February 2026 (Issue #205)

• Maha testifies at Boston City Council: Access to sidewalks, crosswalks, and bus stops in winter cannot be an afterthought
• Congestion Pricing: Learning from NYC
• Rutherford Avenue, Charlestown: Project Update
• Fare-Free Buses Extended Through June in Boston
• Congratulations to Somerville and Malden on Complete Streets Funding Awards
• Upcoming events
  • Bicycle Infrastructure Design 101; Sat. March 21 10am-1:30pm; Northeastern University
  • Action for Equity: "Riders, Routes, and Equity"; Sat. March 21 11am-2pm; 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury

Maha testifies at Boston City Council: Access to sidewalks, crosswalks, and bus stops in winter cannot be an afterthought

(Photo: StreetsBlog)

This year's two intense snowstorms left many residents, especially older adults and people with disabilities, struggling with buried curb ramps, un-shoveled bus stops, and impassable sidewalks for weeks after the storm. 

StreetsBlog reports in "Accessibility Advocates Press Boston City Council for Better Snow Removal,"Maha Aslam of the LivableStreets Alliance urged Councilors to learn from other snowy cities, like Montreal and Minneapolis. 'One thing that I think was lacking was that Boston does not have a system of prioritization when it comes to what streets, what sidewalks, what bus stops we're prioritizing, and why. This should be a public-facing thing, because we need a very data-driven approach to this... We need to understand, where does it make sense for us to use our resources more effectively?' "

Here is the full set of LivableStreets recomendations:

• A clear prioritization plan: What corridors, sidewalks, and bike lanes will be prioritized? Prioritization should be rooted in usage as well as equity. What walking routes serve the most transit depended users? Concentration of Older Adults? Students walking to school? 
• Finish the job: Snow clearance must continue after the storm has passed until everything is clear. It is understandable that it's impossible to get to everything in the first 24 hours, but crews must continue until pedestrian access is clear!
• Address internal reporting discrepancies: Sometimes routes are marked complete but sidewalks were reburied or missed. 
• Paid snow shoveling workforce: New York City operates a city-run emergency snow labor program that hires residents to clear snow during major storms. 
• Accountability tools: a comprehensive snow information portal should provide real-time updates on street plowing, sidewalk responsibilities, and service requests. New York City’s PlowNYC tool allows residents to see when their street has been plowed in near real time, improving transparency and public trust
• Sidewalk-focused pilot programs: Minneapolis has piloted initiatives such as the Snow Ambassador program-- City crews monitor a routine 20 to 30 miles of the Pedestrian Priority Network, meet with property owners, leave door hangers informing residents of snow clearing policy,  and shovel if necessary; property owners are billed a service charge after the first visit. 

Congestion Pricing: Learning from NYC

Maha from LivableStreets joined a study tour organized by T4MA to visit NYC and talk directly with the government and advocate leaders who helped make congestion pricing a reality in New York City. 

What did we learn? (1) Centering equity and social justice in advocacy for congestion relief was critical, (2) Well-organized campaigns built the necessary public support in the face of stiff opposition, and (3) Different government agencies were incredibly well coordinated with messaging, the role of media, and political outreach.   

Who did we meet with? Juliet Michaelson (Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning at the MTA), Tiffany-Ann Taylor (Regional Plan Association), Betsy Plum (NYC Riders Alliance), Renae Reynolds (Tri-State Transportation Campaign), along with many others. We also learned from a panel of women leaders who shaped the congestion pricing debate through equity and justice lenses.

A truly energizing learning experience, and many thanks to T4MA for bringing this group together. Others on the trip: TransitMatters, GreenRoots, Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF).

Learn more: "How Congestion Pricing Proved the Haters Wrong and Is Changing New York for the Better." (StreetsBlog, Jan. 5, 2026).

"BREAKING NEWS: Federal Judge Rules Trump Can’t Kill Congestion Pricing." (StreetsBlog, March 3, 2026). 

RUTHERFORD AVE, Charlestown

Fare-Free Buses Extended Through June in Boston

We applaud the City of Boston for funding the extension of the fare-free bus program through June, removing barriers, speeding boarding, improving reliability, and making lives better for those in need. (What happens past June? We are working on that!).

Other great fare-free initiatives across the region:

• Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa) has operated a fare-free systemwide for several years, reporting increased ridership and improved access to jobs and services.
• Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) has piloted fare-free routes with strong community support and significant ridership gains.

NYC is proposing a five-week, fare-free bus pilot across all five boroughs during the June–July 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Congratulations to Somerville and Malden on Complete Streets Funding Awards

(Photo: proposed improvements to Gilman Square in Somerville)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets Program just awarded $6.6 million to 15 municipalities. “These projects will result in a variety of benefits including pedestrian improvements, accessibility upgrades, and better transit access, through tailored solutions designed to meet the needs of each recipient community," says Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.

Malden will upgrade key intersections near the Northern Strand Trail and along the Lebanon Street/Maplewood Street corridor with ADA-compliant crosswalks, curb extensions, and transit stop improvements. “These are the kinds of nuts-and-bolts, common-sense upgrades that, over time, will make every Maldonian safer on our shared streets,” said the Mayor. 

Somerville will reconstruct sidewalks on Pearl Street to the McGrath Highway to Medford Street, including the Gilman Square intersection. The project will also include curb ramps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, road repaving, protected bicycle facilities, and intersection changes.

UPCOMING EVENTS