 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in March in the MassDOT Crash portal, 7 were identified as people walking.
  • At least two of the crashes involved people who knew each other and a vehicle backing up.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in March was 44.7. 
Date 3/2/2024, 8:26 PM
Location 149 Pleasant St.
Town Attleboro
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 74
Sex M

NBC10 WJAR reports 74-year old Basil Bletsis was struck and killed while trying to cross Pleasant Street (Rt 123).

From WJAR:

Residents of the Pleasant Street Rest Home said the victim of Saturday’s fatal collision, a 74-year-old man, was a friend, neighbor, and roommate, adding the mishap came as less of a shock, and more as a reflection of reality, living along Route 123.

Several rest home residents said they believe the victim was probably trying to make it across the street on his way to the Stop and Shop supermarket about a block away.

Several residents of the rest home said they hope this tragedy sheds light on what they described as the desperate need for increased pedestrian safety measures throughout the neighborhood.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Pleasant Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with two travel lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 3/2/2024, 8:53 PM
Location 47 State Rd. West
Town Westminster
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 36
Sex M

The Gardner News reports that the driver of a car struck a pedestrian on Route 2A resulting in fatal injuries.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, State Road West (Rt 2A) is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is no sidewalk. The speed limit is 45mph.

Date 3/3/2024, 2:56 AM
Location I-93 NORTH, MM 35
Town Wilmington
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 47
Sex M

A 47-year old man was struck and killed on I-93 North near mile marker 35 in Wilmington. The Wilmington Police log from that date states, “One party was ejected. Injuries.” We could not find any additional news coverage of this incident.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, I-93 is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way limited access highway with four travel lanes in each direction. The speed limit is 65mph.

Date 3/10/2024, 9:14 PM
Location 169 Squire Rd.
Town Revere
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 28
Sex F

The Boston Globe reports 28-year old Sofia Isabel Mejia Zambrano was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle Sunday night while crossing Route 60 on her way to catch a bus after her shift had ended at Market Basket, according to law enforcement and a store manager.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Squire Road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with two travel lanes in one direction and three travel lanes in the other direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 3/24/2024, 5:06 PM
Location Congress St. + Sleeper St.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 4
Sex F

4-year old Gracie Gancheva was struck and killed after being struck by a pickup truck driver who turned onto Sleeper Street.

From the Boston Globe:

“This is an almost unimaginable tragedy,” Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Mayor Michelle Wu’s chief of streets, told residents Saturday morning.

He said the changes to Sleeper Street should be underway in the next few weeks. Officials already have removed one parking spot on Congress Street near the intersection and plan to replace it with a box of flex poles, allowing visibility but making drivers unable to cut the corner quickly. The city also will look at the narrow partial sidewalk on one side of the road, with an eye toward potentially expanding it to a full sidewalk.

The broader redesign of the area’s streets is on track to start next year, he said. That will include a raised crosswalk at the intersection where the girl died.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Sleeper Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one side of the street, and a narrow curb edge on the other. The speed limit is 25mph.

Date 3/29/2024, 12:28 PM
Location 370 Park Ave.
Town Worcester
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 88
Sex M

An 88-year old man was struck and killed by a 69-year old driver as they were returning to their vehicle after getting coffee, according to Boston 25 News:

Investigators say the victim and a 69-year-old man went to get a coffee at a local establishment and upon returning to their vehicle, the 69-year-old got into the car and allegedly accelerated backward and then forwards, striking the 88-year-old victim who was standing outside.

It is unclear from the reporting if the incident happened along the roadway or in an adjacent parking lot.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Park Avenue is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with two travel lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. There are crosswalks for all legs of the intersection. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 3/29/2024, 7:13 PM
Location 240 Second St.
Town Chelsea
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 36
Sex F

The Boston Globe reports 36-year old Jean Baptiste was struck in the head and killed by a sign while standing on a sidewalk after the driver of a 2010 Subaru Outback crashed into the sign post.

