The new program targets neighborhood streets for safety improvements such as speed humps and intersection redesigns.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a plan to install hundreds of new speed humps and intersection safety improvements, reports Christian MilNeil in Streetsblog Mass, replacing the Neighborhood Slow Streets program created during the Walsh administration which, Milneil explains, “was extremely popular, but … was also resource-intensive, and its projects typically took multiple years to emerge from concept to construction.”
The new approach, dubbed a ‘safety surge’ by the city, focuses on comprehensive and quick traffic calming improvements. “By redesigning intersections and roadways, and improving traffic signals, we will help people get around while making sure our community members are safe,” said Mayor Wu in a press release. “The city says it aims to install up to 500 new speed humps on an annual basis on smaller neighborhood side streets.”
According to MilNeil, “Another element of the ‘safety surge’ will aim to slow down motor vehicles at crash-prone intersections, with a particular focus on intersections near parks, schools, community centers, or housing for older adults.”
The initiative also updates the city’s traffic signal policy to consider pedestrian safety. “The new edition requires the city’s engineers to consider new performance measures for evaluating traffic signal operations, including pedestrian delay and ‘Lowest Pedestrian Speed Accommodated.’”
FULL STORY: Wu Admin Announces ‘Safety Surge’ of Traffic Calming for Neighborhood Streets
Washington Focuses Road Safety Efforts on Individuals, Neglecting Design
Legislative efforts to reduce traffic deaths could move the needle toward Vision Zero, but state leaders failed to commit infrastructure funds to making structural improvements.
Cincinnati To Consider $1 Million Traffic Calming Program
A proposal before Cincinnati's city council would boost traffic calming initiatives and use innovative technology to slow traffic on some of the city's most dangerous streets.
Report: Austin’s State Roads Deadlier Than City Roads
Traffic fatalities and serious injuries grew on state-owned roads in the Texas capital, even as city-owned streets saw death rates plateau.
The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.
Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.
Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.
Report: Austin’s State Roads Deadlier Than City Roads
Traffic fatalities and serious injuries grew on state-owned roads in the Texas capital, even as city-owned streets saw death rates plateau.
Who Benefits Most from Land Conservation Efforts?
A new study estimates that recent land conservation generated $9.8 billion in wealth nationally through the housing market and that wealthier and White households benefited disproportionately.
Richmond Repeals Parking Minimums, Encourages Off-Street Parking and Transit
The Virginia city is replete with underused off-street parking lots, which city councilors hope to make available for parking at more times while encouraging transit use.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
