Recommended Actions
10
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
The Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
was developed to inform state, regional, and local
agencies, the private sector, and individuals, how
transportation policy, planning, and practice can be
integrated to better meet the walking needs of
residents and visitors. Pedestrian needs are
considered in the urban, suburban, and rural areas
of Massachusetts. MassHighway is responsible for
the plan, and is one of many players with the capacity
to help improve walking conditions. MassHighway
encourages strong local initiative in identifying,
planning, prioritizing, and funding pedestrian
improvements, because most walking trips are local.
Implementing the plan will require the coordinated
action by regional and local agencies and private
organizations. The plan seeks new opportunities for
partnerships with local public and private interests
to encourage more walkable communities and places
throughout Massachusetts.
This Recommended Action Plan presents six
categories of actions for implementing the Pedestrian
Transportation Plan:
• Engineering refers to physical and land use
improvements.
• Encouragement refers to actions to promote
walking.
• Education involves both professional training and
public safety education.
• Enforcement refers to improving adherence to
regulations that apply to both vehicle operators
and pedestrians.
Actions are listed in approximate priority order in
each of the above categories with a brief statement
of their proposed purpose. Proposed lead
responsibilities are shown by bold type in the
column identifying agencies and organizations with
a role to play. Coordinating roles are shown in
underlined type.
Together these recommendations form an action plan
for improving walking in Massachusetts in the years
to come.
• Coordination/Implementation refers to
communication among agencies and
organizations that have roles to play.
• Planning refers to developing data, priorities, and
plans to provide a foundation for projects and
programs.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-1
Recommended Actions
List of Acronyms
CZM
DEM
DEP
DOE
DHCD
DOER
DOI
DOT
DPH
DPWs
DSS
EOEA
EOHHS
EOPS
EOTC
EPA
FHWA
GCPFS
GHSB
MAAB
MassHighway
10-2
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management
Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Management
Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Dept. of Education
Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Community
Development
Massachusetts Dept. of Energy Resources
U.S. Dept. of Interior
U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health
Local Depts. of Public Works
Massachusetts Dept. of Social Services
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Executive Office of Public Safety
Executive Office of Transportation and Construction
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Highway Administration
Massachusetts Governor's Committee on Physical
Fitness and Sports
Massachusetts Governor's Highway Safety Bureau
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board
Massachusetts Highway Department
MassPike
Massport
MBTA
MDC
MDED
MEPA
MHC
MOBD
MOTT
MRTAB
MSOL
MWRA
MPOs
NHI
NHTSA
PPDU
RMV
RPAs
RTAs
RTC s
TDM
TMA
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
Massachusetts Port Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Metropolitan District Commission
Massachusetts Department of Economic Development
Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act Unit
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel
Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board
Massachusetts Safety Officers League
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
National Highway Institute
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Public-Private Development Unit (MassHighway)
Registry of Motor Vehicles
Regional Planning Agencies
Regional Transit Authorities
Regional Tourism Commissions
Transportation Demand Management
Transportation Management Association
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
1.0
Coordination/Implementation
1.1
Continued Coordination
Purpose: Ensure coordinated action at all
levels.
Continue to coordinate with FHWA, NHTSA,
GHSB, Massachusetts Department of Public
Health, State Police, Registry of Motor
Vehicles, the Massachusetts Safety Officers
League, and others in all pedestrian-related
programs.
EOTC, MassHighway, GHSB, Other State
Agencies, RPAs/MPOs, RTAs, cities and towns,
and other interests
1.2
Regional and Local Pedestrian Advisory
Groups
Purpose: Advise on pedestrian issues.
Establish regional and local pedestrian
advisory groups/committees to provide input on
local and regional planning and initiatives to
improve walking.
RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns
1.3
Massachusetts Pedestrian Advisory
Committee
Purpose: Advise on pedestrian issues.
Explore establishing a Massachusetts
Pedestrian Advisory Committee in accordance
with the recommendation in the State
Intermodal Transportation Policy Plan. Draw
upon broad expertise including citizens and
agencies, including the Partners in Highway
Safety Committee.