From the Boston Globe:

Baptiste got out of the Subaru about 7:10 p.m. and stood on the sidewalk as the driver pulled forward and toward the left, then put the SUV in reverse, indicating that he was making a three-point turn, State Police said in a statement.

The SUV then accelerated in reverse and jumped the curb, striking a metal post that held a “no parking” sign next to where the woman was standing, according to the statement.

“The force of the car striking the signpost caused the sign to come down violently and strike the woman in the head,” State Police said. “The vehicle itself does not appear to have made contact with the woman.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Second Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

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 2024 list. WalkMassachusetts 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.

Monthly crash review

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2023)

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 most current information on IMPACT regarding motor vehicle fatalities can be found at (https://apps.impact.dot.state.ma.us/cdp/dashboard-view/2047/). Other places on IMPACT may not be as current and the motor vehicle fatality information may not match. 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 2021 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 407).

North Station Drawbridge Replacement / Draw One Project Comment Letter

North Station Drawbridge Replacement / Draw One Project Comment Letter

By |

June 14, 2024
Re: North Station Drawbridge Replacement / Draw One Project
Sent via email: drawone@mbta.com
Dear project team,

My name is Brendan Kearney, and I’m co-executive director of WalkMassachusetts, a statewide pedestrian advocacy organization previously known as WalkBoston. We have followed the slow progression and implementation of the New Charles River Basin Master Plan for decades. I’m commenting on the removal of the pedestrian river crossing as part of the North Station Draw 1 Bridge Replacement.

The drawbridge crosses over the Charles River directly behind North Station. It currently has two moveable spans with four tracks. Existing piers are supporting the spans already in place. The new drawbridge will have three moveable spans with additional tracks. We are concerned that the current draft of the design for the bridge does not include a pedestrian path, the 2nd of three important pedestrian connections within the Master Plan. This crucial pedestrian and bicycle connection was a commitment by the Commonwealth as part of the Central Artery project mitigation. It should be restored to the project and built on the same timeline as the rail crossing. 

WalkMassachusetts would like to remind the MBTA, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and MassDOT that the North Bank bridge which connects Cambridge and Charlestown and passes underneath the Zakim Bridge was also dropped at one point roughly 20 years ago – at the time, officials were sympathetic, but said the holdup was simply due to lack of funding. As we now know, that bridge is a heavily used, beautiful and well-loved part of the Charles River Reservation.
We should not make the mistake of leaving out the connection between the North Point Park and North Station which will also become a heavily used, and well-loved part of the Charles River Reservation.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Brendan Kearney
Co-Executive Director, WalkMassachusetts

Statewide Fatal Crashes in MA, February 2024

Statewide Fatal Crashes in MA, February 2024

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Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from a previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here. 

In our previous post, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in January; nine were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in February 2024. 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 20 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in February in the MassDOT Crash portal, 7 were identified as people walking.
  • Similar to last month, some of the pedestrian crashes had the ‘speed limit’ field blank in the Road Inventory Viewer. We are now also using the MassGIS-MassDOT Roads layer to check for speed limit information.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in February was 60.5.
Date 2/12/2024, 5:53 PM
Location South St. + Charles St.
Town Holyoke
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 64
Sex M

22News/WWLP reports that a 65-year old man was hit and killed while crossing South Street in Holyoke. Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia provided a statement to the news outlet:

“I am deeply saddened to hear of this terrible accident and loss that our city has endured. My heart goes out to the family. Here is what we know at this time: The pedestrian who was hit was not using the crosswalk, and it is my understanding that the driver of the vehicle was distracted with cell phone usage at the time of the accident. The Holyoke Police Department does not believe that the lights of that crosswalk played a role in this tragic accident. The Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating the matter and once the MSP Accident Team concludes their investigation, we will be able to provide further updates on the situation.”

22News/WWLP followed up by speaking to Holyoke residents:

Pat O’Connor, who lives near that intersection says she has to cross it often, but doesn’t feel safe doing so, “Even when you are in the crosswalk, they don’t want to stop. I’ve seen people here with wheel chairs, canes, walkers, going across the street and they just try to get around you. Its awful.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, South Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side of the street. There is not a crosswalk to cross over South at the intersection with Charles Street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 2/13/2024, 5:53 PM
Location Main St.
Town Southbridge
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 66
Sex M

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, Main Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one side of the street. The speed limit is 25mph.

