StreetLife

MBTA and Vision Zero Present Police Enforcement + Racial Justice Concerns

Image: Green Justice Coalition

A few weeks ago, we released a statement on police brutality and anti-Blackness and their connection to transportation. Since then, we’ve collaborated with more than 20+ organizations on a petition for Racial Justice and Police Accountability for the MBTA, calling on the MBTA to address racism in their system and divest control from policing.

We also sent a letter to Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross calling for the removal of police enforcement from the tenets of the City’s Vision Zero program. We also called for the removal of Captain Danilecki from the City’s Vision Zero Task Force, due to his violent and aggressive behavior toward protestors during two separate events within the last year.

Boston, Cambridge, + Somerville Roll Out Plans for Streets for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Photo: City of Somerville

The cities of Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville -- among others across Massachusetts -- have each released a pilot or first phase plan for how to adapt sidewalks, curbs, parking, and other elements of streets to support public health, safe mobility, and economic vitality.

To learn more about Boston’s Healthy Streets plan, click here. For feedback and questions, please contact [email protected]. Along with our partners, LivableStreets is working to push the City to roll out a more equitable and extensive second phase.

To review the plan for Cambridge, click here, and to share your input please fill out this form.

To review Somerville’s plan, click here. As routes are implemented, feedback on them can also be submitted on SomerVoice.

Broad Coalitions Release Recommendations for Transit and Safe Streets

Some of the groups who signed onto the MBTA Recommendations

In partnership with broad coalitions of organizations covering environmental justice, transit, active transportation, health, environment, and business, we put together a series of short- and long-term recommendations for both municipalities across the state and the MBTA to respond to COVID-19.

Check out the recommendations for municipalities for adapting street space in support of public health, safe mobility, and economic vitality in Boston. And check out MassDOT’s new Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program to support municipalities in implementing this work.

Check out the recommendations for the MBTA to improve the accessibility, equity, safety, and effectiveness of our transit system.

While both of these documents cover specific detailed recommendations, our top priorities for both sets of guidelines are health, safety, equity, and responsiveness while people take essential trips and as Massachusetts’ phased opening continues.

Pressley and Markey Introduce the Freedom to Move Act to Congress Today

Public transportation is a public good. That's why we're proud to endorse the Freedom to Move Act, introduced by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Senator Ed Markey today. This bill will establish a grant program for state and local public transit systems to support making their systems fare-free and improve the safety and quality of public transportation (particularly in low-income and underserved communities). The Act will require grantees to utilize funds in a way that centers addressing transit equity gaps through partnerships with community advocates and stakeholders. 

If the Act is passed, it will provide much needed support to our nation's public transportation systems, allowing everyone to get where they need to go. Learn more about the bill here.

Welcome Marina, Our Emerald Network Mapping Fellow

We are thrilled to announce Marina Recio Rodriguez as the newest member of our team! Marina is joining us for the summer as our Emerald Network Mapping Fellow, where she will work researching and mapping the greenway projects in the Boston area that make up the Emerald Network vision. Marina is currently pursuing a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Please join us in welcoming Marina on board!

Opportunities

• MassDOT: MassDOT is hiring for the following four positions. To learn more and apply, click here. To request an alternative application method, please contact ADA Coordinator, Rita Dinunzio - (857) 368-8738.
  • Manager of Grant Programs
  • Manager of Transit Planning
  • Assistant District Project Development Engineer
  • Community Grants Program Administrator 
• Streetsblog MASS, Freelance Writer: Streetsblog MASS is interested in your pitches for stories about public transit/walking/biking/mobility/safer streets. They pay $0.50 per word for reported pieces, and are especially keen to have more bylines from women and people of color. Please spread the word, and send pitches to [email protected]
• Union Capital Boston, Director of Operations and Partnerships: The Director of Operations and Partnerships is a full-time position and will oversee UCB’s general operations and manage the relationships with all of the organizations that work in partnership with UCB. See the job description here and apply here. 
• Trust for Public Land, Parks for People Program Manager: The Parks for People Program Manager works with local communities in and around Boston to create and transform urban parks and open spaces, with a focus on addressing climate, equity, and health issues. To learn more and apply, click here.
• WalkBoston, Development Manager: The Development Manager will help develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy for WalkBoston with the help of Board members and staff. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Manager will build on and reinforce individual and corporate fundraising programs, and assist in developing fundraising strategies for virtual and live WalkBoston events. To learn more and apply, click here. 

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.
• Greenway Stories:Join us as we explore greenway successes and challenges around the Boston area.

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