People today want good transportation choices, including transit, walking and cycling. But resources are often limited. To suggest solutions, Transportation for Massachusetts, Livable Streets Alliance, WalkBoston and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council published a new report, What Works: Low-cost ways to encourage walking, biking and transit. The report is available online and at the annual Moving Together conference in Boston on November 4, 2015.
The ten examples cited in this report are designed to spark new ideas by cities and towns, employers and advocates, regional and state leaders, and anyone interested in giving people more travel options. From bike lockers to public-private partnerships, roadway design to safe routes to school, the What Works report will provide good ideas that anyone can adapt. Many of the ideas presented in What Works are local, but others are borrowed from elsewhere in the country and around the world. And they get results:
- In Revere, 470 more children walked to school as a result of the programs described in What Works
- Through the Public-Private partnership in congested Kendall Square, only 40% of workers commute alone
- More than 8000 Massachusetts commuters benefit from a Guaranteed Ride Home program
- Middleton's Complete Streets Program was recognized as one of the ten best in the entire country
We created this report understanding that funding is limited, and decision-makers have to difficult choices about projects and priorities. But one choice is clear: we can't build our way out of the congestion that afflicts our region. We have to be smart, and we must invest in transportation modes that are environmentally responsible, healthy, available to everyone and encourage economic investment and growth.
Massachusetts is helping to lead the way in providing smart transportation solutions. We hope this report inspires you to innovate in your community!