Date 2/16/2024, 11:57 AM
Location 375 Maple St. + 155 Cabot St.
Town Holyoke
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 74
Sex F

A 74-year-old Holyoke woman was taken to Baystate Medical Center but died from her injuries after she was struck by the driver of a car at the intersection of Maple and Cabot Streets near the library. This was the second fatal pedestrian crash in February in Holyoke.

News413 reports that MassDOT is working with Holyoke on a safety project for the High and Maple Street corridors; the project is in the planning phase and construction would not be completed until at least 2026.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Maple Street and Cabot Street are both under local jurisdiction. Cabot is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 25mph. Maple is a one-way road in the direction of Cabot with two travel lanes and parking on both sides of the street. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph. There are also School Speed Limit 20mph When Flashing” signs on two sides of the intersection.

Date 2/16/2024, 9:35 PM
Location 158 Oak St.
Town Brockton
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 44
Sex M

WCVB reports the driver of a Chevrolet van was traveling west on Oak Street when it struck a 44-year old man in the roadway in the area of Raymond Elementary School and Brockton North Middle School. The man who was struck was transported by Brewster Ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton with life-threatening injuries. Police said he was then flown to Boston Medical Center for further treatment; they later died from their injuries.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Oak Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way road with one travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 2/17/2024, 6:20 PM
Location 223 Worcester-Providence Tpke.
Town Sutton
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 34
Sex F

MassLive reports 34-year old Nicole Young was struck and killed by a car in Sutton along Worcester-Providence Turnpike (Rt 146).

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Worcester-Providence Turnpike (Rt-146) is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way Multi-lane Highway, not limited access. There are three lanes in each direction with a median. There are no sidewalks. The speed limit is 55mph.

Date 2/28/2024, 4:30 AM
Location Melnea Cass Blvd. + Hampden St.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 60
Sex M

WCVB reports a 60-year old man was struck and killed at the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Hampden Street around 4:30am; police tape surrounded a black SUV at the scene.

WalkMassachusetts spoke with Boston 25 News about crashes across the state, reinforcing that street improvements and traffic calming are “really an effort of making it safer so everyone can get around and get back to their families.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Melnea Cass Blvd and Hampden Street are both under local jurisdiction. Melnea Cass is a two-way road with two through travel lanes and a left turn lane in each direction. Hampden Street is a two-way road with one through travel lane and a dedicated turn lane towards Mass Ave in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of each street. The speed limit is 35mph.

Date 2/28/2024, 6:41 PM
Location 21 Green St,
Town Newburyport
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 80
Sex F

MassLive reports 80-year old Rev. Helen M. Sampson Murgida was struck and killed outside Newburyport City Hall by the driver of a Ford F-150 before she was to give a prayer at the State of the City Address.

Mayor Sean Reardon released a statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of the Rev. Helen M. Sampson Murgida, Affiliate Community Minister at the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist Church. Rev. Helen was scheduled to deliver a prayer at the State of the City Address.

“This is a tragic day for the Newburyport community. Our hearts are prayers are with her family, friends, and the First Religious Society.

“As an Interfaith Chaplain, Rev. Helen touched many lives within her congregation and throughout Newburyport. She had spent a long and rewarding career in special education, and she carried her passion to support those facing challenges through her faith. She advocated tirelessly for the inclusion of people with disabilities, delivering sermons and organizing community programming to raise awareness.

“She made our City an even more welcoming and inclusive place.

“My office is working with the First Religious Society to offer opportunities for community healing and will be offering ways to help the many community members affected by this loss. We also are making counseling services available to City Hall staff who have been touched by this tragedy.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Green Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a one-way road with two travel lanes and parking on both sides. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is unclear.

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 2024 list. WalkMassachusetts 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.

Monthly crash review

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2023)

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).