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January 2023 (Issue #203)
- The Future of Transit: Power of the Transit Coalition!
- Somerville’s transportation future: influencing Mayor-Elect Jake Wilson
- Emerald Network Greenways Coalition End of Year Meeting
- Freedom to Move- Small but important win!
- Better Access to the Charles River by foot and bike on Memorial Drive
- Spaces For You- adding to Boston's open space
- What is CargoB?
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We want to thank all of our readers for supporting the work we do every day. Because of you, we are able to advocate for safer streets, better public transit, and more livable communities.
Please consider a donation to support people-powered advocacy that puts community needs first and helps shape a more just transportation future across our region.
Click here to donate, or scan this QR code with your smartphone and pay by Apple Pay or Venmo.
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The Future of Transit: Power of the Transit Coalition!
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Transit is Essential is a diverse coalition of more than 60 environmental justice, mobility justice, and business organizations working to ensure the MBTA is safe, robustly funded, and affordable. Entering 2026, LivableStreets will be co-leading this coalition with TransitMatters & Alternatives for Community & Environment.
The Coalition was instrumental in getting legislation passed to allow the MBTA to use bus-mounted cameras to enforce drivers who block bus-stops, which will be launched in early 2026!
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Somerville’s transportation future: influencing Mayor-Elect Jake Wilson
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Maha served on Mayor-Elect Jake Wilson’s Transit & Mobility Transition Committee to help shape forward-looking transportation recommendations for the incoming administration. The final transition policy committee recommendations document will be published by the new administration in mid February– stay tuned!
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The committee’s recommendations include:
- Quick wins, such as relaunching Vision Zero, piloting rapid response infrastructure improvements, expanding bus priority, modernizing curb and parking management, testing automated enforcement tools)
- Longer-term reforms, such as establishing a bike network plan, advancing McGrath Boulevard, and planning for future Green Line station access improvements.
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Emerald Network Greenways Coalition End of Year Meeting
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LivableStreets Alliance convenes quarterly meetings of Greater Boston-area greenway advocates to build shared strategy, strengthen collaboration, and advance common priorities. At our December meeting, held in person at our Cambridge office, colleagues from Philadelphia's “Circuit Trails” joined virtually to talk about lessons learned.
The “Circuit Trails” network has grown into one of the largest and most ambitious interconnected multi-use trail systems in the U.S., spanning hundreds of miles across nine counties through strong regional partnerships and coordinated funding among nearly 65 organizations.
Learning from this model helps us in Greater Boston imagine what a more collaborative, connected future for greenways can look like and what kind of administrative structures are needed to achieve that.
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Freedom to Move Act- Small but important win!
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In November, we asked our supporters to contact the State Senate in support of the Freedom to Move Act (S.2246), which would reduce emissions and vehicle miles traveled. Thanks to your collective action, the bill was favorably reported out of committee meaning it is continuing through the legislative process.
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Better Access to the Charles River by foot and bike on Memorial Drive
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The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Mem Drive Task Force held a public meeting in November on how to improve access to and maintenance of Memorial Drive between the Longfellow and Eliot Bridges.
LivableStreets was invited to this meeting by Cambridge advocacy groups who wanted our expertise to be a part of the planning process.
Click here (or scan the QR code) for a DCR survey.
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Spaces For You- adding to Boston's open space
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LivableStreets led community workshops to gather resident feedback on the City of Boston’s Spaces for You initiative, which aims to expand and better coordinate public spaces across the city. The goal is to co-create outdoor spaces that foster joy, belonging, and well-being.
At our most recent workshop at Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, we learnt that residents in Dorchester/ Roxbury felt barriers to using public spaces, ranging from accessibility, maintenance, and wayfinding challenges to difficult walking conditions near major intersections. Participants also raised social and cultural concerns, noting that some spaces feel under-programmed or unwelcoming and that historical exclusion continues to shape how communities experience public space today. These concerns raised by the residents will be used to inform the design focused outcomes of the Spaces For You initiative
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LivableStreets Board Alum founds CargoB
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(Maha, above, taking a CargoB for a spin!) Founded by former LivableStreets Alliance Board Member Dorothy Fennell, CargoB is the country’s first cargo bike share. Available by the minute or by the day, CargoB makes it easy to move kids, groceries, and gear and now can also be found at a growing number MBTA stations. Download the app, scan, and ride!
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Thank you again for being part of the LivableStreets community. Wishing you a happy, healthy New Year. We look forward to continuing this work together in 2026.
Help us connect people and places. Give now to support our work to improve transportation systems and unlock access and opportunity for everyone.
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LivableStreets Alliance · 70 Pacific St, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
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