Milestone reached on implementation of Go Boston 2030 projects, with over half of projects underway

BOSTON - Friday, November 1, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a significant milestone reached on the implementation of the City's Go Boston 2030 transportation plan, with more than half of the 58 projects and policies identified in the plan currently underway. The comprehensive plan was unveiled in 2017 and is designed to provide, by the year 2030, a safe, reliable and equitable transportation system that also supports Boston's climate goals. In just two years, the Boston Transportation Department and its partners have made significant progress on their planning goals, designed to increase safety, accessibility, equity and affordability in transportation for all residents. Twenty-one projects are already in implementation and another 17 are in design.

In an effort to showcase the ongoing progress being made towards each of the action items, the City today launched an updated project website where residents can view the status of each of the 58 projects and policies identified in the Go Boston 2030 Action Plan. The website also tracks key data indicators related to improvements in safety, access, and reliability.

"Go Boston 2030 is working to create a city where residents of all neighborhoods have safe, reliable and equitable travel choices, and where people can confidently walk, bicycle, take public transportation, or ride in a car to move around the City," said Mayor Walsh. "The more efficient transportation system being built in accordance with Go Boston 2030 will be environmentally progressive and will further economic opportunity in Boston."

A summary of the 58 projects and policies identified in the Go Boston 2030 Action Plan is below.  These were developed as a result of more than 3,700 ideas submitted by residents and others during an extensive public outreach effort spearheaded by the Boston Transportation Department.

Safer, stress-free, more accessible walking and biking

7 projects in implementation, 7 in design, 4 not yet started

In 2018, with the support of new staff and an increased budget, the City committed to building 15 Neighborhood Slow Streets zones to traffic-calm residential streets, complete 15 miles of protected bike lanes, and make improvements at 15 corridors with safety challenges in the next four years. To set the stage for our Vision Zero policy, BTD has established 25 MPH as the default speed limit for Boston and installed over 70 speed feedback signs.

Project Highlights:

• Bike Share Network Expansion: With 2 million trips per year, nearly 100 new stations will have been installed in almost every neighborhood in Boston by the year's end. Boston now offers 219 stations across the City of Boston.

• Better Bike Corridors: 8 miles of protected bike lanes have been installed and an additional 10 miles are in construction and planning.

• Walk and Bike Friendly Main Streets: Improvements completed at Central, Hyde, Mattapan (Phase I), and Roslindale Squares. In construction at Dudley Square, and in design in 5 districts.

• Neighborhood Slow Streets: Construction will be complete in 7 zones by 2020. An additional 5 zones are in design and will be constructed in 2021.

• Vision Zero Priority Corridors: Safety upgrades completed along parts of Massachusetts Avenue, Walter Street, Beacon Street, Kneeland Street, Longwood Avenue, River Street, Brookline Avenue, Stuart Street, Tremont Street (Phase I), and at over a dozen intersections.

• Summer Street Protected Bike Lane: Separated bike lanes on Summer Street in the Fort Point have been installed.

• Public Realm Plan: Tactical plazas, including at Tontine Crescent and in Phillips Square in Chinatown, and "Open Newbury Street" implemented, and a public realm director position created.

More reliable bus, train, ferry, and shuttle networks

10 projects in implementation, 7 in design, and 11 not yet started

The Boston Transportation Department established its first ever Transit Team in 2019, following the Mayor's dedication of funds in the FY19 budget. The team is installing transit priority interventions on the busiest corridors and working to advance regional rail projects. We are on track to install bus lanes on 6 priority corridors by 2020.

Project Highlights:

• Forest Hills to Roslindale Square Rapid Bus: With the completion of this inbound lane, bus travel times have improved by 20-25 percent during the busiest peak times.

• Oak Square to Commonwealth Avenue Rapid Bus: The first phase of this project, 24/7 inbound and outbound bus lanes from Union Square to Packards Corner on Brighton Avenue will be completed in 2019.

• Fairmount Line Service Improvements: BTD's Transit Team presented a proposal to the FMCB for 8 additional weekday trips on the line, and advocated for these trips to be added by 2020. 

• Fair MBTA Fare Policy and Extended Service Hours: The City distributed free T passes to all middle and high school students, and helped the MBTA start Night Bus Service to 2:00 AM.

• Restructure All Bus Routes: MassDOT kicked off the bus network redesign in June of 2019, with BTD participating in the planning process.

• Inner Harbor Ferry Expansion: Ferry service has started between Lovejoy Wharf and the Seaport with additional connections along the inner harbor anticipated.

• Mattapan to LMA Rapid Bus: We are in the early engagement phase of planning for mobility, safety, and public realm improvements for Blue Hill Avenue and Warren Street.

Smarter, more efficient streets and partnerships

4 projects in implementation, 3 in design, 5 not yet started

BTD has created a New Mobility Team which is partnering with private service providers, electric utilities, transportation management associations (TMAs), and developers to improve travel choices for all.

Project Highlights:

• Performance Based Meter Pricing: Analysis of the new meter rates implemented in Back Bay and South Boston shows double parking decreased by 14 percent.

• Smart Signal Districts: An adaptive signals network design for the South Boston Seaport will be launched in 2020 by MassDOT in partnership with BTD.

• Autonomous Vehicle Policy: The City is working with and monitoring the progress of two companies testing AVs in the South Boston Seaport.

• Expanded Transportation Demand Management Program: BTD has hired a TDM Planner who is currently working on a "points based" TDM program to create a more efficient development review process.

• Neighborhood Mobility microHUBs: Design work is underway with plans for a pilot program to be installed in East Boston currently slated for 2020.

Go Boston 2030 also established aspirational targets of desired outcomes that residents want the projects and policies to achieve.

Improving Safety: Traffic fatalities and severe injuries in Boston will be eliminated.

10 fatal traffic crashes in 2018, down from 14 in 2017 and 21 in 2016.

Expanding Access: Every Bostonian will be within a 10 min walk of transit, bikeshare, and carshare.

60 percent of Bostonians in 2019 within a 10 min walk of rail or key bus route, car share, and bike share, compared with 42 percent in 2017.

Ensuring Reliability: Bostonians' average commute to work time will decrease by 10 percent.

Average travel time to work in 2017 is the same as it was in 2014: 30.8 min.

Reducing Drive Alone Commute rates: Reducing drive alone to work rates by 50 percent and increasing transit use by 33 percent.

The city-wide average has hovered around 38 percent of all commuters driving alone for the last 10 years.

Reducing Emissions: Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Boston's 2017 emissions represent a 21 percent decrease from 2005.

Increasing Affordability: Reduce transportation costs for low income households.

The recent MBTA fare hike does not impact bus riders, seniors, or middle/high school students. Mayor Walsh's budget has also provided free MBTA passes for Boston students. 

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