General Court, MassHighway, and multiple
agencies
1.4
Continue Pedestrian Safety Initiatives
Purpose: Continue and expand Walk Alert
initiatives to address pedestrian safety in
a decade-long context.
Continue to use the Partners in Highway Safety
Committee as a forum to address pedestrian
safety issues. Develop awareness programs for
the general public (pedestrians and motorists).
Continue and expand the Walk Alert program
of information cards and reflector tags. Consider
additional local and regional applications of
this program.
GHSB, MassHighway, Other State Agencies,
Private Sector Organizations, RPAs/MPOs,
RTAs, cities and towns
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-3
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
2.0
Planning
2.1
Regional/Local Walkway Inventory
Purpose: Develop data needed to plan
pedestrian facilities and fill gaps.
Recommendation
Encourage regional and local agencies to
inventory their walking infrastructure.
Coordinate and provide assistance to cities and
towns as part of regional Unified Planning
Work Programs.
Agency Roles
RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns, MassHighway,
DEM, MDC
Compile data in RPAs, MassHighway and
MassGIS geographic information systems.
2.2
Regional and Local Priority List
Purpose: Direct investments in the
walkway system strategically.
Identify high priority needs for pedestrian
walkway improvements and missing links in
the system. Target districts for pedestrian
improvements and work with municipalities
and local businesses to make prioritized
improvements.
RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns, local businesses
Incorporate this review into the TIP process as
appropriate.
2.3
Identify Walkway Priorities for the
Federal, State, and Local Transportation
System
Purpose: Establish a system to reasonably
accommodate pedestrians in all
applicable transportation projects.
Identify potential walkway improvements as
part of transportation project planning and
development by state and local agencies, transit
authorities, and other jurisdictions. Identify
opportunities to fill gaps and provide linkages
to walk between destinations along
improved/reconstructed roadways where
feasible. Review transit facility construction
and improvement projects for opportunities to
improve pedestrian access.
MassHighway, MDC, RPAs/MPOs, MBTA and
RTAs, cities and towns
Incorporate this review into the TIP/STIP
process as appropriate.
10-4
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
2.4
Improve Coordination of Accident
Reporting Systems
Purpose: Maximize usefulness of
individual efforts by cross-referencing.
Develop a system for cross-referencing Registry
accident report data with the Uniform
Hospital Patient Discharge database. Improve
the reporting in the hospital discharge
database to include injuries handled on an
outpatient-basis.
GHSB, RMV, DPH
2.5
Accident Data Collection and Analysis
Purpose: Improve capability to target
safety improvements to most urgent
locations.
Continue to improve the accident data reporting
system, including modifications to make the
reporting form more suited to computerized
information systems, distinct categories for
pedestrian location, pedestrian action, and
check box for "unknown" age. Develop system
for on-going data reporting and distribution.
MassHighway, RMV, GHSB, cities and towns,
state and local police
Train state and local police to complete
accident reports accurately (including sitespecific data and conditions) and submit to
RMV. Once new reporting system is in place use
improved data to better locate pedestrian
accidents. Target engineering, enforcement, and
education countermeasures to priority locations
and system users.
2.6
Analyze Pedestrian Data
Purpose: Improve capability to track
progress towards goals and evaluate
opportunities and need.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Analyze the 1997 NPTS add-on survey for
pedestrian mode shares and use it to track
trends. Develop baseline walking activity data
and share with regions and municipalities.
Encourage RPAs/MPOs to do more detailed
analysis.
MassHighway, RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns
10-5
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
2.7
Pedestrian Counts
Purpose: Improve capability to track
progress towards goals, evaluate
opportunities and need, and estimate
demand.
Include pedestrian counts as part of traffic data
collection efforts as appropriate. Encourage
local efforts to quantify pedestrian activity in
key locations. Develop and maintain state,
regional and local resource data libraries.
Include in regional Unified Planning Work
Programs. Key locations may include important
downtown locations, transit stations, multi-use
trails, town centers, educational institutions,
etc.
Cities and towns, RPAs/MPOs, MassHighway,
RTAs, DEM, MDC, private sector
transportation planners and engineers
2.8
Distinct Pedestrian Focus
Purpose: Give pedestrian mode separate
attention and provide specific
improvements.
