Tag: Chelsea

WalkBoston and partners host Chelsea Walk: Eastern Ave to Broadway!

On May 2nd, WalkBoston and community partners hosted a free walk in Chelsea to highlight local walkability, transit and development projects and opportunities, while also emphasizing the need to maintain affordability and prevent displacement. Thanks so much to the 50+ people who attended, especially our speakers and co-hosts: GreenRoots, The Neighborhood Developers, TransitMatters, Transportation for Massachusetts, the City of Chelsea, and LOCUS Massachusetts. See photos on Facebook.

The walk began after a group of WalkBoston staff, partners and supporters rode the new MBTA Silver Line (SL3) from South Station to Chelsea to meet another group of walkers at the new Eastern Ave Station. As we walked along the new multi-use Chelsea Greenway and down Broadway, we heard from a number of speakers who highlighted the need to think holistically about community development and transportation.

Maria Belen Power of GreenRoots spoke powerfully about the imperative for transit justice and equitable fares in low-income communities of color like Chelsea. Marc Ebuña of TransitMatters described the history of the SL3 project and the need for better bus service across metro Boston. Aaron Wasserman of The Neighborhood Developers and Elijah Plymesser of LOCUS Massachusetts highlighted the Box District as an example of affordable housing and transit-oriented development that can advance a broader smart growth agenda. Alex Train from the City of Chelsea described his work to advance Complete Streets that work for all road users. Finally, youth from GreenRoots’ ECO Teens program highlighted the potential to transform the underutilized Chelsea Walk into a community destination (support their crowdfunding campaign here!).

The spirited conversations that began on the walk continued over food and drinks at Tijuana Restaurant on Broadway. Special thanks to LOCUS Massachusetts for sponsoring the appetizers!

Moving forward, WalkBoston will build off our past work in Chelsea and stay engaged in the community. Having conducted walk audits in the Sector 4 and Park Square neighborhoods in 2017, we now look forward to improving pedestrian safety on Marginal Street as Chelsea develops its broader Harbor Plan. We will also continue to support the city’s Re-imagining Broadway project, as well as other forthcoming Complete Streets initiatives. You can stay in the loop about WalkBoston’s work in Chelsea here.

One minute, one slide: Complete Streets in Chelsea

Below is a “One Minute, One Slide” presentation shared by a member of the WalkBoston staff.
Text provided is as presented at this year’s annual event on March 29, 2018.

Adi Nochur

The City of Chelsea, a community of 40,000 people just north of Boston, is promoting health, safety and economic opportunity through the development of Complete Streets that work for all road users.

In 2017 WalkBoston organized two neighborhood walk audits in Chelsea, participated in the City’s Re-Imagining Broadway initiative, and testified in support of the City’s Complete Streets policy to build momentum for safer streets for everyone.

With the policy successfully passed, we now look forward to supporting Complete Streets implementation in 2018, and to highlighting the opportunities for continued progress with a community walk on May 2nd!

Chelsea Park Square Walk Audit

Event: Chelsea Walk – Eastern Ave to Broadway

We’re looking forward to you joining us for Wednesday evening’s walk (tomorrow). Summer has come early – it will be HOT! Consider bringing water, a hat for shade, and wearing comfortable clothing. If you’re meeting us in Chelsea, we’ll gather by the multi-use path at the Eastern Ave Station around 5:30pm. Look for people with WalkBoston signs!

If you are taking the Silver Line from South Station, meet us at 5pm on the Silver Line platform, where a group will take the SL3 to meet everyone else in Chelsea. If you miss us, don’t panic! Just hop on the next SL3. The bus is scheduled to run every 10 minutes from 4-6pm (and every 12 minutes after that), and our first two speaking locations are on the multi-use path along the busway.

We will walk along the Silver Line busway’s new multi-use path and down Broadway to examine creative affordable housing and transportation initiatives, ending at Tijuana Restaurant (164 Broadway) for food, drink, and continued conversation. A copy of the map below will be handed out tomorrow.

If you’re heading back into town at the end of the walk, the 111 bus is just 2-3 blocks from Tijuana Restaurant and runs directly to Downtown Crossing every 7-10 minutes.

RSVP on Eventbrite or Facebook

Starting Location/Stop 1: Eastern Ave Silver Line Station

WalkBoston group from South Station meets Chelsea partners and residents at 5:30pm
Speakers: Maria Belen (GreenRoots), MBTA/MassDOT Silver Line Gateway Project representative TBD

Stop 2: Box District

Speakers: Aaron Wasserman (The Neighborhood Developers), Elijah Plymesser (LOCUS Massachusetts)

Stop 3: Downtown Chelsea/Broadway Corridor

Speakers: Alex Train (City of Chelsea)

Stop 4: Tijuana Restaurant, 164 Broadway

Food, Drinks, and More Conversation – thank you to LOCUS Massachusetts for helping sponsor appetizer costs!

