Date: May 2024 → Present

The City of Boston’s Transportation Department (BTD) is leading the Columbia Road Transportation Action Plan, a project to envision a safer, more welcoming, and more resilient Columbia Road corridor for everyone. As the community engagement lead, LivableStreets Alliance is implementing a community-centered strategy to ensure the voices of residents and corridor users shape the future vision of the area.

From May 14 to June 22, 2024, our Street Ambassadors surveyed bus riders and pedestrians along Columbia Road during peak hours, sharing project information and collecting feedback on their experiences. Surveys and project materials were available in multiple languages to ensure broad accessibility. In total, 281 surveys were collected over 96 hours of on-the-ground engagement.

This is an ongoing project.

Date: August 2023 → June 2024

The Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan is a community-driven vision for the future of the Southwest Corridor Park, a roughly 4-mile corridor running through several Boston neighborhoods, including Back Bay, South End, Roxbury, Fenway, Mission Hill, and Jamaica Plain. As the community engagement lead of the project, LivableStreets Alliance developed a community-centered engagement strategy to help shape the project’s direction. We gathered 681 general surveys and 45 location-specific surveys during a three-week period on the corridor.

Date: April 18, 2023 → June 3, 2023 

In collaboration with the City of Boston, LivableStreets led a six-week Street Ambassador deployment to collect surveys and engage bus riders. With 30 Street Ambassadors, we gathered feedback from bus riders about their experience on Blue Hill Avenue and any changes they would like to see in the future. We interacted with approximately 700 bus riders and collected 520 surveys.

Date: August 25, 2022 → September 15, 2022

In August of 2022, the MBTA announced that they would be shutting down the Orange Line to conduct essential construction. This shutdown required LivableStreets to pivot our community engagement and outreach efforts to support Orange Line riders impacted, specifically older adults who utilized the line. During the four weeks of the Orange Line shutdown, our Community Engagement Manager, along with paid Street Ambassadors, spent three weeks talking to shuttle bus users about their experience at every Orange Line stop. The survey results and comments collected from riders were used to provide feedback to MassDOT and the MBTA during biweekly calls, as well as to MassDOT’s Vulnerable Road User subcommittee, where the needs of older adults and individuals with mobility challenges were emphasized. View some of the results and takeaways here.

Date: June 21, 2022 → July 2, 2022

Between June 22nd and July 6th, Street Ambassadors conducted on-the-ground intercept surveys with pedestrians and bus riders along Mass Ave. During this three-week period, Ambassadors started in North Cambridge (Dudley Street) and ended just north of Harvard Square (Waterhouse). The purpose of the survey was to ask pedestrians, rather than drivers or bike riders, who have been the focus of much public discourse about Mass Ave, about the changes they would like to see along the corridor. You can learn more about this outreach here.

Date: March 1, 2022 → April 1, 2022

In the past year LivableStreets has conducted 6 different outreach deployments across the Greater Boston Area related to bus prioritization, Bus Network Redesign, and the Orange Line Shutdown in August. Additionally, one of these deployments was specifically dedicated to outreach around this report. Street Ambassadors visited Chelsea, Roxbury, and Allston. Ambassadors talked to 60 riders at the Nubian bus garage, in addition to the 64, 66, 86, 111, 116, 117, and SL3 bus routes. Riders participated in a two minute survey — before their buses came and were given a Dunkin’ gift card for their time — that aimed to understand what their current experience taking or relying the bus system was like, what they believed would make their bus trips better, and how the cost of the T affected their day to day lives. To read the report and learn more about the outreach visit: insert report link here.

Date: April 3, 2022 → April 8, 2022

Street Ambassadors spent a week in North Cambridge — along Mass Ave talking to bus riders, business owners, delivery truck drivers, and pedestrians about the implementation of the bus and bike lanes along Mass Ave about one year later. The goal of this outreach was to understand the impacts of bus and bike lanes on the neighborhood and why members of the community have been vocal about their objection to bike and bus lane implementation further along Mass Ave.

