Columbia Road Complete Streets
About This Project
Columbia Road is a wide, fast boulevard connecting Uphams Corner to Franklin Park through the heart of Dorchester. Despite being identified as a high-crash corridor years ago, meaningful safety improvements have been repeatedly delayed.
The street's design prioritizes vehicle throughput over the safety of the predominantly Black and brown residents who live along it. Wide lanes encourage speeding, crosswalks are poorly marked, and pedestrians must navigate multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic to access transit, schools, and businesses.
Community advocates have pushed for a complete redesign including protected bike lanes, improved crosswalks, and traffic calming measures. The city has conducted studies and held community meetings, but implementation remains perpetually "in planning."
Timeline of Events
Safety Study Initiated
City begins studying safety improvements for Columbia Road corridor.
Community Meetings
Multiple community meetings held to gather input on redesign options.
Design Stalled
Despite community input, project remains in planning with no construction timeline.
Key Issues
- Wide lanes encourage dangerous speeding
- Inadequate crosswalks on a busy pedestrian corridor
- No protected bike infrastructure despite community demand
- Disproportionate crash rates affecting communities of color
Community Impact
Residents in surrounding neighborhoods face daily danger crossing to access transit, schools, and Franklin Park.
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