walkboston

Traffic Accident Hotspots in Boston, MA (1953)

Pedestrian
and vehicle safety are long standing concerns of city planners, but the
tools we use to understand the problems have changed. In 1953, we used
paper studies, and in 2016, we use computer models. Check out this paper
map of traffic accident hot spots and also check out the city’s current initiative to improve pedestrian and traffic safety,
Vision Zero Boston

“Spot Map of 1953 Personal Injury Accidents” in “The Boston Survey – A Preliminary Report,” December 1956,
Collection: William Arthur Reilly collection Series: Traffic Commissioner records, Folder:
Boston Traffic Accident Survey
This records is from the Boston City Archives

Mass Ave: still a problem. #VisionZero #VisionZeroBoston

Downtown Walk Assessment Pittsfield

The purpose of this walk assessment was to identify ways of improving the walking connections between downtown businesses along North Street, the Big
Y shopping area along West Street, and the newly constructed children’s carousel along Center Street and South Church Street. While the downtown sections of North Street and Columbus Avenue proved to be highly walkable, Center Street and West Street were less walkable with uninviting and potentially unsafe pedestrian conditions. The construction of the children’s carousel along Center Street will draw more families to this area. Developing greater pedestrian connectivity between the shopping areas and the residential areas to the north could reduce traffic congestion and promote a safer and more walkable area.

Read the full report here:
WalkBoston-DowntownWalkAssessment-Pittsfield

Moody Street Walk Assessment

WalkBoston conducted an assessment of pedestrian infrastructure along Moody Street in the City of Waltham on April 6, 2016. The assessment focused on the most vibrant segment of Moody Street, from the Moody Street Bridge over the Charles River to the north, to the intersection with Maple Street/High Street to the south.

Read the full report here:
WalkBoston-MoodyStreetWalkAudit-Waltham

Burgy Village Center Walk Audit

The Town of Williamsburg has engaged planning, transportation, and healthy community design experts in efforts to assess the vitality and safety of Burgy’s town center. Burgy’s town center is loosely de ned as the Route 9 corridor between Buttonshop Road and South Street. This walk audit is part of the town’s effort to address healthy aging through healthy community design.

Read the full report:
WalkBoston-BurgyVillageWalkAudit-Williamsburg

Mtg Tonight – Re-read WalkBoston Comments on the GLX and the Community Path – March 15, 2016

walkboston:

March 15, 2016
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Room 4150
Boston, MA 02116
Attention: MassDOT Board of Directors
MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board
GLX Interim Project Manager Jack Wright
Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination Katherine Fichter
RE: GLX and the Community Path
WalkBoston has worked for over 25 years to promote improvements to pedestrian facilities throughout the state and region. We strongly believe that the proposed Community Path adjacent to the Green Line Extension in Somerville and Medford is an essential element to the successful operation of the extension. The path through this corridor is an integral part of the project that will help it to prosper and serve its riders well, especially when the need is reinforced by the lack of parking at the stations.
The Community Path is essential for the GLX to fully meet its potential in serving the residents of this corridor. It will function as the principal access route to and from the stations for walkers and cyclists, as it will be a safe and protected means of access between residences and the doors of the light rail vehicles. The same levels of access cannot be provided solely by relying on existing streets, which are frequently less direct for users. The safety of walkers is also improved by using routes that are not shared with vehicles.
We urge consideration all possible ways to fund the path and include it an integral part of the construction of this extension. Joint construction is the most cost-effective approach to construction, as the transit project and the Community Path share a common right-of-way and many elements of infrastructure, Cutbacks in the GLX project should not include reducing the number or safety of available routes of access for transit patrons going to or from the stations.
Thank you again for this opportunity to comment on this project.
Sincerely.
Wendy Landman
Executive Director
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Tonight, #Somerville High School is the place to be. re-read our recent letter on #GLX / Community Path in advance!