Mayor Walsh, other city officials and an old parking meter today.
Mayor Walsh said today the dedicated bike lanes planned for Comm. Ave. between the BU Bridge and Packards Corner are only part of a long-term "Vision 0" plan to curb crashes and traffic-related deaths through a combination of street reconfiguration and tougher enforcement.
At a City Hall press conference today, Walsh said he will start a nationwide search for a city "active transportation director" to spearhead efforts over the next few years to make Boston streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Boston's bicycle director, Nicole Freedman, is leaving to take on that very job in Seattle, which Walsh pointed to as an example of a city that is trying to make streets safer.
The new director will be in charge of a citywide master plan, he said. He added this will include not just major thoroughfares but neighborhood side streets. He said that as a state rep, he tried to get speed limits lowered on such streets and said the BPD flashing speed signs might get even greater use in those areas.
Walsh said the Comm. Ave. project is a perfect example of how to make streets safer, on a road that has high concentrations of pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and trolleys - but that is currently "one of the highest crash areas" in the city.
BTD Director Gina Fiandaca said the project could go out to bid this fall and take six to eight months to complete. DPW Director Mike Dennehy said he is already looking for specialized equipment to plow the lanes after snowstorms.
Walsh predicted the city will follow up with even more "cycle track" lanes elsewhere.
"For bicyclists, [the state of Boston roads] is pretty dangerous," he said, adding they have the same rights to use the roads as motorists.
At the same time, he acknowledged bicyclists and pedestrians need more education to follow traffic laws as well. "People aren't darting across 45th Street" in Manahattan, and they shouldn't be doing that on Boston thoroughfares, either, he said.
Walsh downplayed at-large Councilor Michael Flaherty's contention that the loss of 73 parking spaces along that stretch of Comm. Ave. will harm businesses there. Walsh said experience in New York, which already has several dedicated bike lanes, is that business actually increases, because it turns out bicyclists buy as much from small shops as motorists.
He said he doubted all of the 73 people parking in those spaces were really shopping, anyway - many probably use the spaces for long-term parking.
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad:
Comments
It's one of the WORST intersections in the City!
By thetrainmon
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 12:12am
First of all, I've very rarely seen cyclists "roaring" through red lights. Stop-and-then-proceed is more like it; and some municipalities have even taken steps to legalize that for cyclists, citing safety improvements since cyclists don't have to contend as much with right hooks and other intersection issues.
That being said, let's talk about that whole area:
A) Some of the worst pavement along all of Mass. Ave--numerous potholes and divots from the high volume of traffic, especially heavy vehicles.
B) As you already mentioned, the "bike lane" on the Harvard Bridge, which I put in quotes because it's really just an often gravel-ridden, glass-ridden shoulder, gives way to a right turn lane, just past the bus stop. The 1, the CT1 and the LMA M2 Shuttle all stop there--basically up to 120 feet of bus (plus space in between them). If even one bus is in the stop the only way to go around it is to merge into the middle lane with cars zooming off the Bridge. Even before that is the little alley on the right where cars dart out right in front of you as you're coming off the Bridge. As crazy as it is when they fly out of the alley, it's even worse when they only make it partially out and wind up blocking the end of the bike lane.
C) If you make it past the bus stop and are stuck at the intersection, you're either on the far right--meaning, when the light turns green, you're contending with people turning right right in front of you--or you're wedged in between the turning lane and the middle lane, which is far from a pleasant experience.
D) The worst part of that whole area is even further back if you're coming from the Paul Dudley White Bike Path: after going up the ramp and narrowly missing a few joggers and cyclists riding on the sidewalk, if you're headed to Boston, you first have to cross the Storrow Drive offramp, mixing it up with impatient drivers, already ticked off because they had to detour to Cambridge due to the Longfellow Bridge construction, who often don't look right at all. Then your amazing options are:
1) Stay on the sidewalk all the way to Beacon Street, mixing it up with heavy pedestrian traffic.
2) Ride down the bike lane to Beacon Street, against the flow of bike traffic.
3) Cross four lanes of traffic and then deal with all of the other aforementioned problems.
Yup
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:52am
re: roaring: You're right - if you re-read my paragraph, you'll see I started out that way but tempered it by the end.
A. I do not envy you having to ride in the worst parts of the roads. And couple that with cars swerving to avoid the potholes makes it all very difficult for everyone and more dangerous for cyclists.
B. I hate that alley with a passion. It should be one way the other direction.
C. I'm surprised - I would have thought you'd feel a measure safer between the turning lane and gaily forward lane at that light. The buses make that tough. I wonder if moving the bus stops to the other side of the intersection easier on everyone. They would have to get in the right turn lane pre-crossing the intersection so they'd already be out of the line of traffic in preparation for the stop.
D. Wow, never thought about it. That sucks. And before anyone gives me shit about 'never thought about it', suck it. We all have things we've never thought about until they pertain directly to us. (yes, I guess I'm preemptively defensive. *shrug*)
If it's one way the other direction
By Will LaTulippe
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:13pm
Then how do you suggest cars access it from the Boston side? Do you want them to go across to Cambridge and come back, or do you want them to turn left against traffic coming down off the bridge?
Beacon St
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:24pm
They can get into that alley or Back St from Beacon St. Take the Charlesgate East on ramp to Storrow and pull a quick right turn. The egress at Mass Ave should be an ingress only with a no left turn sign from Mass Ave heading to Cambridge direction. Maybe an egress during certain hours. People can turn their cars around in the alley - there's plenty of room.