Plan and promote pedestrian improvements
distinct from bicycle improvements except in
cases where facilities can serve a dual purpose.
RPAs/MPOs, MassHighway, cities and towns
2.9
Regional and Local Path Systems
Purpose: Use paths to serve the pedestrian
transportation system.
Develop linked regional and local path systems
using both sidewalk and trail components.
(Example: Cape Cod Pathways program.)
RPAs/MPOs, MassHighway, cities and towns,
DEM, MDC
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should
prepare a State Trails Plan. This plan will
include an evaluation of corridors within the
state that can serve as paths, including river,
aqueduct, railroad, canal and utility rights-ofway. This plan is another resource that will
identify potential pedestrian walkways.
EOEA, DEM, MDC, MWRA, RPAs/MPOs,
MRTAB, cities and towns.
2.10 State Trails Plan
Purpose: Address paths and trails in
addition to sidewalks, as important
components of the walkway network.
10-6
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
3.0
Engineering (Physical Improvements and Land Use Recommendations)
3.1
Develop Guidance for Reasonably
Accommodating Pedestrians in all
Applicable Projects
Purpose: Improve pedestrian
accommodation through project planning
and design.
Prepare specific planning and design guidance
for reasonably accommodating pedestrians in
applicable transportation projects.
EOTC, MassHighway, MDC, cities and towns
3.2
Pedestrian Accommodation in Projects
Subject to Local Review
Purpose: Address pedestrian
accommodation in local review of projects.
Adopt and apply criteria that address
pedestrian access, circulation and safety subject
to local special permit and site plan review.
Cities and towns, RPAs/MPOs
Continue Pedestrian Accommodation
through State Project Review
Purpose: Address pedestrian
accommodation in state review of projects.
Revision of joint review criteria is in progress by
EOEA/MEPA for review of highways and other
major projects requiring EIR/EIS review. As
necessary, develop additional criteria for
existing review processes to better address
pedestrian safety and mobility.
3.3
RPAs/MPOs may provide technical assistance
and model language for local use.
EOEA/MEPA, MDC
Address pedestrian circulation in the
Environmental Notification Form.
3.4
Set a Goal to Build More Walkways and
Track Progress
Purpose: Encourage and track ongoing
efforts to extend the walkway network.
Encourage establishment of a memorable and
achievable goal for new sidewalks and paths
over the next decade, for example "1,000 miles
of new walkways." Track cumulative progress
each year. (The majority of these additions
will come through local projects, but new
sidewalks and paths built by state agencies
should also be counted.)
Cities and towns, MassHighway, MDC, DEM,
other state agencies, RPAs/MPOs
Publicize efforts and map the results.
Coordinate with the inventory program.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-7
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
3.5
Improve Targeted Areas
Purpose: Improve and extend the walkway
network.
Recommendation
Target and improve areas with high pedestrian
activity, such as downtown shopping districts,
commercial strips, and residential
neighborhoods for walkway improvements.
Also target areas with high pedestrian use by
youth, elders and people with disabilities.
Agency Roles
Cities and towns, business and other groups
Seek opportunities in these areas to provide
traffic control measures, new and improved
walkways, and other opportunities to make
walking more safe and convenient.
3.6
Expand Downtowns and Town Centers
Purpose: Extend existing areas with the
density and mix of land uses to encourage
walking.
Target locations for new development and
redevelopment that will expand/strengthen
existing downtowns and town centers to support
more walking. Use zoning to permit and provide
incentives for development in or adjacent to
these existing pedestrian-oriented places.
Encourage locating local businesses closer to
residential areas.
Cities and towns, RPAs/MPOs
3.7
Adopt Pedestrian-Oriented Development
Regulations
Purpose: Guide new development to
accommodate and encourage pedestrian
travel.
Adopt or amend town zoning maps and
development regulations to encourage building
and development practices that improve the
pedestrian conditions and shift auto trips to
walking trips. RPAs may provide technical
assistance to localities.