Date: December 1, 2021 → December 11, 2021

LivableStreets worked with the City of Boston and MTBA to create surveys about the bus rider experience along the center running bus lanes. LivableStreets talked with over 180 bus riders and pedestrians to gain insight about how trips have been improved and any takeaways for future implementation. You can review the findings form this outreach here.

Date: July 13, 2021 → August 6, 2021

LivableStreets was contracted by the City of Somerville in the Summer of 2021 to conduct business surveys and customer intercept survey, in addition to educating the public about upcoming changes to Highland Avenue. The data collected from this deployment prepped the City to conduct their own, more robust data collection and outreach campaign later in 2022. You can view the outreach report here.

Date: March 2, 2020 → March 13, 2020

Secondary Date: October 23, 2020 → November 13, 2020

Originally started in early 2020, LivableStreets was contracted by the City of Somerville to help understand the community’s and business’ perspective on Holland Street and College Ave

https://voice.somervillema.gov/hollandandcollege

In addition to providing the City with a better understanding of how businesses operated along
the corridor and how customers experienced the area of Somerville. LivableStreets was able to conduct customer intercept surveys as well as business intercept surveys. Because of the COVID - 19 pandemic LivableStreets had to finish this work in October of 2021. You can view takeaways from this outreach here

Date: May 18, 2020 → June 22, 2020 

For 6 weeks, residents who live on or nearby American Legion Highway engaged in conversations with their neighbors. These residents were employed as Street Ambassadors, to provide training to build upon their advocacy skills and to elevate resident voices around transportation changes in their neighborhood. Overall, most residents has concerns about safety and speeding along the highway and wanted to see the City make changes. You can find the takeaways from this outreach here.

Date: May 18, 2020 → June 15, 2020

For 4 weeks, residents who lived close to the Cummins Highway pilot and volunteers conducted conversations with individuals who used the corridor. The residents were employed as Street Ambassadors to provide training to build upon their advocacy skills and to elevate resident voices around transportation changes in the community. The Street Ambassadors used most of their time educating residents about the pilot and why the street changes would lead to a safer neighborhood. Overall, a majority of respondents had mixed views about the pilot and the street design. Most respondents preferred to drive then use other modes of transportation while traveling on the corridor. Those who walk and bike, didn’t feel as safe, but hoped that the permanent street changes would reduce the anxiety they feel. You can find more takeaways from this outreach here.

Date: November 1, 2020 → February 1, 2021

LivableStreets Alliance and Boston Cyclists Union hired residents who lived close to Malcolm X Boulevard and Warren Street to collect surveys and have in-person conversations, while physically distanced, and via phone with individuals who live, work, go to school, or travel along these two corridors. The team used a list of phone numbers of people who live in the 02119 zip code, compiled by the Boston Cyclists Union. Outreach efforts were also supported by Madison Park Development Corporation, which shared the survey with residents via their newsletter. Below are the key findings from the 82 completed surveys (43 answering about Warren Street, 24 about Malcolm X Boulevard, and 15 answering about both streets). Overall, respondents have mixed views about the proposed street design for Warren Street and what they would like to see on Malcolm X Boulevard. Most cited congestion and pedestrian and bike rider comfort/safety as key concerns. Although most currently drive and want to continue to do so, there is an appetite to increase travel via transit, walking, and biking instead of driving, with 44% of respondents indicating they would ride bikes along Warren St and Malcolm X Blvd if there were protected bike lanes. Specific improvements requested include bike lanes, bus lanes, safer pedestrian crossings, more trees, and better road pavement condition. You can review more results from the survey here.

Date: October 28, 2019 → November 1, 2019

Broadway in Somerville is one of the most heavily used corridors in the city. The corridor sits within the neighborhood of Winter Hill that hosts many local businesses, places of worship, and residents. LivableStreets partnered with the MBTA to conduct customer surveys, business surveys, bus rider surveys, and bike rider surveys about the implementation of a bus lane and bike lane along Broadway. 80% of surveyed bus riders reported some level of satisfaction with the dedicated bus and bicycle lane along Broadway. 89% of surveyed bus riders reported that their trip is at least somewhat faster with the dedicated lane. 77% of surveyed bus riders reported that their trip time is at least somewhat more consistent with the dedicated lane. You can learn more about the project and outreach here.