So can you clarify why
By Scratchie
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:13pm
I haven't the slightest idea. I assume they're probably Mass. drivers and they're used to doing whatever the fuck they want.
Most of the cyclists going
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:14am
Most of the cyclists going through red lights I see are older homeless looking men on walmart hybrids who don't give a fuck anyway
Cool story, bro.
By Scratchie
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:39am
Cool story, bro.
Do you have anything mature
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:19am
Do you have anything mature or revelent to add or just post millennial dismissel dreck? The people that disobey the light are mostly aloof idiots that appear homeless, not responsible cyclists
U mad bro?
By Scratchie
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:28am
U mad bro?
U mad bro?
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:29am
U mad bro?
Is that timeline for real?
By ErnieAdams
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 1:50pm
When they said "six to eight months," did it sound like they meant that the whole project would be constructed in that time? Like the whole stretch of Comm. Ave from BU Bridge/Packard's Corner would be restriped, with the cycle track built and bus stops installed? Maybe that's not unreasonable, but it almost sounds too good to be true. At least, such are my expectations for a public works project in the City of Boston.
Probably not
By jeffkinson
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 6:11pm
I'm assuming that's a mistake. Either she meant that Comm Ave construction would start six to eight months after going out to bid, or she meant that coming up with a citywide master plan would take six to eight months.
Comm Ave construction will probably take two or three years.
edit: ABBQ is much better informed than I, please listen to
himher insteadPartially agree
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 3:05pm
Construction bids are only good for 30 days after proposal/opening (the City can't hold onto them and wait to open them for 6-8 months. Besides, contractors would withdraw left and right).
I'd venture your second guess is closer to the truth, however master plans often take upwards of a year to design due to the herding of the cats that want/need to provide input.
Edit to add: Looking at the section again, it's not that long of a streetscape and it actually is feasible for the work to be done that quickly. It's concrete with granite curbing working within the already existing roadway. It will be hell on daily traffic, but it can be done. They might even require the work to be done at night - which does add to the cost, but in the overall picture they may find that worth it. The liquidated damages will also provide incentive to completing it on time. Now if they can provide remunerative rather than punitive incentives, you might find more contractors willing to bid. I don't know.
Think about this: MassDot had the Craigie Dam Drawbridge replaced in 11 months (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges...). It's the metric tonne of forethought and preparation that allows projects to be completed that quickly.
thanks for the info
By jeffkinson
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:04pm
Oops, I meant possibly 6-8 months after accepting a bid, not after putting out a bid. I don't know too much about this area, but I thought that timeline was reasonably common, e.g. accepting a contractor's bid in the fall with the intention of them starting construction in the spring. Could that be it?
Doubtful
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:55pm
Material costs change between fall and spring. No contractor in their right mind will put a bid in the fall for spring work. And certainly not for public work. Besides which, the specifications for public work include the current wage rates that they must use and that's only good for a specified amount of time. Wages may change between fall and spring, too.
Private work can be done a little differently.
Public bidding process in MA is a pain, but has rules and regs that must be followed. It can be tight - maybe 6 or 7 weeks, but more like an 8 week process.
Just a reference, Comm Ave Phase I timeline
By shawnp
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:26pm
Kenmore to Amory Street took about 25 months according to bu.edu/cap/. August 2006 through September 2008, with a little work afterwards to finish up some items.
Interesting
By ElizaLeila
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:57pm
Good to know, thanks!
or
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 2:25pm
Or her. She is kind of in the business. :)
fixed :)
By jeffkinson
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 6:12pm
fixed :)
:)
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 2:17pm
I was >< close to not saying anything, but ... meh!
Thanks!
I would assume that means it
By Eric
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:50pm
I would assume that means it will go out to bid in 6 to 8 months. They haven't even finalized all of the details of the design yet.
Comm Ave.
By Kathode
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 4:33pm
should have dedicated bike lines all the way from Packard's Corner to Kenmore. They definitely should not end at the BU Bridge.
As a driver, not sure why
By bostonkid_316
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 5:00pm
As a driver, not sure why cycle tracks don't get more support. Whenever I have a cyclist in the road next to me, I am always paranoid about hitting them. What if they get doored, move quickly to avoid a pedestrian, etc and that causes me to swerve? Tracks would give me some peace of mind that we were separated.
A win for *almost* everyone
By Angry Dan
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 8:53pm
I have to give the mayor credit for going with a forward-thinking design that should decrease conflicts and increase safety for everyone, even if there will be some unfortunate tears from bicycle haters.
To the haters: No hard feelings. You have my sympathies for yet another setback. This must be galling when added to the never-ending bicycle traffic jams you have to sit in, the constant search for a parking spot that hasn't been usurped by bicycles, not to mention digging your vehicle out from under the unprecedented piles of bicycles that fell from the sky this winter. I do not envy you.
First of all
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 8:18am
First of all
CYCLISTS RIDE BICYCLES, BIKERS RIDE MOTORCYCLES. God that bugs me
Anyway, I support the idea and was in a video advocating for this but now it occurs to me from seeing a number of posts on Bikesnobnyc's blog of riding around manhattan's dedicated spots how this could be a problem. In New York, pedestrians don't give a fuck and will walk in protected lanes often. BU kids are irresponsible children and will use this as another pedestrian spot or place to wait. The second one of those new jersey/ct kids darts into the lane without looking and gets hit, you know their rich lawyer dad is going to go sue crazy on the cyclist.
yup
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 03/26/2015 - 9:07am
I've been doing my best to ignore that. But yes.
Actually, I don't consider myself a 'biker', but a motorcyclist.
Pages
Add comment