Category: Walk Audit

Ware Age-Friendly Walk Audit – Report

On Friday, November 15th, WalkBoston conducted a walk audit in Ware, MA. The town of Ware is currently in the process of developing a Bike and Pedestrian plan and a Complete Streets Prioritization plan. The town requested this walk audit to help inform these processes. The audit focused on the walkability of Ware’s low-income, environmental justice neighborhood and of the connectivity of this neighborhood and senior housing complexes to areas of town with a high density of goods and services. This walk audit was completed as part of WalkBoston’s Age-Friendly Walking initiative, which is a three year, statewide initiative to improve walking conditions for people of all ages in rural and gateway communities of Massachusetts through policy implementation and built environment change.

To learn more about this walk audit you can read the report here:
WalkBoston – WARE walk audit report FINAL

Walking Around South Boston’s Andrew Square

Spurred by engaged citizens and Councilor Ed Flynn’s office, WalkBoston led a pedestrian safety walk around the Andrew Square neighborhood of South Boston on Wednesday, December 4th. Area residents, Andrew Square Civic Association members, Councilor Flynn and staffers engaged in a lively discussion about current threats to pedestrian safety and a history of pedestrian injuries in and along Andrew Square, Old Colony Ave, Preble Street, Dorchester Street and Dorchester Avenue. The area has seen a number of development projects, with a significant amount yet to come in the future along Dorchester Avenue guided by PLAN: South Boston Dot Ave. Walking through the neighborhood, residents and WalkBoston staff noted various safety concerns driven by augmented traffic volume that has negatively impacted people walking or biking within the neighborhood and to the T station.

Attendees offered many potential solutions, including speed reduction, new crosswalks and restriping, road diets, bike lanes, and improved pedestrian signaling. After a snow storm, the walk also provided an opportunity to observe snow removal practices in action and areas of improvement. WalkBoston looks forward to supporting Andrew Square residents in advocating for policies and improvement measures that result in safer streets for everyone.

Development projects in the area impact pedestrian routes.

Parking close to crosswalks reduces visibility and pedestrian safety.

Snow and ice produce new challenges for walkers.

Williamstown Walk Audit – Age-Friendly Walking

On Friday, November 22nd, WalkBoston conducted a walk audit in Williamstown, MA. This walk audit focused on recommendations to improve the safety of several high-volume, low-visibility crosswalks near the Williams College campus and of the walkability and connectivity of the main shopping plaza at the edge of town. The group also discussed recommendations for Age-Friendly walking features to improve the safety and comfort of people walking of all ages, such as benches and wayfinding signage. This walk audit was completed as part of WalkBoston’s Age-Friendly Walking initiative, which is a three year, statewide initiative to improve walking conditions for people of all ages in rural and gateway communities of Massachusetts through policy implementation and built environment change.

Ware Walk Audit – Age-Friendly Walking

Walk Audit In Worcester’s Green Hill Neighborhood – Report

On November 2, 2019, WalkBoston conducted a walk audit in the Green Hill Neighborhood of Worcester, MA. The Green Hill Neighborhood association was awarded a Transportation Justice grant from Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) to “reimagine” Lincoln Street from Brittan Square to the Nativity School. As a part of this grant project, Green Hill residents hope to improve the safety and comfort of the walking environment in their neighborhood. The neighborhood association has been working with students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to develop a re-design of Lincoln Street that makes this street a better place for all road users with enhancements that support people walking, biking, and using transit.

The goal of the walk audit was to provide recommendations to
make the Lincoln Street corridor of the Green Hill neighborhood a
safe, comfortable place to walk. The Green Hill Neighborhood
walk audit was conducted along Lincoln Street from Harlow Street
to Catharine Street. This route was selected by the group for the
focus of this walk audit due to recent pedestrian-involved crashes
on this section of the corridor. Future plans of the Green Hill
Neighborhood Association may include additional walk audits
north on Lincoln Street to Brittan Square and around the Nativity
School.

To learn more about this walk audit you can read the report here:

WalkBoston – Worcester Green Hill walk audit report FINAL