How Students Would Improve a Particularly Busy Boston Intersection

Students at Emerson College live with the frustrations of the intersection of Boylston and Tremont streets everyday. They also have ideas for how to fix the intersection.

1 minute read

December 11, 2016, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Every day, swarms of Boston pedestrians scurry from all four corners of the intersection at Boylston and Tremont streets, jostling in the middle of the road like concertgoers in a mosh pit at a heavy-metal concert, as they try to beat the crosswalk countdown signals before the lights turn green and cars begin to go," writes Steve Annear.

The problem described by Annear inspired a Civic Art and Design Studio at nearby Emerson College to produce a collection of proposals to improve the congested intersection. One of the ideas is simple: "add five seconds to the crosswalk signals, so that people aren’t scrambling to safety in the final moments before drivers hit the gas and the ominous orange hand appears telling pedestrians to stay put."

The students worked in groups focused on improvements for "pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and public transit vehicles." The student's effort is well-timed, according to Annear: "The city already is reviewing traffic signal timing in the area where Boylston and Tremont streets meet as part of a citywide effort…"

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 in The Boston Globe

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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Mary G., Urban Planner

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