WALKABLE BOSTON
contribute to a more walkable Boston. Afterward, Boston City Council President Michele Wu, National Development managing partner Ted Tye and Boston Traffic Department Commissioner Gina Fiandaca joined in a brief panel transportation discussion afterward. Wu, whose recent move to Roslindale left her with a long commute to City Hall, emphasized neighborhood connectedness.
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There is one thing that Boston does really badly,” said Speck. “Walkable cities don’t have push buttons in the name of safety.
“There is one thing that Boston does really badly,” said Speck. “Walkable cities don’t have push buttons in the name of safety.” He noted that push buttons on traffic signals frustrate pedestrians and don’t usually work. His recommendation is to improve signal cycles, with walkers getting the green light a few seconds before cars. For a comfortable walk, pedestrians crave what Speck called “prospect and refuge.” By nature, humans and other animals want to see what’s coming and know that our flanks are covered. Embracing outdoor spaces made us feel good. If the ratio of width to height gets beyond 6:1, we lose the sense of safety.
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Tye cited examples of how creating new transit-accessible housing has been successful outside of Boston, including Arborpoint at Station Landing near the Wellington MBTA station in Medford and Arborpoint at Woodland Station in Newton. National Development also is building Siena, the second condominium building at the Ink Block complex in the South End.
Fiandaca introduced Go Boston 2030, a City of Boston initiative. Whether on foot, by bicycle or using public transportation, the ways people will get around the city will continue to evolve in the coming years. An action plan for the next five, 10 and 15 years is expected to be unveiled this summer. Reprinted with permission from The Boston Homes
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...to make a walk interesting, walkers need to see friendly faces, variety in the architecture and accessible public art.
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Finally, to make a walk interesting, walkers need to see friendly faces, variety in the architecture and accessible public art. The best place to focus: blank walls. Speck recommended a few short-term fixes. Investing in the MBTA and building density at T stops, turning extra road space into protected bike lanes, maintaining narrow traffic lanes to minimize speeding, incorporating better signal regimes and expanding Downtown Crossing would all
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