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2018 Neighborhood Slow Streets selected

We considered 33 zones for the 2018 Neighborhood Slow Streets program. Using the objective criteria described in the application, we've selected five new zones.

These five zones became part of the Neighborhood Slow Streets Program in 2018.

The five selected zones had the highest need based on our evaluation criteria. Among this year's applicants, these zones generally have higher than average percentages of households with children under 18 and people with disabilities. The zones have also experienced higher than average crash rates on their internal streets.

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List and map of proposed zones

The Boston Transportation Department received applications for 37 zones by the August 24 deadline. Each community that submitted an incomplete application was given 5 additional days from the time of notification to provide the necessary materials. During this round of evaluations, 33 zones were considered for selection, including 17 communities that applied in 2017 (marked with an asterisk below).

  • Ashmont Area*
  • Back Bay Grid
  • Bloomfield Park - United Neighborhood Association*
  • Business Street Area
  • Charlesgate
  • Child - Cleveland St Neighborhood
  • City Point*
  • Dorchester Heights
  • East Fenway Neighborhood*
  • Grew Park Neighbors - Magee
  • Hancock Street Triangle
  • Harbor View*
  • Jeffries Point*
  • Longfellow Area*
  • Lost Village
  • Lower South Street Neighborhood*
  • Melville Park*
  • Metropolitan Hill - Beech Street*
  • Moreland St and Mount Pleasant Ave Historic Districts*
  • Neighbors Near Weld
  • North Allston Safe Streets Zone*
  • Parkside Neighborhood*
  • Pleasant, Sumner, and East Cottage St Area*
  • Redefine Our Community
  • Rexford Street Association
  • River Street to Morton Street*
  • Sugar Hill*
  • Walworth - Parkway
  • Washington - Harvard - Norwell
  • West Codman Hill - East
  • West Codman Hill - West
  • West Selden Street and Vicinity
  • Woodbourne Neighborhood Association*

Evaluation process

We assessed each zone using objective criteria (listed on our web page and in the application materials). We expected that higher-scoring zones would be selected. Our evaluation focused on identifying zones that:
  • are home to higher percentages of youth, older adults, and people with disabilities
  • experience higher numbers of traffic crashes per mile that result in an EMS response
  • include, or border, community places such as public libraries, community centers, schools, and parks
  • support existing and planned opportunities for walking, bicycling, and access to transit, and
  • are feasible for the City of Boston to implement improvements.

Details on the changes from 2017 are included in the methodology document.

Download the methodology
(PDF, 9.41 MB)*

*Note: This document is not intended for printing. If you need to print any of the pages, use one of the documents provided in the "Print" section of this page.

Image for 2018 neighborhood slow streets score chart

Next steps

Planning work will begin this fall. The process starts with a community walk where residents have the opportunity to identify key challenges and areas where they would like to see changes. We are in the process of scheduling those walks.

When completed, the selected Neighborhood Slow Streets zones will have visual and physical cues to slow drivers to 20 mph. Each street will feel more inviting for people of all ages who are walking, playing, or bicycling.

The Boston Transportation Department will continue to work with communities to improve street safety through our other programs and regular work. For example, we plan to work on improved crosswalks at key locations in zones that scored well but were not selected this year.

We anticipate opening the Neighborhood Slow Streets application period again in 2019.  We will ensure that the process is again streamlined for returning applicants.

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