Category: Announcement

“Walkability and Main Street Resilience” Virtual Event

This panel already happened, but you can view the recording of it here!

One of the hallmarks of a successful walkable community is a thriving town center or downtown district. These districts are where people can shop, eat, get a haircut, mail a letter, or just sit with a friend on a bench. When these nearby destinations and people-focused places suffer economically, the walkability of the community can also decline. Without a destination to walk to, fewer people will venture out. WalkBoston recognizes how important local businesses are to its core mission – making Massachusetts more walkable – and is concerned about the devastating effects of COVID-19 on local business’ resilience.

Join WalkBoston, main streets and municipal representatives on June 24th at 1pm EST to discuss how small, local businesses influence walkability. Through the panel, you will also learn how you can support local businesses to secure long-term neighborhood walkability during and after COVID-19.

This virtual panel discussion will:

Illustrate the importance of vital business districts for walkable communities
Elevate creative strategies in which individual businesses, their host municipalities, and customer communities can collaborate to help mitigate the impacts of COVID.

Meet our speakers:

Che Anderson, Deputy Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester

Che Anderson is the Deputy Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester, and has worked in city government for over 6 years. He founded POW! WOW! Worcester, part of a global mural festival. He is passionate about supporting local businesses and special events programming in the Greater Worcester region. In recognition of his work, Anderson was named a member of the Power 50 by the Worcester Business Journal in 2019.

Alia Hamada Forrest, Executive Director, Roslindale Village Main Street

Alia Hamada Forrest is the Executive Director of Roslindale Village Main Street and has lived in Boston since 2003. She grew up in a family that values hospitality, food, and the restaurant industry — her dad was an executive chef at several restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona and her mom manages banquets and events at a resort in Scottsdale. A first-generation American, Alia brings compassion to the immigrant experience and small business.

Contact MEPA about Northern Avenue Bridge Project (Due June 9th)

On Wednesday, May 20th, WalkBoston participated in a MEPA “Virtual Site Visit” for the Northern Avenue Bridge in Boston. MEPA is accepting public comment on this project, and announced they have extended the deadline until June 9th. We encourage you to voice your opinion.

WalkBoston, LivableStreets, and the Boston Cyclists Union asked earlier this month on a Zoom Public Meeting that the City commit to a bridge design that is only open to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency vehicles. Following that meeting, we testified at the Boston Transportation / Public Works Budget Hearing and asked the City Council to not approve the Northern Ave Bridge project in the budget until this commitment has been made. The scale of funding for safety projects throughout the city pale in comparison to the estimated dollars for the current iteration of this proposed bridge.

WalkBoston is working on a detailed comment letter on the project, but you can read some of our concerns in this post from earlier this month, “Speak Up for a People First Northern Avenue Bridge.”

Major issues:

Bridge is being overbuilt for the stated purpose/need.
Unclear how Harborwalk is integrated into bridge design.
Current plan has private shuttles directly adjacent to people walking/biking; paint is not appropriate separation or protection on a new bridge.

How to submit feedback:

Send an email with your comments by June 9th to:
MEPA Analyst Alex Strysky: alexander.strysky@mass.gov and cc: comments@dev.walkboston.org

More information:

Brooks Elementary’s Safe Routes to School Project in Medford

Our partners at WalkMedford recently reported that the Medford City Council unanimously supported the Brooks Elementary School Safe Routes to School Safety Project. The project will bring enhanced safety for children walking and bicycling to the Brooks School from nearby neighborhoods, as well as improve the accessibility and safety for the thousands of other people who use High Street every day. Speeding cars pose a real threat to children as well as other pedestrians on High Street.

On May 12, the City Council approved 12 easements that will allow the project to move forward and that will entail removing several on-street parking spaces. Studies by the state and city have shown that there is plenty of parking in the area at all times of day, and that all of the affected houses have ample driveways to accommodate resident cars.

The project includes: rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at several pedestrian crossings; bump outs that will shorten crossing distances; accessible curb ramps and narrowed travel lanes; several new crosswalks; construction of a splitter island to reduce crossing distances; and, the installation of an uphill bike lane and downhill “sharrows” on High Street.

Congratulations Medford!

Speak up for a People First Northern Avenue Bridge

The wonderful, pedestrian-focused Northern Avenue Bridge that WalkBoston has continued to advocate for over the past 20 years is in jeopardy!

This Wednesday, May 6 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, the City of Boston is holding a virtual public meeting to share the design they have selected. WalkBoston, LivableStreets, and the Boston Cyclists Union ask that the City commit to a bridge design that is only open to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency vehicles. We are asking City Council not to approve this project in the budget until this commitment has been made. As reported in North End Waterfront.com, the project was described to the Wharf District Council meeting last week as follows:

“The harbor-facing side will be exclusively for pedestrian use, while the second side facing the Moakley bridge will serve a single bus/shuttle line, as well as cyclists and emergency vehicles.”

Since December 2019, the City has shifted its approach from a walking/biking/emergency vehicle-only design to one that includes a bus/shuttle lane. Touted as a “people first” design, the City revealed drawings depicting no vehicles, while at the same time stating shuttles and emergency vehicles would be allowed on the bridge. All of the renderings shown to date continue to leave out this critical detail.

Here are three ways you can get involved this week:

Contact the project team and Boston City Council. Despite significant public support, the City has not committed to ensuring the bridge is reserved for people walking, biking and emergency use only. Livable Streets has provided a template email if you’re looking for inspiration.
- Project team: team@northernavebridgebos.com
- District 2 City Councilor: ed.flynn@boston.gov
- At-Large City Councilors: michael.flaherty@boston.gov, A.E.George@boston.gov, julia.mejia@boston.gov, michelle.wu@boston.gov
Attend the Northern Avenue Bridge Zoom meeting on Wed, May 6th at 6PM. The presentation will be posted before the meeting to give people who can only attend by phone an opportunity to review the presentation. There will be time after the presentation for Q+A. You may use the “Q+A” button in the black bar at the bottom of the screen to submit a typed question or comment at any point during the meeting.
Attend or submit comments for the City Council Budget hearing for Transportation and Public Works Zoom meeting on Thurs, May 7th at 10AM. Written testimony or pre-recorded videos may be sent to the Committee or staff email and will be made a part of the record and available to all Councilors. Members of the public wishing to testify virtually via videoconference at the end of the hearing may do so via the Zoom.

COVID-19 Fundraising Challenge for #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5

Every day, WalkBoston works to make walking safer and easier throughout Massachusetts.

Through our technical assistance, education, and advocacy initiatives, WalkBoston works to achieve more walkable communities with equitable access to parks, natural environments, and open spaces as well as basic needs such as nutritious food and healthcare. During the COVID-19 public health crisis, our mission is all the more critical.

Join us in supporting our work in 120+ communities throughout Massachusetts by giving to our COVID-19 Fundraising Campaign for #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5. Your gift will help provide immediate financial support, ensuring WalkBoston can address urgent and pressing issues of pedestrian safety, such as communicating with Department of Public Health and other city officials on important next steps to promote pedestrian safety in times of COVID. We are aiming to raise $3,000 in honor of our 30th anniversary.

During this unprecedented time, many donors, corporations, and foundations are, understandably, choosing to support basic needs organizations. We hope you’ll consider investing in our work as well. Safe and accessible walking is important now more than ever.

Please use the following link to give to our campaign: COVID-19 Fundraising Challenge

We are in the process of transitioning our 30th anniversary events to virtual gatherings. Please stay tuned for updates on more ways to connect and support our work.