Latest Updates
Draft Recommendations Report
The South Boston Transportation Action Plan (SBTAP) project team is pleased to announce the release of the SBTAP Draft Recommendations Report. The draft recommendations include proven strategies and people-first improvements to eliminate serious and fatal traffic crashes and create a safer and more efficient network for all modes of transportation—walking, biking, transit, and vehicles.
The SBTAP project team invites public comments and questions regarding the Draft Recommendations Report. The comment period will end Friday, October 4, 2024.
Recent Engagement on Draft Recommendations Report
On Thursday, June 27, 2024 at the Tynan School, the BPDA and Boston Transportation Department (BTD) hosted an in-person public meeting and open house to discuss draft recommendations that were revised based on feedback received at, and following, a virtual public meeting held on April 4, 2024. The presentation given at the June 27 meeting is available here, and the detailed information posters that were included in the open house are available for review here.
A Guide to South Boston’s Transportation Planning and the Development Review Process
The SBTAP project team released A Guide to South Boston’s Transportation Planning and the Development Review Process (“the Guide'') in 2023. The contents of the Guide were presented in a public meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 6:00 PM–7:30 PM. View the meeting presentation and recording
This Guide has served as a helpful tool for community stakeholders to continue conversations around transportation goals, infrastructure, and access. The Guide covers topics such as: pedestrian, biking, and vehicle safety; the current transportation needs in the South Boston neighborhood; how planning work focuses on making the transportation network safer and more reliable; and how the community can participate in shaping recommendations. The full Guide, in both English and Spanish, is linked below:
Existing Conditions Report
The SBTAP Existing Conditions Report was released in 2022. The contents of this report were presented in the first SBTAP public meeting that occurred on November 14, 2022. Aspects of the existing transportation system within the study area are analyzed in this report. These include the pedestrian environment, biking infrastructure, transit network, road and intersection conditions, and parking. Findings from this report are based on data analysis as well as resident feedback received over the years.
Following the release of this report, the SBTAP project team transitioned into the evaluation process for potential recommendations within the study area.
Ideas for Engagement? Let's Chat!
We invite individuals, households, businesses, and neighborhood groups to contact the project management team at [email protected] with your ideas to engage with us. We welcome all ideas and means of connecting with and hearing from South Boston residents and stakeholders!
Summary & Goals
Overview
The Planning Department, in partnership with the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and Boston Public Works Department (PWD), is evaluating transportation challenges in South Boston through the South Boston Transportation Action Plan. The South Boston Transportation Action Plan will evaluate safety concerns in South Boston and focus the City’s resources on proven strategies and people-first improvements to eliminate serious and fatal traffic crashes in South Boston. The goal of the Transportation Action Plan is to build upon the vision and goals as set forth in Imagine Boston 2030 and Go Boston 2030. The Transportation Action Plan will study key transportation connections to and within the South Boston area and recommend improvements that can be implemented immediately, within the next 15 years, and beyond. The recommendations will reflect an understanding of South Boston as it exists currently, as well as the forecasted effects of new development.
Like many neighborhoods in Boston, South Boston is experiencing rapid growth and change. Prioritizing transportation improvements will offset the major impacts of new development on traffic and mobility throughout the neighborhood. The Transportation Action Plan will ultimately adopt transportation ideas and conceptualize future complete streets and transit network improvements. This Plan will guide the City’s priorities for streets in and around the area, and foster effective improvements that will allow the area to reach its full potential.
Transportation Action Plan Summary
The final Transportation Action Plan will provide a blueprint for improving how people move around South Boston by making it safer and more efficient for all.
The Transportation Action Plan will:
- Implement strategies to eliminate serious and fatal traffic crashes
- Simplify intersections for all users
- Improve the transit network
- Expand the bike network
- Improve walkability
- Enhance the main street and neighborhood experiences
Schedule & Milestones
As currently envisioned, the study will consist of the following schedule and milestones:
Schedule & Milestones (PDF)
Public Engagement
Each major phase of this study involves various forms of public engagement, from public meetings and workshops to online/digital tools, neighborhood pop-ups at significant gathering spaces (such as intersections, “T” stops, or community spaces), street surveys, and/or other methods. Questions? Comments? Would you like to stay engaged? Fill out the form or email us at [email protected].
