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BOSTON - January 19, 2023 - The Boston Planning & Development Agency
and Boston Transportation Department today announced the findings of the 2022 Copley Connect
pilot program through the launch of a storymap that
details the data collected over ten days in June. Following the success of
the pilot, transportation planners with the BPDA and BTD intend to study
permanent improvements to Dartmouth Street between the Boston Public
Library and Copley Square Park that would improve the public realm between
three of Boston's most iconic civic spaces and formally unify Copley
Square.
During the pilot, the space was opened to pedestrians and closed to
non-emergency vehicular traffic. This new public space maintained the
existing bike lane and featured café seating, food trucks, performances,
dance lessons, and library programming over the course of ten days. An
emergency vehicle lane was also incorporated into the Copley Connect design
for Dartmouth Street. Emergency vehicle access on Dartmouth Street will
continue to be an important design consideration.
The majority of the feedback following the pilot was overwhelmingly
positive, with many visitors saying they would visit the area more
frequently if it was made a permanently car-free space. BTD and BPDA staff
engaged with approximately 1,000 people over the course of the event. Staff
provided a survey on site and online for those who could not attend or did
not get the chance to fill one out in person.
“We saw this summer how Copley Connect brought people together to build
community and opened up biking and walking without substantially adding to
traffic,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The data shows that open
streets can spark economic and community vibrancy when we make them safe.
We will continue to work with residents and local organizations to reimagine
how our streets work for us.”
“I want to thank our partners in BTD for working with us to create such a
successful pilot program,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison.
“We look forward to continuing to work together to see how we can make this
space on Dartmouth Street work best for Bostonians and all those visiting
our great city going forward.”
“The Copley Connect pilot showcased the creative ways that we can use the
shared space of the streets to benefit more people,” said Chief of
Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge. “We appreciate the partnership of the
BPDA as we continue to explore the possibilities of connecting these
important spaces in the City.”
Transportation planners collected data before and during Copley Connect to
understand how the pilot impacted walking, biking, and driving activity on
City streets. An analysis of motor vehicle routes in the area found that
travel times during the pilot were generally comparable to pre-pilot travel
times, with minimal time added onto trips. The analysis found that lower
traffic volumes made Dartmouth Street more comfortable for biking. These
results have encouraged the BPDA and BTD to advance the Copley Connect
Long-Term Design Strategy, which will identify concepts for the redesign of
Dartmouth Street and identify ancillary changes to nearby streets, as
needed.
There are a number of factors the City and BPDA examined during the pilot
initiative including the impact on the surrounding street network and the
use of the open street space. During these ten days, staff engaged with the
public about the pilot and how they think this space should be used moving
forward. In addition to the ongoing community engagement throughout the
duration of the pilot, the BPDA held a “Chat With a Planner” event on site,
in which community members spoke with neighborhood planners about the
initiative.
In addition to this initiative, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department
is in the process of making improvements to Copley Square Park, which
borders Dartmouth Street. Improvements will protect and enhance existing
trees, strengthen the connection between the Square and the Library,
improve the existing fountain, provide lush green space for enjoyment and
habitat, and create new opportunities for seating and gathering, as a way
to reinvigorate the area as a community gathering space.
At the January meeting of the BPDA Board of Directors on Thursday, the
Board will vote on whether to authorize a request for proposals for
consultant design services to study permanent improvements to the Dartmouth
Street right of way.
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