Tag: Cambridge

Longfellow has come a long way!

WalkBoston is thrilled that after many years of advocacy, planning and design – and five years of construction – the Longfellow Bridge is open to all users. People on foot, on bikes, on the Red Line and in vehicles are all in motion. We celebrate the comfortable sidewalks, the beautifully restored ironwork and stonework, and the elegant new lighting. We are anticipating the fully accessible new bridge to the Esplanade which will open this summer. Just a quick glance at the pictures below tell the sidewalk story!

Before (photos taken between 2007-2011):

After (photos taken June 2018):

We are continuing to work with our many advocacy partners to make biking across the bridge even safer than it is today, and are pleased that MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack has committed to a pilot test of a separated bike lane on the inbound to Boston uphill portion of the bridge. We urge everyone to take a walk across the Longfellow Bridge this summer to enjoy the fabulous views and the cool river breeze. Support your local advocacy organizations (like WalkBoston) to keep state and local decision makers moving in the right direction on transportation in order to make our Commonwealth the best it can be!

Cambridge Day – Divisions made clear, Inman Square plan okayed by City Council to go to Legislature

Cambridge Day: “Divisions made clear, Inman Square plan okayed by City Council to go to Legislature”
By Marc Levy

In the past three years, Inman Square has seen five pedestrian crashes, 10 bicycles crashes including Phillips’s death, and 50 vehicle crashes, said Wendy Landman, executive director of WalkBoston, a nonprofit founded in 1990 that has worked with Cambridge in Inman Square since 2014.

Posted June 5, 2018

MA Vision Zero Coalition support for the Inman Square project

May 21, 2018

To the Cambridge City Council,

We are writing to you today since we understand you will be conducting a hearing tonight that involves discussion on the removal of 4 or 5 trees from Inman Square, to facilitate the Inman Square road design for transportation safety.

The goals of the Inman Square redesign are to make the square, specifically the large intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge Streets, safer for people biking and walking — the most vulnerable road users. This is in line with the Cambridge Vision Zero policy, and is particularly timely as a response to the dangers highlighted by the fatal crash that took the life of Amanda Phillips in June of 2016, while she was riding her bike away from Inman Square.

The Vision Zero Coalition is working to make Massachusetts safer for all road users and we believe that the proposed changes to Inman Square will make that complicated and busy intersection much safer for people walking and biking. In addition, the plan responds to the requests of local residents and business owners to create a more attractive and connected Vellucci Plaza to better serve businesses. We believe that the plan now makes the most of the opportunity for a large re-construction project, to fix the traffic and safety operations of Inman Square, and provide an opportunity to revitalize struggling businesses in the Square.

We sincerely hope that the objections to the project stemming from the loss of 4-5 trees (which will be transplanted and/or replaced) will not delay these important safety improvements any longer.

Trees are an extremely important part of the urban fabric and contribute to pedestrian comfort and safety, and our organizations advocate for trees as an important element of streetscape design. Trees are also important contributors to environmental benefits. As transportation is the number one contributor to greenhouse gases in Massachusetts, it is imperative that we provide people with transportation options that get them out of single occupancy vehicles. The amount of carbon that a tree can sequester is moot if we can get hundreds, even thousands, more people out of cars and onto their feet, transit and bicycles. While Cambridge boasts one of

the highest percentages of people who travel by walking, transit and biking, that percentage could be much higher if the City is safer and more attractive for people using those modes.

While we regret the loss of four to five trees, making progress on safety, mode shift, and the continued vitality of Inman Square outweighs that loss and we believe the project should move forward as soon as possible. We are pleased that the designers and City staff have found a way to plant even more trees than are being removed.

We look forward to seeing the re-construction of Inman Square get underway, and to the safer, more convenient and more vibrant Square that will result.

Best regards,

Wendy Landman, WalkBoston

Stacy Thompson, LivableStreets Alliance

Becca Wolfson, Boston Cyclists Union

Members and leaders of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Support for “Super LPI” in Central Square, Cambridge

March 26, 2018

To:
Cambridge City Council,
Cambridge City Clerk,
Joe Barr – Director Cambridge Traffic, Parking & Transportation (TPT)

From:
Wendy Landman, Executive Director, WalkBoston

WalkBoston believes that TPT’s suggested change for the Central Square Pedestrian Signals will provide improved pedestrian safety. As described in the March 21 Memorandum from Joseph Barr, the Super LPI will provide an effective way of managing this high volume intersection.

WalkBoston agrees with TPT’s analysis of the situation and with the conclusion that a concurrent signal phasing with a longer LPI is the best overall solution. We concur with the finding that an ALL WALK signal phase would not be appropriate for Central Square and would lead to lower levels of service for pedestrians, and confusion among both pedestrians and drivers.

WalkBoston also appreciates TPT’s plan to review operations after the Super LPI is installed.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this signal revision.

Cambridge: East Cambridge and Kendall Square Walking Map

The center of East Cambridge retains much of its early residential character with a vital focus on the Middlesex County courts. The community is located within easy walking of neighboring areas where construction activity booms—Kendall Square with its new offices and North Point where high-rise residences face the Charles River. In 1810, the wealthy investor Andrew Craigie envisioned a community on an island surrounded by salt marshes linked to the Charles River.

Connecting this island to Boston via a new toll bridge (present Science Park Dam), Craigie laid out a grid of streets and began attracting development to the area. The marshes were filled by railroads and industry. In the late 20th century, the riverfront was beautified; traffic was diverted onto new boulevards. Old industrial buildings were rebuilt as offices. Pedestrian routes linked residential, employment and recreation areas at the Charles River..

Click for “East Cambridge and Kendall Sq Walking Map” PDF

Click for “East Cambridge and Kendall Square Walking map” on Google Maps