Past Engagement
South Boston Transportation Action Plan Public Meeting
Virtual
Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This virtual meeting included a presentation of the draft recommendations followed by question & answer, and comments. Translated materials and interpretation services were provided in Spanish.
Recording
A Guide to South Boston’s Transportation Planning and the Development Review Process
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
The BPDA hosted a virtual public meeting to present A Guide to South Boston’s Transportation Planning and the Development Review Process (“the Guide”). The meeting included a presentation followed by Q&A and comments. The purpose of this meeting was to:
- Discuss the kinds of interventions used to improve safety and comfort on City streets, and how these improvements are planned for and implemented by the City, with the support of new private development.
- Explain government processes and equip residents, workers, and small business owners with planning concepts so they are able to better navigate and participate in planning initiatives.
Presentation | Recording (Spanish presentation is included in the recording)
Pint with a Planner
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Residents and stakeholders were invited to spend a casual evening at Publico in South Boston with staff from BPDA and BTD to ask questions about the planning process and share feedback, experiences, and visions for the future transportation network in the neighborhood. Approximately 60 people, not including City staff, attended the event. See a virtual poster from the event below with goals and priorities guiding the recommendation evaluation process.
1st Street Walking Tour
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Staff from the BPDA and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services met with residents of South Boston from Friends of North of Broadway to identify specific areas of community concern around First Street.
Neighborhood Bike Tour
Saturday, January 7, 2023
BPDA staff met with members of Southie Bikes to bike the neighborhood and identify specific areas of safety concerns.
Existing Conditions Focus Groups
December 2022
A total of 6 focus groups, 5 in-person and 1 virtual, were held through the month of December to collect resident feedback on existing transportation conditions in the study area. Discussion topics included pedestrian safety concerns, travel modes, and transit and active transportation in the study area. Participants volunteered for focus groups through the community survey (see below), and were selected and placed into groups on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Feedback Summary
Community Survey and Pop–Up Outreach
November - December 2022
An online and paper survey was distributed to the community in English and Spanish from mid-November through mid-December. Over 700 survey responses were submitted during this period. Additionally, more than 10 outreach events were held at high-traffic locations such as bus stops and seasonal events to spread awareness of the survey, focus group opportunities, and upcoming engagement.
Survey | Encuesta | Survey Results Summary | Raw Survey Results
Kick-Off Meeting
Monday, November 14, 2022 | 6:00 PM
The BPDA and Boston Transportation Department (BTD) hosted a virtual public meeting to kick off the South Boston Transportation Action Plan (SBTAP). The meeting included a presentation followed by Q&A and comments.
Presentation | Recording
Community and Civic Group Outreach
October - November 2022
BPDA staff sent out email communications to residents on the South Boston listserv and over 20 individual communications to civic and community groups in addition to attending several neighborhood civic group meetings virtually and in-person in South Boston to get the word out about the SBTAP public meeting kick-off.
Coordination
The recommendations will build upon nearby recent existing planning initiatives including, but not limited to:
PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue: The PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue Planning Initiative just completed its Transportation Plan which was a key recommendation born out of the 2016 neighborhood planning effort. The Transportation Plan includes the future street build-out as proposed in PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue. The Transportation Plan includes additional and improved headhouses to Broadway and Andrew Stations, improvements to existing bus service and new bus route connections on other corridors such as D Street, improvements to Andrew Square, Dorchester Avenue intersection, and the Old Colony and Dorchester Street intersection. Longer-term, more visionary transit options are also included, specifically within the “Track 61” corridor.
South Boston Seaport Strategic Transit Plan: The Transportation Plan will also build upon the South Boston Seaport Transit Strategic Plan, specifically on the improvements to the Seaport’s bus and shuttle network and of other transit services such as rail, ferry, ride-share, and private-sector sponsored initiatives. The South Boston Transportation Action Plan’s aim is to advance and refine current transit efforts and also propose future transit recommendations.
South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan: The South Boston Transportation Action Plan will build on work done for the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Project (“SBWSTP”) and subsequent transit analysis done for public and private projects. The Transportation Action Plan will integrate the suite of transportation improvements currently in implementation.
There are a number of other completed or ongoing initiatives that will impact the forthcoming recommendations of the South Boston Transportation Action Plan. Close interagency coordination will be required. These plans include but are not limited to: