Improving Streets Infrastructure to Advance Mobility and Promote Social Equity in Boston, MA

The Challenge

The City of Boston wanted to provide more equitable and reliable transportation options to its residents and visitors. After identifying dozens of strategic projects to improve public transportation networks, the City needed to make decisions about which were highest priority. Boston wanted to use this opportunity to sequence transportation improvement projects in a way that aligned with broader city-wide goals, such as advancing mobility and promoting social equity.

The Project

With support from the GPL, the Streets Cabinet developed a project analysis web tool that prioritizes public transportation projects based on customizable criteria. The dynamic tool allows users to compare capital projects on key characteristics, such as asset quality, neighborhood demographics, traffic levels, and safety concerns. To aid in project sequencing, the tool also allows users to overlay a variety of strategic criteria, such as “advances mobility,” “promotes social equity,” or “improves public safety.”

The Innovation

The Streets Cabinet used the project selection and sequencing tool to set and refine its capital plan, prioritizing $70 million worth of work in the first year the tool was used. Strategically investing to improve streets infrastructure in a manner that aligns with community priorities will enable the City to provide a more safe, reliable, and accessible transportation network to residents and visitors.

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