Guarde la fecha, el 2 de Mayo, a la 5:30pm para una paseo por Chelsea con WalkBoston y socios de la comunidad para destacar los proyectos y oportunidades de transitabilidad, tránsito y desarrollo locales, al mismo tiempo enfatizando la necesidad de mantener la asequibilidad y prevenir el desplazamiento. WalkBoston se reunirá en South Station a las 5 pm para viajar en el nuevo Linea Plateada Gateway del MBTA a Chelsea a las 5:30 pm. Luego caminaremos por la nueva ruta multiusos del Gateway y bajaremos por Broadway para examinar iniciativas de vivienda y transporte asequibles, y terminaremos en un restaurante local para comida, bebida y conversación.

Lugar de partida /Parada 1: Estación de Linea Plateada en Eastern Ave
El grupo WalkBoston de South Station se reúne con socios y residentes de Chelsea a las 5:30pm.
Oradores: Maria Belen (GreenRoots), y un representante del MBTA/MassDOT Silver Line Gateway Project que se anunciará mas tarde

Parada 2: Distrito de Caja
Oradores: Aaron Wasserman (The Neighborhood Developers), Elijah Plymesser (LOCUS Massachusetts)

Parada 3: Centro de Chelsea/Corredor de Broadway
Oradores: Alex Train (City of Chelsea)

Parada 4: Restaurante Tijuana (164 Broadway)
Comida, bebida, y más conversación – ¡Muchas gracias LOCUS Massachusetts por patrocinar la cena!

Downtown Chelsea and Surroundings Walking Map

An unexpected delight, Chelsea offers a glorious setting, restored downtown, civic center, and hilly views of the harbor and downtown skyline. Looming over the city is the Tobin Bridge–a dramatic landmark that is stunning seen from below. The bridge and harbor setting highlight Chelsea’s traditional role as a gateway into Boston.

Chelsea fronts on Boston Harbor, at the merging of two rivers–the Mystic and Chelsea Creek. This location has made it a natural way for products and people traveling into Boston. As the metro area has grown, Chelsea has been a welcome haven for immigrants, providing inexpensive housing, ample job opportunities, and supportive social services.

This walk covers Chelsea end to end, ranging from Admiral Hill to Powderhorn Hill, both capped by old military hospitals. Along the way you will see a dynamic city, always open to diversity. Look for the influence of ethnic traditions on the street life, restaurants, and shops in this small gateway to Boston.

Click for WalkBoston’s Downtown Chelsea and Surroundings Walking Map on Google Maps

Chelsea Complete Streets Support Letter

December 4, 2017

Chelsea City Council
500 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150

RE: WalkBoston support for Chelsea Complete Streets Resolution and Policy

Dear Councilors:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Chelsea’s Complete Streets Resolution and Policy. As a statewide pedestrian advocacy organization working to make Massachusetts more walkable, WalkBoston enthusiastically supports this policy and encourages the Subcommittee and then the full City Council to pass it.

WalkBoston is deeply committed to safer streets in Chelsea, where we have had the privilege of working for several years now. In the past year we have conducted walk assessments in the Sector 4 and Park Square neighborhoods, working collaboratively with city departments, local residents, community organizations, and state agencies to recommend pedestrian safety improvements. (Copies of these walk assessment reports are included with this letter.) Such Complete Streets concepts are already informing the City’s Re-imagining Broadway initiative, and formalizing the policy order will ensure that this great progress continues.

The needs and opportunities around Complete Streets in Chelsea are great. The City was ranked as the top pedestrian crash cluster in the entire state for 2005-2014, highlighting the urgent need for safety improvements. The Re-imagining Broadway initiative, the forthcoming Silver Line Gateway, and ongoing urban revitalization efforts all present opportunities to create safe walking, biking and transit connections. More Complete Streets that accommodate all road users will bring substantial health, safety and economic benefits to Chelsea residents. The City Council has already taken a great step towards increased safety by reducing the default speed limit in Chelsea to 25 miles per hour, and adopting a Complete Streets framework will ensure that roadway designs help accomplish this objective.

To date 142 cities and towns all over Massachusetts have adopted Complete Streets policies, including dense urban municipalities near Chelsea like Cambridge, Somerville and Everett. These communities are pursuing innovative measures like protected bike lanes, painted curb extensions, and dedicated bus lanes to enhance mobility and connectivity for their residents.
WalkBoston encourages the City of Chelsea to follow suit, and we look forward to our continued work here to help advance Complete Streets that work for everyone.

Sincerely,

Adi Nochur
Project Manager