Cities and towns, RPAs/MPOs
3.8
Improve Walking Access to Transit
Purpose: Encourage and better
accommodate walking to and from transit
to reduce single-occupant vehicle use and
cold engine starts.
Coordinate with local officials to provide
improved pedestrian access, including paths
and trails where appropriate, to existing and
new stations and bus stops. Evaluate walk
access opportunities within a quarter mile of bus
stops and half mile of rapid transit or commuter
rail stations. Develop "spot" walkway
improvement programs, and encourage
station/stop users to report needed repairs.
MBTA, RTAs, Cities and Towns, MDC, DEM,
RPAs/MPOs
10-8
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
Coordinate with local officials to ensure
pedestrian access to park and ride lots in
locations where residents live within a half
mile of facilities.
MassHighway, MassPike, Massport, cities and
towns
3.10 Improve Pedestrian Circulation and
Waiting Areas at Transit Facilities
Purpose: Encourage and better
accommodate walking to and from transit.
Upgrade waiting facilities at transit and park
and ride facilities. Provide pedestrian scale
signage for bus stops with schedule, route, and
fare information provided. Develop clear
pedestrian routes from parking lots to
platforms. Evaluate bus stop locations in
relation to local land uses and walkway
connections, and add or relocate as necessary.
MBTA, RTAs, Massport, MassPike, MDC,
RPAs/MPOs, Cities and Towns
3.11 Technical Assistance
Purpose: Continue to provide existing state
and regional expertise to local efforts to
improve walking conditions.
Continue to provide technical assistance on
pedestrian transportation issues and
pedestrian-oriented development to cities and
towns. Include issues such as the impact of
traffic control devices on walking.
Research Organizations, RPAs/MPOs, MDC,
DEM, Cities and Towns
3.12 Investigate Innovative Pedestrian Projects
Purpose: Investigate and evaluate design
and engineering approaches that are
effective in Massachusetts.
Collect experience from successful past efforts
and investigate potential implementation
mechanisms and funding sources. Coordinate
with transportation agencies, municipalities,
and others to identify potential projects, such
as: enhanced crosswalk marking, lighting, and
warning system for pedestrian crossings of state
highways; shoulder and pavement treatments
that accommodate pedestrians and bicycles
with little or no environmental impact; and
signal phasing options at high volume
intersections, providing increased pedestrian
cycle time and/or shorter waiting time.
MassHighway, MDC, DEM, RPAs/MPOs, cities
and towns, Research Organizations
3.9
Improve Walking Access to Park and Ride
Facilities
Purpose: Provide walk access opportunities
to existing and new park and ride lots.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-9
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
3.13 Designate and Improve Walk to School
Routes
Purpose: Provide safe walk-to-school
routes.
Develop planning guidance for more walkable
schools. Address new schools and retrofit
improvements to improve walking access to
existing schools. Explore the need for walk-toschool plans and maps.
Local school boards/committees, local police,
RPAs/MPOs, GHSB, DOE
3.14 Schools Siting and Access
Purpose: Encourage and accommodate safe
walking to school.
Consider school sites that provide walking
access to as much of school districts as possible.
Cities and towns, local school
boards/committees, EOEA/MEPA Unit, DOE
3.15 Trail Design and Operations
Purpose: Develop guidance for trails that
accommodate multiple non-motorized
modes.
Develop performance standards for levels of
trail use that require design and engineering
treatments to improve pedestrian circulation.
DEM, MDC, RPAs/MPOs, Cities and Towns
3.16 Trails and Greenways for Transportation
Purpose: Utilize opportunities to serve
transportation needs through trail
planning and design.
Review trail and greenway projects for
opportunities to provide needed transportation
links. Work with local planning departments to
develop projects that increase pedestrian
mobility and provide local transportation on
trails. Develop networks of connector trails
that provide off-road infrastructure connecting
important destinations.
RPAs/MPOs, DEM, DEP/Waterways, MDC,
MRTAB, Cities and Towns
3.17 Business Improvement Districts
Purpose: Provide new mechanism to
improve local walkable centers.
