How Students Would Improve a Particularly Busy Boston Intersection

"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…"