This is LivableStreets’ most important annual fundraiser. This year we’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $75,000. Your participation - whether you are building a fundraising team or inviting a few friends to join you at the BBQ - will make this our most successful Tour de Streets ever.

We hope to see you at Tour de Streets on September 10th. Register today!

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Join us for Rush Hour Challenge

What is the best way to get from downtown Boston to one of the city’s many surrounding neighborhoods? Rush Hour Challenge seeks to answer this question with a friendly challenge between people driving cars, riding bikes, taking the MBTA and using just their feet to get from downtown Boston to Davis Square in Somerville.

This year we are co-sponsoring the Challenge with the Somerville Bike Committee, the Boston Cyclists Union and MassBike. Join us at the finish line at Redbones.

Event Details
Rush Hour Challenge Party

Monday, June 6, 5:15pm
@ Redbones BBQ, 55 Chester Street, Somerville

Cost: $15, includes all you can eat BBQ and a drink ticket to benefit MassBike

We’ll be announcing the Challenge participants via social media in the days leading up to the event, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And we hope you’ll join us in cheering on all of the participants on June 6^th to raise awareness about creating transportation options!

Wins

 

Ribbon Cutting for completed portion of Grand Junction Community Path

An important piece of the Grand Junction Path is (almost) complete! The Grand Junction Path is a proposed greenway running alongside the existing rail tracks from the Boston University Bridge to the planned extension of the Somerville Community Path (part of the Green line Extension). The two-mile corridor connects many neighborhoods, open spaces, institutions and businesses. A completed Grand Junction Community Path has the power to improve public health, social equity and economic growth for surrounding communities.

Event Details
Grand Junction Community Path ribbon cutting
Thursday, June 9, 4pm
@ Main Street and Galileo Way

The completion of this project brings us one step closer to realizing our vision of a seamless Emerald Network of greenways throughout Metro Boston. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating on June 9^th!

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Progress on Gateway East and Beacon Street projects in Brookline

In May the Town of Brookline moved forward on two important projects that will make the entire community safer and more livable for everyone.

First, earlier in the month funding was approved to replace a travel lane with a separated bike lane on a particularly dangerous portion of Beacon Street.

Second, a week ago the Town authorized the next phase of a design for the Gateway East project that includes several raised crossings to help slow traffic on side streets and a protected bike lane on Route 9!

Thank you to the many advocates who’ve attended meetings, submitted comment letters and worked hard to achieve these important street improvements in your community!

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Green Line extension safe for now

On May 9^th State transportation officials voted to move forward with a scaled-down version of the Green Line extension, however, the project isn’t entirely safe and could be on the chopping block again if there are additional hurdles.  

The next step will be to send the $2.3 billion project plan to the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval.

While we are pleased to see the project moving forward, there is still work to be done. The current design for the Community Path needs improvement. Join the Friends of the Community Path at their presentation of an alternate design for the Community Path in June.

Event Details
Public Presentation of Alternate Community Path Extension Design
Tuesday, June 14, 7-9pm
@ Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell Street, Somerville

Another challenge for the Green Line extension is the $73 million funding gap. Russell Gittlen, MassDOT board member and president of one of the T’s maintenance workers unions, said: “We’re $73 million short. That’s not that much in the big picture. Let’s push it. Let’s get it done.”

We agree! And we’ll keep pushing until the project is complete. Stay tuned for updates on this important project. 

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Opportunities

 

Shape the Go Boston 2030 Action Plan!

Help build the best transportation future for Boston. Go Boston 2030 needs your help to prioritize possible plans for the future, as well as projects and policies that have risen to the top, from the 3,700 ideas collected from the public last fall. Your choices will be used to combine the futures and create the final Action Plan.

You will be asked to:

• pick the future you want the City to focus on first

• Select your top three projects and policies for each future

• Prioritize which ways of getting around should get the most space on the roads

Some projects and policies came up repeatedly in the community process and the City of Boston is already committed to pursuing them in the near term. Weigh in by picking your top future and corresponding projects and policies here. 

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Greater Ashmont Main Street Vision Zero Community Forum

LivableStreets is excited to co-sponsor the Greater Ashmont Main Street Vision Zero Community Forum taking place Thursday, June 9. Forum participants will learn about Vision Zero and participate in an interactive mapping exercise that will enable participants to highlight specific street safety issues in Dorchester.

Event Details

Thursday, June 9, 6:30-8:30pm

@ All Saints Parish, 209 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester

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Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference 

Join 400 public, private, and civic leaders at the Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference and explore topics including:  

• Achieving a good housing density, income mix, and location

• Fiscal and economic development strategies for a thriving downtown

• Communities that are healthy, walkable, diverse, and resilient

• Effective placemaking techniques

Event Details

Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference
Thursday, June 2, 8am
@ DCU Center, 50 Foster St, Worcester