STREETLIFE

June 2026 (Issue #205)

• Save the date: Safer Streets through data: Vizion Zero at Ten Years & What Comes Next
• Blue Hill Ave. bus riders speak up
• Boston discusses elimination of parking minimums
• "Pedal the Necklace" Bike Rides
• Residents want better transit and safer access in East Boston
• Welcome to the LivableStreets Team! Stefanie Jones and Aman Shankardass
• Mary Ellen Welch Greenway gets $3.6M upgrade

SAVE THE DATE

Boston became the first municipality in Massachusetts to make a formal commitment to Vision Zero in 2015, followed by Cambridge in 2016 and Somerville in 2017. Has a Vision Zero Commitment led to meaningful change in these communities?

Join LivableStreets and WalkMass to find out!

Vision Zero at 10 years
Wednesday June 24 @ 6pm, Aeronaut Brewing Co in Somerville. 

Click here to add the event to your calendar.

Blue Hill Ave. bus riders speak up

Photo: MFFC's Vigorous Youth program in action talking with bus riders

LivableStreets Alliance Street Ambassadors, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition’s Vigorous Youth Group,  and TransitMatters talked with Blue Hill Ave. bus riders in May about their experiences and shared information about planned improvements to the corridor. Bus riders are regularly missing from public meetings; this outreach changes that by bringing bus rider voices to electeds and government staff.

Riders raised concerns about overcrowded and unreliable buses and shared that they were not aware of the project. This echoes our findings from 2022 when  LivableStreets’ bus rider engagement effort reached over 700 riders which highlighted similar challenges with reliability and communication. 

The City of Boston and MBTA plan to restart outreach in July, stay tuned for more.

Boston discusses elimination of parking minimums

"Pedal the Necklace" Bike Rides

LivableStreets Alliance, Boston Cyclists Union, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition launched a bike ride series this year designed for newer cyclists interested in exploring the Emerald Necklace Greenway and learning how to navigate Boston using low-stress routes.

The three rides offered a powerful way to showcase the potential for the Emerald Network vision by experiencing first hand existing routes and highlighting critical gaps and how ongoing advocacy is working to address them. We discussed improvements such as the bike lanes on Circuit Drive, upgrades along the Southwest Corridor, plans for the Arborway Yard, Vision Zero street safety efforts, and key connections like Charlesgate.

It was especially meaningful to meet participants who were joining a group ride for the first time and to see their excitement and sense of discovery as they experienced greenway connections firsthand.

Residents want better transit and safer access in East Boston

LivableStreets Alliance along with WalkMassachusetts supported GreenRoots in hosting a public meeting in April with East Boston residents to discuss better public transportation at Day Square and Maverick Square. MBTA staff joined the meeting to hear these concerns first hand from residents.

Participants, many of whom rely on transit and walking every day, highlighted dangerous crossings, speeding traffic, unreliable bus service, and poor walking conditions, especially for older adults and families. Many expressed concerns about potential bus route changes that could reduce access to Day Square, while also calling for more frequent, reliable service and better connections across neighborhoods.

The meeting made one thing clear—East Boston residents are frustrated by delays in long-promised improvements to address ongoing safety concerns. They are ready to see real, on-the-ground investments that reflect how people actually move through their neighborhoods every day.

Welcome to the LivableStreets Team!

Mary Ellen Welch Greenway gets $3.6M upgrade