Establish business improvement districts (BIDs)
to provide needed streetscape, sidewalk, and
facade improvements. In accordance with
Chapter 40 MGL enabling legislation, passed in
1994 , local organizations and municipalities
can establish BIDs and use them to plan local
improvements and promotions. BIDs provide a
mechanism to collect extra tax assessments on
property within the district and spend the
funds on local improvements.
Cities and towns, Massachusetts Office of
Business Development, Department of Housing
and Community Development, local business
organizations
10-10
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
4.0
Encouragement
4.1
Develop a Pedestrian Transportation
Awareness and Encouragement Publicity
Program
Purpose: Publicize walking as a viable
mode for short trips.
Initiate statewide walking encouragement
efforts in partnership with other state agencies
and private organizations. Potential programs
include: Statewide safety-specific public
service announcements (with GHSB); fitness
promotions with shoe company and/or HMO
sponsorship (with DPH and Governor's Council
on Fitness); Walkable Massachusetts tourism
promotion (with MOTT). Develop workplace
programs for walkers and drivers with Caravan
and TMAs. Sponsor safety-oriented public
service announcements, print advertisements,
safety kiosks for use in targeted areas such as
busy downtown and town centers, and "safety
pages" on the World Wide Web.
GHSB, MOTT, DPH, DPS, regional and local
agencies, Caravan for Commuters,
transportation management associations, and
other private partners.
4.2
Regional Promotions
Purpose: Promote walking-oriented
tourism statewide, based on Massachusetts
walkable areas.
Work in conjunction with RTCs to promote
historic town centers, downtown areas, and
other cultural and natural attractions.
Encourage local residents to be a part of tourism
initiatives by accessing local attractions on
foot.
MOTT, regional tourism councils
4.3
Fitness Campaign
Purpose: Promote walking statewide as a
means to both fitness and transportation.
Co-sponsor a "Walking for Fitness" campaign,
with a shoe company and health plan
participation. Offer discounts on new walking
shoes and provide incentives for business that
encourage employees to walk at lunch time.
Link to trails and park facilities where
possible.
GCPFS, MDPH, DEM, MDC, businesses, and
TMAs
4.4
Foster Communication Among Local Efforts
Purpose: Encourage local sharing of ideas.
Create a communication network for pedestrian
committees and organizations, using Internet,
newsletters, and/or regional and statewide
meetings and conferences.
Research organizations, GHSB, RPAs/MPOs,
DEM
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-11
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
4.5
Awards Program
Purpose: Recognize and encourage local
efforts to improve walking.
Develop an awards program recognizing
walkable communities, safety improvements,
walkway improvement projects and pedestrian
initiatives.
Appropriate public and/or private agencies
4.6
Facilitate Local Initiatives
Purpose: Encourage local walking
improvement efforts.
Encourage support of local walking initiatives
and promotional efforts through private sector
participation, partnerships, and efforts by
transportation management associations and
other groups.
Massachusetts companies, business associations,
local merchants, transportation management
associations, local media, downtown
partnerships, cities and towns, RPAs/MPOs,
EOEA, DEM
4.7
Walking Events
Purpose: Raise walking awareness and
involvement locally.
Develop and promote walking events on
different weekends around the region. Events
could include nature walks or historic walks
that begin and end in walkable business
districts. Organized walks could be combined
with town day events, seasonal festivals and
local business district sidewalk sales and craft
fairs.
Cities and towns, local business interests,
neighborhood organizations, MOTT/RTCs,
MDC, local media
4.8
Walk Your Child To School Day
Purpose: Raise walking awareness locally
and teach children to walk safely.
Designate a "Walk Your Child to School Day"
to raise awareness of walking routes to local
schools and safe walking. Coordinate with
school curriculum on safety and social sciences
(observe local geography, land uses,
transportation, and economic activity on the
way). Develop a lesson plan "starter kit"
teachers can use to develop transportation and
community planning lessons. Involve police
officers in "Walk Your Child to School"
promotions to provide safety education and
enhance visibility and importance of the
program.
Local school boards/committees,
parent/teacher organizations, GHSB, police
departments, local media, DOE
10-12
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
Host neighborhood walking events to encourage
fitness, increase sense of community, increased
security. Walks could be scheduled at night, on
the weekends, after school, or at other times to
provide opportunities for people with varied
schedules to get out and meet the neighbors who
are home at similar times.
