In Partnership with the Barr Foundation
Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery
A challenge facing communities right now is how to maintain access to essential services and businesses while keeping residents safe through physical distancing. In a time when we’re required to maintain physical distance to protect public health, streets need to do more than ever.
Streets must be configured so that people are able to move safely and provide space so people can safely access food, essential services, and businesses.
There are quick, affordable, flexible adaptations you can make to your public spaces right now to 1) support increased mobility by bike, transit, and foot, and 2) allow the creation of new spaces in streets, parking lots and other public spaces. During the summer and fall, many communities began to implement projects with local support and support from MassDOT, the Barr Foundation, the Solomon Foundation and others to create more space for people and you can see images of some of these projects here.
Recognizing the need for these projects, MassDOT has extended support for this with a Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Grant Program to improve plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, parking areas, and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce. The Solomon Foundation, the Barr Foundation, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council are partnering with MassDOT to provide free technical assistance to municipalities interested in rapidly transforming their streets. The Solomon Foundation can help communities plan and get ready for Shared Streets project by helping with scoping and visioning. The Barr Foundation is supporting technical assistance providers to help municipalities with design for their applications to MassDOT. MAPC can help communities with pricing out and procuring materials for projects. There is additional placemaking funding available for eligible communities from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places Covid-19 Emergency Response-Resurgent Places program.
Simple changes = a big difference
Driving has dropped off in many communities, so now is a good time to share our streets. Here are some examples of simple changes that can make a big difference:
- Narrow lanes to both slow traffic and provide space so people can safely walk in the the street where sidewalks are too crowded.
- Offset parking from the curb to create a widened sidewalk to provide safe space for walking.
- Expand space to walk or bike by eliminating curbside parking temporarily.
- Provide curbside drop-off/pick-up zones on in business districts.
- Designate unused street space and parking lots for outdoor restaurant and store use.
- Make walking safer by adjusting signal timing and automating pedestrian push buttons.
- Install traffic calming treatments such as speed bumps, street murals, etc.
- Allow neighbors to apply for a quick permit to set up a DIY neighborhood slow street.
Foundation assistance for streets for pandemic response and recovery
As communities have identified specific needs and begun to get buy-in from municipal decision makers, we have helped with planning and preparation for a grant application for the MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program . We are available as a thought partner to test ideas. We can also help iterate on projects during and after the first installation as you learn from them and think about ways to make them more permanent.
Some of the first steps of planning for streets for recovery will likely be:
- Collaborating with key municipal staff to get their input.
- Giving neighbors a heads up that this is coming.
- Choosing streets that serve neighborhoods most in need.
- Designing a pilot project(s) and lining up needed materials.
- Choosing a date(s) for your pilots and setting them up.
- Observing how it goes and making adjustments.
- Documenting your successes and lessons learned.
- Beginning to build out longer term solutions.
Resources
- Here’s a guide from Toole Design on an Equitable Approach to Rebalancing Streets
- Here are images of many locally and MassDOT funded projects around Massachusetts
- Here are images of MassDOT funded Shared Streets projects
- Here’s a Guide to Resources and Grant Programs for Massachusetts communities
- MAPC has more information and resources about what’s happening locally
- MAPC case studies on Melrose’s People Powered Parklets and Everett’s Community Connections through signage and art
- There is additional placemaking funding available for eligible communities from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places Covid-19 Emergency Response-Resurgent Places program.
- To help with Procurement MAPC has a Statewide Contracts Guide and a Vendor Guide with a list of vendors that offer materials as well as an FAQ
- The National Association of City Transportation Officials’ Site has information about how communities around the country are responding
- Liveable Street’s has A great webinar on creating and managing outdoor restaurant and retail space
For design ideas
- NACTO and Streets Plans’ Streets for pandemic response & recovery guide
- Bench Consulting’s Winter Places Guide
- Mass Healthy Aging Collaborative Age-Friendly Winter Spaces Ideas and corresponding resource list
For questions and more information Contact Allison Burson.
Shared Streets
Changes to streets to calm traffic, slow speeds, and make our public right of way safer and more comfortable for all road users.
Active Transportation
Pop up bike lanes, sidewalk extensions, and other treatments to provide more space for people walking and biking.
Outdoor Commerce and Dining
Repurposing of public spaces and right of way to create more space for people, including using excess parking spaces, parking lots, or redundant roadway for parklets, seating, dining, and retail.
