StreetLife: Update on MBTA Fare Hikes, New Location for Tour de Streets, Street Ambassador Training, And More! |

A Step Towards Fair Fares on the T, But Still a Long Way to Go

On Monday, the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board voted to increase fares only on the subway and commuter rail -- fares for buses, TAP Pass, Senior Charlie Card, Student Pass, and Youth Pass will remain the same. In addition, the board voted for no additional fare increases for another three years, aside from some due to the new collection system.

There is a lot of work ahead around advocating for the T to implement a low-income fare, and to get AFC 2.0 right. We'll be updating you throughout the upcoming year. Thank you to the thousands of you who spoke up -- we’re going to be looking to you for your leadership in championing fair fares as we continue this fight.

Save the Date: Tour de Streets Turns 10

Photo: Ellen Daoust

Save the date to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Tour de Streets on Saturday, September 7th (rain date: September 8th). This year, Tour de Streets will be held at a new location: Turtle Swamp Brewing in Jamaica Plain, just around the corner from the Green Street Orange Line Station and the Southwest Corridor Bike Path! 

Tour de Streets is an annual family-friendly event that builds community and supports LivableStreets' work. Choose from a 10-mile urban bike route, a 4-mile kid-friendly route, or a walk exploring parts of the Emerald Network. Afterwards, continue the celebration with us at Turtle Swamp!

Join Us For a Spring Street Ambassador Training

Photo: Liana Genito

We need your help to expand our Better Buses initiatives this spring. Can we count on you to volunteer as a Street Ambassador? 

Join us for an upcoming training to learn how you can help amplify community members' voices and educate businesses about better transportation access across Boston.

Event Details:
Street Ambassador Training
Tuesday, March 19th, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
@ the LivableStreets office
100 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA

The training will explain Street Ambassador activities, provide background on our current campaigns, and share tips for how to engage fellow community members.

Even if you are not able to attend the training you can still volunteer as a Street Ambassador! Email [email protected] to learn more and sign up.

Buses Are Off to a Great Start in 2019

Image: Massachusetts Municipal Association

We're celebrating wins for buses all over Greater Boston! 

We were thrilled to see such great leadership from the Town of Arlington's Select Board, which unanimously approved a decision to make a pilot bus-only lane on Mass Ave permanent. We applaud the quick timeline: the permanent bus-only lane will be implemented this summer! Results from the pilot showed significant improvements in bus travel times and reliability, and overwhelmingly positive reactions from residents. 

Meanwhile, over in Somerville, the city will be making improvements to Broadway between Magoun Square and McGrath Highway, including a bus/bike-only lane and changes to traffic signal timing. 

In Boston, there are two upcoming pilots: a weekday morning inbound bus-only lane on Brighton Ave in Allston and a 24/7 inbound bus-only lane on North Washington Street downtown. We are sending a special thanks to our partners at the Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative and Allston Village Main Streets who have been incredibly helpful in moving the Allston bus lane pilot forward. 

Get a View From the State House - Hear from Rep. Vitolo at Our Next Advocacy Committee Meeting

What is it like to be a Massachusetts state representative? How do things really work at the State House?

Join us at our next Advocacy Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 27th. We'll hear from newly elected Representative Tommy Vitolo, who will give us a glimpse into the inner workings of the State House and share tips on how to be more effective when advocating at the state level. 

In case you missed it, check out Tommy's public comments and entertaining analogy at a recent MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting on fare increases. 

Recap of Boston City Council Hearing on Enforcement

Image: Dave L. Ryan / The Boston Globe

LivableStreets and other members of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition testified at a Boston City Council hearing yesterday to discuss the possibility of creating a traffic enforcement unit with the Boston Police Department, and explore the pros and cons of installing traffic enforcement cameras. To watch the hearing, please click here.

The Coalition focused on the need to collect and share better data, the importance of implementing street design changes as a better tool than speed limit reductions and enforcement, and sharing the merits of automated enforcement and the S.1376 An Act relative to automated enforcement bill currently up for discussion at the State House.  

Reminder to Take Our Communications Survey

Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey -- it will take five minutes or less! The feedback you provide will help us streamline our communications to best meet your needs.

One survey respondent will be chosen at random to win a LivableStreets prize pack, which includes our signature sunglasses, "A street is a terrible thing to waste" t-shirt, and a reusable orange tote bag. Make sure to fill out this survey by March 15th to be eligible to win! 

Job + Internship Opportunities

LivableStreets is Hiring Summer Interns!

• Go Boston 2030 Outreach and Analysis Intern
• Digital Storytelling Intern

The City of Boston is Hiring For Several Positions:

• Active Transportation Engineer and Senior Vision Zero Traffic Engineer: The Boston Transportation Department is seeking a highly motivated Active Transportation Engineer and a Vision Zero Senior Engineer to work on projects that will realize the City’s vision to create streets and public spaces that are vibrant, multi-modal, resilient, and technologically advanced. To learn more and apply, click here. 
• Senior Traffic Engineer
• Active Transportation/Vision Zero Planner
• Bicycling Program Team Member

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.