Action Alert (x3!)

Via Livable Streets:

This is a busy week in Boston, despite the stay-at-home advisory. Here are three ways you can take action for safer streets and better transit:

1. Send an email to speak up for a people-first Northern Ave Bridge

The City of Boston is holding a virtual meeting this Wednesday, May 6th to share an updated design for the Northern Avenue Bridge project. Despite significant public support, the City has not committed to ensuring the bridge is reserved for people walking, biking and emergency use only.

Take 5 minutes now to let the project team and City Council know that this project should not be approved in the budget until the City commits to a Northern Avenue Bridge that prioritizes people and respects the historic legacy of this iconic structure — email the City of Boston and at-large city councilors by Wednesday, May 6th (see suggested template in the orange box at link). 

2. Register for our third Virtual StreetTalk this Wednesday at 6pm! 

Once jobs and businesses begin to re-open, how can the MBTA continue to allow people to be safe and feel comfortable getting back on transit? Join us for our third virtual StreetTalk as we explore what is happening globally as transit systems in other countries begin to welcome non-essential riders back and discuss what we can learn from their experiences. To explore this topic in depth, we’ll be joined by Heather Thompson from ITDP (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy) and Steven Higashide from TransitCenter.

Event Details:
StreetTalk: Keep Transit Moving
Wednesday, May 6, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
@ Virtual Zoom Conference
Register here 

3. Speak up for safe streets and better transit at the Boston Transportation and Public Works Departments budget hearing on Thursday.

Join us at the “streets” budget hearing to thank Mayor Walsh for proposing budget increases for Vision Zero programs and the bike network, and to comment in support of the City Council approving the proposal.

As outlined in our recent Go Boston 2030 progress report, we know the City needs to pick up the pace on critical projects, including the bike network and the Columbia Road redesign. Projects like the protected bike network and walk- and bike-friendly Main Streets are even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we hope to see the City make significant progress this year. Check out our report and recommendations, and let the City Council know that Go Boston 2030 goals and projects are important to you. 

Event Details:
Boston Transportation + Public Works Departments Budget Hearing
Thursday, May 7, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
@ Virtual Zoom conference (Meeting ID: 359 230 088 | Password: 018142)

If you aren’t available during the hearing to testify live via videoconference, you can send in written testimony or pre-recorded videos to [email protected].

Sincerely,

LivableStreets

http://www.livablestreets.info

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Livable Streets Update

from the email:

Double Your Donation For Tour de Streets

TDM Photography

Tour de Streets is Saturday, September 7th — less than three weeks away! This annual event is turning 10 this year, and will feature a 10-mile urban bike ride, a 4-mile family-friendly bike ride, and a 3-mile walk. Don’t care to bike or walk? Simply join us for the party! Your participation directly supports all of our programs, including Vision Zero, Better Buses, and the Emerald Network!

We just launched our $15K in 15 Days Donation Matching Challenge! Every donation between now and August 30th will be matched up to $15K! Register, donate, or become a member before August 30th to have your contribution double!

Event Details:
Tour de Streets – 10th Anniversary
Saturday, September 7th, 9:00am-2:00pm
@ Turtle Swamp Brewing
3377 Washington St, Jamaica Plain 02130

Check out the Cambridge Vision Zero Progress Report

Nicolaus Czarnecki

Last week, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and the City of Cambridge jointly released a Progress Report assessing the City of Cambridge’s implementation of its Vision Zero Action Plan. The report outlines the City’s accomplishments and challenges faced in the first year after the release of the Vision Zero Cambridge Action Plan, and provides next steps for implementation.

We are committed to reporting on the progress of Vision Zero initiatives and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Cambridge on this report.

To read the report, click here.

Are You Ready To Vote in Upcoming Elections? Learn More About Local Candidates

LivableStreets and our Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition partners distributed a people-centered streets questionnaire to candidates in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville in order to help residents make informed choices in the upcoming election.