Date: August 30, 2019 → October 25, 2019

LivableStreets Alliance sought to engage bus riders who may not otherwise be involved in the Warren Street planning process by partnering with community organizations and recruiting participants at bus stops through our Street Ambassadors. Four Bus Ride Audits were held between August 30th and October 25th, 2019, with a total of 43 participants. These audits served as both a form of outreach and an opportunity to gather information from bus riders to inform the Warren Street planning process. Since bus trips are door-to-door, not just stop-to-stop, we asked questions and captured comments based on the full experience of riding the bus along the corridor. Our Bus Ride Audits included three parts: walking to the bus stop and final destination, waiting at the bus stop, and riding the bus. We have split our results into two parts, which you can view here.

Date: June 1, 2019 → June 30, 2019

Warren Street runs through the heart of Roxbury. This street connects thousands of people each day to work, school, shopping, worship, and more. However, the current state of the corridor discourages those same people from feeling safe and comfortable. Within this context, LivableStreets developed several community outreach strategies to understand people’s needs for transportation improvements along this corridor. The main purpose of surveying is to understand how people travel to businesses and services along Warren Street and Blue Hill Avenue. In addition, the study characterized the use of parking spots along both corridors to evaluate the needs and potential opportunities of adjusting parking for the benefit of those accessing
businesses. Surveys were carried out by LivableStreets Street Ambassadors who asked questions about the type of transportation that people currently use and how they would like to move in the future. Customers were asked what businesses they were heading to (or leaving) and how long it took people to travel. This purpose of this outreach aimed to inform the City of Boston about how street changes could turn Warren Street and Blue Hill Avenue into livable, equitable, safe, and mobile corridors. 44% of people surveyed took public transportation to their destination 33% walked to their destination 29% took a personal vehicle or carpooled to their destination. 47% of of respondents noted they would like to use public transportation as their method of commuting along Warren and Blue Hill Ave. You can learn more about the outreach here.

Date: March 2018 → June 2018

In years prior, Allston Village Main Streets (AVMS), Allston Brighton Health Collaborative (ABHC), LivableStreets, and community members have been addressing transportation concerns in Allston. ABHC gathered community feedback during their monthly transportation committee meetings, while all three groups conducted surveys and engaged in community outreach at bus stops to better understand these concerns. LivableStreets, along with AVMS and ABHC, carried out three surveys to inform the process and ensure that bus priority measures effectively balanced the needs of all road users. Additionally, a parking study was conducted to assess the impact of converting parking spots into a bus lane. Community outreach was also conducted to gather bus riders' thoughts and stories about the importance of buses, with 40 street ambassadors collecting over 200 stories. In the summer of 2019, the Brighton Ave bus lanes were implemented. You can learn more about the project and the engagement here.

Date: May 2017 → August 2017

Secondary Date: May 2018 → August 2018

In the summers of 2017 and 2018, LivableStreets surveyed 1,500 people in the Longwood Medical Area about how they get around within the area and how they travel to and from it. As one of the largest employment hubs in Greater Boston, this data was pivotal in helping decision-makers gain a better understanding of transportation patterns in the area.

Date: August 2017 → December 2017

Secondary Date: May 7, 2018 → June 7, 2018

Buses moving along Washington Street in Roslindale faced many delays due to traffic congestion. LivableStreets trained local bus riders to talk with their neighbors about the need for a change and an operational pilot on Washington Street. This campaign successfully encouraged the City of Boston and the MBTA to commit to a full-length four-week pilot. During the pilot, LivableStreets engaged with bus riders and pedestrians about the changes, conducted bus rider and bike surveys, led a public education campaign, and collaborated with MAPC to analyze the pilot. You can learn more about the project here.

Date: May 24, 2017 → June 6, 2017

From May to June of 2017, the MBTA and BostonBRT partnered to bring an all-door boarding pilot to the Silver Line 4 and 5 lines. LivableStreets helped survey riders about their experience using the lines during the pilot. You can learn more about the pilot here.