Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents, advocates press MBTA on bike/pedestrian safety and notification at Lower Broadway meeting
Summary
Community members at the MBTA meeting urged stronger protections for pedestrians and cyclists at bus stops and on the Alford Street Bridge, recommended 'floating' boarding platforms and raised concerns about meeting notification; MBTA staff said safety details will be refined in later design stages and described outreach steps taken for the virtual meeting.
Community participants used the meeting’s Q&A to press MBTA staff on pedestrian and bicycle safety, station design and public notification for the Lower Broadway–Alford Street project.
Tom Gilbert, speaking for Ellis Chase and the Riders Transportation Access Group, said he was concerned about sidewalk‑level bike lanes and the safety of boarding or alighting passengers who could mingle with cyclists or micromobility users. “It’s not safe. It’s just like that bus stop in Watertown… you come off the bus, you’re right in the bike lane,” Gilbert said, urging consideration of platform or floating stops that separate boarding passengers from moving bikes.
Andrew McFarland responded that the presentation was early design work and that stops would include “station‑like amenities” and controls to manage interactions between pedestrians, bicyclists and buses; he said the project team will refine those details as the design advances and offered follow‑up conversations with advocacy groups.
Multiple attendees raised the Alford Street Bridge constraints, asking whether the bridge could be widened or raised and how drawbridge openings and under‑bridge access would affect operations. MBTA staff said the team is designing within the existing right‑of‑way and will coordinate closely with the City of Boston, which owns and controls the bridge, to address access and resilience issues.
On outreach, a participant (Dan) said Charlestown residents appeared under‑represented in the virtual meeting. Teresa, the project outreach representative, replied that outreach for the virtual meeting included MBTA advertisements at stations (including Sullivan Square), bus shelter materials, social media, translated flyers to community organizations and an email distribution list; staff committed to additional coordination for upcoming in‑person meetings in Everett and Charlestown.
Stakeholders also voiced support and caution: Livable Streets Alliance posted support for bus priority and the federal RAISE grant; Natalie Brown of Encore Boston Harbor said Encore supports SL3 and rapid transit but urged that corridor roadway operations not be adversely affected because Encore has invested in prior transportation improvements.
MBTA staff said they will post slides and materials online and invited further written comments and email signups for updates. They encouraged advocates and residents to stay engaged as the team develops station‑level details and safety treatments.