Here are three ways that you can use the candidate questionnaire:

1. Read candidates’ answers to help inform your vote.
2. Reach out to your local candidates to let them know that their answers to these questions matter.
3. Forward this email to five of your friends. Encourage them to learn more and vote.

This election is an important opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter most to you. The leaders we elect will make decisions that affect the livability of our streets. So if you’re able to vote in local races, please head to the polls this fall! Here are the dates for upcoming municipal elections:

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 – Somerville Preliminary Election
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 – Boston Preliminary Election
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 – General Election for Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville

Join Us For a Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon

The City of Boston and the MBTA are teaming up to improve bus travel experiences across Boston. These improvements can take many different forms. Come and learn about all the different tools that can be used to make bus trips faster, safer, and more reliable on Wednesday, August 21st.

Event Details:
Bus Priority Learn-A-Thon
Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
@ Central Boston Elder Services
2315 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02119

Join Us For MOTHERLOAD Film Screening

Feeling inspired by Tour de Streets? Join us a few days later, on September 15th, at a film screening about cargo bikes and learn why people love them. MOTHERLOAD is a crowdsourced documentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Kids are welcome!

Event Details:
MOTHERLOAD
Sunday, September 15, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
@ The Brattle Theatre
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Opportunities

• City of Boston, Director of Engineering: The Boston Transportation Department is searching for a Director of Engineering who is well versed in state of the art tools and practices to create sustainable and multi-modal transportation networks including bicycle, pedestrian and transit focused street design and cutting edge safety treatments. To learn more and apply, click here.
• ITDP (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy), Public Transit Manager: The Public Transit Manager will play a key role in overseeing the conceptualization, design and implementation of sustainable transport solutions. To learn more and apply, click here.
• MBTA, various:
  • Bus Traffic Signal Systems Fellow
  • Municipal Engagement Fellow
  • Civil Asset Information Manager
  • Project Manager – Commuter Rail, Transit & Facilities
• WalkBoston, Intern: WalkBoston interns gain experience in transportation-related planning and design, community engagement, advocacy, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. If you have an interest in learning firsthand how walkability affects community health, civic participation and overall quality of life, then an internship at WalkBoston could be a career-enhancing experience for you. To learn more and apply, click here.
• City of Somerville, Pedestrian and Transportation Advisory Committee Members: Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee members: The City of Somerville is accepting applications to fill 10 seats on the newly formed Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee. The committee’s input will support and guide city policies and plans to make improvements for public transit riders and pedestrians. To learn more and apply (deadline: 9/6/19),click here.
• UrbanAdventours, various: Do you love riding bikes and being outdoors? Are you looking for an active, hands-on job that provides a livable income? Urban Adventours (UA) is Boston’s Downtown Bicycle Shop, and they are looking for hard working people who are passionate about bicycles to help grow their fast paced, dynamic business. To learn more about open positions and apply, click here.

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Speak Up For A People Focused Northern Avenue Bridge

From Livable Streets:

Join us Monday, June 3rd to help ensure that the future use and design of the Northern Avenue Bridge prioritizes people and respects the historic legacy of this iconic structure.

Event Details:
Northern Avenue Bridge Community Meeting
Monday, June 3rd, 6:30-8:30 pm
@ District Hall
75 Northern Ave, Boston MA 02210

Despite overwhelming public comment against allowing vehicular traffic on the bridge, the City of Boston continues to prioritize a design option that creates an HOV lane for private shuttles and rideshare companies. The breadth of public comment at the community meeting last November was immeasurably valuable — and the City needs to keep hearing from you.

Key talking points include:

1. The bridge should be built to accommodate people walking, biking, and emergency vehicles only.
2. Public input should be given the highest priority in determining the use and design of the bridge.
3. The City should present fully transparent information about funding options, funding gaps, and associated costs of rebuilding the various design options for the bridge.

We need your help again and are asking you to come to the upcoming community meeting and voice your thoughts, concerns, and ideas.

We hope to see you on Monday, June 3rd at District Hall!

LivableStreets Alliance
http://www.livablestreets.info

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StreetLife: Boston Budget Hearings, Bus-Bike Workshop, And More!

From the email:

—————–

Image: MA Vision Zero Coalition

Last week, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition released the third annual Vision Zero Progress Report for Boston. While fatal crashes on Boston streets have dropped by nearly half over the past three years, the number of crashes requiring EMS response has not gone down. The momentum to prioritize safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all is growing, and we encourage you to get involved!

Attend the Transportation Department hearing for the FY20 budget in May, and testify in support of investments for safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation, which will directly benefit Vision Zero.

Event Details:
Transportation Department Budget Hearing

Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 AM
@ Boston City Hall, 5th Floor, Iannella Chamber
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

Join Us at a Bonus Advocacy Committee Session: Understanding the Boston Budget Book

Image: Boston Cyclists Union

Are you curious about how to read the Boston budget book? Do you want to be more informed as you advocate for more funding for street safety and transportation priorities this year?

Join us on on the evening of Monday, May 6th for a bonus session to do a deeper dive into the Boston budget.

Event Details:
Deep Dive into the Boston Budget
Monday, May 6, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
@ LivableStreets Office
100 Sidney Street, Cambridge

RSVP

Street Ambassadors Continue to Build Momentum for Bus Priority in Somerville and Allston

It’s only April, but we’ve already been hard at work expanding our Better Buses initiative this spring.

Our Street Ambassadors have been on the ground on Broadway in Somerville, helping us engage with community members and businesses to support Somerville’s spring implementation of a bus-bike lane along Broadway between Magoun Square and McGrath Highway. The City also has plans to pilot a bus-bike lane along sections of Holland Street between Clarendon Hill and Davis Square.

Soon, we’ll be recruiting Street Ambassadors to lead a thank you campaign for the Brighton Ave bus-bike lane in Allston, which the City plans to pilot in June!

If you’re interested in volunteering as a Street Ambassador, please contact [email protected].

Join Us for a Bus-Bike Workshop

Image: Liana Genito

A shared bus-bike lane is coming to Brighton Avenue this June. In this workshop, we’ll help prepare you to feel confident and comfortable biking in your new 12-foot lane!

Join us for a bus-bike workshop on Saturday, May 18th and learn more about sharing the road with MBTA buses. Participants will have the opportunity to sit in a bus driver’s seat to identify blind spots, and ask questions of Boston Transportation Department and MBTA staff.

Event Details:
Bike-Bus Workshop
Saturday, May 18, 1:00-3:00 pm
@ Jackson Mann Community Center
500 Cambridge St, Boston

Light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there! Check out other Bike Month events happening in May here.

Opportunities

• Director of Transit Priority, MBTA: This position will lead engagement with our municipal partners to plan, design, and support the development of bus transit priority infrastructure (bus lanes, queue jumps, signal priority, etc.). The posting closes on April 29, 2019. Click here to learn more.
• Planners and Engineers, City of Boston: The City of Boston is expanding their team of passionate, dedicated, and experienced people working to realize Go Boston 2030’s goals of expanding access, improving safety, and ensuring reliability. To see all available positions, click here.
• Transit Advisory Committee Member, City of Cambridge:  The City of Cambridge is seeking members for Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Advisory Committees. The application deadline is April 26, 2019. To learn more, click here.
• Program Manager, WalkBoston: WalkBoston is seeking a Program Manager to oversee their statewide technical assistance programs that work to improve the safety and quality of the pedestrian environment. Applications are due by April 26, 2019. Click here to learn more.

Thank you!

Check out the following resources to learn more about what we’ve been up to lately!

• Press: Read local and national press featuring LivableStreets and our work.
• StreetFilms: Watch videos highlighting our advocacy and events.
• The Public Way: Transportation, Health, and Livable Communities Blog: Join Steve Miller, one of our founding board members, as he explores how our transportation system and built environment can be better structured to improve our lives, health, and the planet.

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Street Life Update

From Livable Streets

Weigh In on the Massachusetts Pedestrian Plan

Image: The Boston Globe

A draft plan of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s statewide Pedestrian Transportation Plan is available for public comment through October 17th. We need you to give feedback in order to make the plan as strong as it can be. Review the plan here and act now!

City of Boston Releases Vision Zero Update

Image: WalkUP Roslindale

Earlier this month, the City of Boston released a 2017/2018 Vision Zero Update, tracking their progress in reducing fatal and severe crashes, and summarizing their progress on safety improvement policies and projects. In addition, the City announced five new Neighborhood Slow Streets zones, which will receive traffic calming measures and safety improvements that will provide visual and physical cues to slow drivers to 20 mph.

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition will be releasing a third annual progress report for the City of Boston in early 2019. The Coalition is committed to reviewing the City’s performance annually to ensure public accountability in reaching its goals. To read the Coalition’s 2016 and 2017 reports, click here, and stay tuned for the 2018 report.

If you are interested in learning more about Vision Zero efforts around the country, check out the Vision Zero Cities conference taking place in NYC on November 7 and 8.

Get in the Zone at Our October Advocacy Committee Meeting

What is zoning and transit-oriented development (TOD)? How does it affect you, your neighborhood, and what gets built (or not built)?

Join us at our next Advocacy Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 24th as we welcome Jarred Johnson of Transit Matters/Codman Square CDC and a guest from the City of Somerville (currently undergoing a citywide re-zoning process) to shed light on all things zoning and TOD. Learn more about current zoning and displacement issues in Metro Boston, as well as tips for better advocacy in this space that intersects so closely with transportation issues.

RSVP to let us know you can join us!

Register for Our Upcoming StreetTalks

Seats are filling up fast for our two upcoming StreetTalks. RSVP now to reserve your space!

Broken Buses + Incomplete Streets: Addressing Inequity in our Transportation System

Everyone in Metro Boston deserves safe, affordable, and reliable transportation options, but communities of color have been chronically neglected when it comes to prioritizing improvements on our streets. Join us for our fall StreetTalk where we will discuss why and how city transportation planning needs to address these systemic inequities head-on.

Event Details:
Thursday, October 25, 2018, 5:30-8:30 pm
@ Roxbury Innovation Center, Think Space
2300 Washington Street, Boston 02119

StreetTalk 10-in-1

Join us for the 8th Annual StreetTalk 10-in-1 as we invite 10 innovative transportation and community thinkers to take the stage and share their big ideas. Enjoy 10 rapid-fire “TED”-style talks, with plenty of inspiration to be had! One of our most popular events of the year – don’t miss it!

Event Details:
Tuesday, December 4, 2018, 5:30-8:30 pm
@ Old South Meeting House
310 Washington Street, Boston 02108

Job Opportunities

• Manager of Fare Inspection Design, MBTA: The MBTA seeks a Manager for Fare Inspection Design to design the fare inspection process under a proof of payment system as part of a new Automated Fare Collection project. The successful candidate must demonstrate attention to detail, understanding of complex technological and policy issues, and ability to work on a cross-functional team. To learn more and apply, click here.
• Director of Transition, AFC 2.0, MBTA:  The MBTA seeks an experienced manager to complete the transition of internal and external customers to the MBTA’s next-generation fare collection system, Automated Fare Collection (AFC) 2.0. The successful candidate must demonstrate a depth of experience in working across a large organization, with a wide range of stakeholder groups, working directly with the public, and marshalling resources toward a time-critical milestone. To learn more and apply, click here.
• Various, City of Boston Transportation Department: The City of Boston is still hiring to fill 20 new positions! To learn more, click here.

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