Neighborhood groups, cities and towns, crime
watch committees, police departments, local
media
4.10 List of Successful Programs
Purpose: Provide resource for local action
and sharing of ideas.
Inventory of successful pedestrian safety
programs currently being used in local
communities in Massachusetts. Publicize
successful programs and lessons learned and
make them available for other communities to
implement. Distribute Community Resource
Walking Guide and extend it into a catalogue
of programs.
GHSB, RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns
4.11 "On-Foot" Promotions
Purpose: Provide incentive for people to
walk.
Develop "on-foot" promotions for customers who
walk to shops in business districts and thereby
help to provide parking relief. Business could
offer discounts or other incentives for people
who visit multiple shops by foot. Programs
could be coordinated with Main Street
revitalization programs.
Business groups, cities and towns, local media
4.12 Provide Technical Assistance for Local
Walking Promotions
Purpose: Lend state and regional expertise
to cities and towns. Encourage walking
programs and events at the local level.
Develop programs and program guides for local
encouragement and education. Provide to
cities/towns, chambers of commerce, convention
and tourist bureaus to use to promote pedestrian
transportation and safety. Provide technical
assistance to local efforts to promote walking.
RPAs/MPOs, GHSB, RTCs, cities and towns,
chambers of commerce, research organizations
4.13 Employer Walk to Work Incentives
Purpose: include walking in trip reduction
efforts through private employers and
Transportation Management Associations.
Develop employer incentives to promote walkto-work in connection with the MassHighway
Transportation Demand Management and
Ridesharing Programs, DOER Green Voucher
program, and other transportation management
initiatives.
TDM/TMA Program, DEP, DOER,
MassHighway, CARAVAN, business groups
4.9
Neighborhood Walks
Purpose: Raise walking awareness and
involvement locally.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-13
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
4.14 Historic Walk Guide
Purpose: Encourage walking.
Provide information on historic walks
throughout the state to encourage walking trips
for residents and visitors. Feature walks in
regional tourist guides.
MOTT, RTCs, MHC, regional and local
historical organizations, chambers of commerce,
other organizations
4.15 Walk to Transit Atlas
Purpose: Encourage walk to transit for
residents and visitors; support walking
tourism.
Develop and publish a GIS-based "Walking
Atlas" to all transit stations in their systems
(the CZM "Coast Guide" is a good model). Area
maps could also be published and linked to the
www.mbta.com World Wide Web site to
provide valuable information to residents and
visitors.
MBTA, RTAs, RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns
4.16 Shopping Guide Book
Purpose: Encourage walking and shopping
in downtown and town center districts.
Prepare a "Shopping on Foot" guide book to
walkable retail districts throughout the state.
Publicize walkable shopping districts and
annual or seasonal sidewalk sales in regional
tourist publications.
Local business interests, local media,
RPAs/MPOs, RTCs
4.17 Walk and Bike to School Maps
Purpose: Encourage safe walking to school.
Develop local walk and bike to school maps in
conjunction with walking and bicycling safety
programs. Distribute maps to families with
young children to teach them the safest routes
to school.
Local school boards/committees,
parent/teacher organizations, GHSB, local
police safety officers
4.18 Walk to Transit Incentives
Purpose: Provide incentive to walk to
transit.
Develop partnerships with local retail
businesses to provide incentives for people to
walk to and use transit. Programs could operate
by handing out coupons at stations, providing
discounts to transit users, and/or cooperative
advertising promotions. Develop and distribute
promotional information on the benefits of
combining walking and transit.
MBTA, RTAs, local businesses, local media,
cities and towns
10-14
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
4.19 Health Benefits of Walking
Purpose: Provide greater public awareness
and motivation.
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommendation
Develop a public information and education
booklet detailing the benefits of walking,
particularly the health benefits. It would
include information on personal walking
programs, ways to reduce risk of injury,
equipment choices, and personal and public
benefits of walking.
Agency Roles
GCPFS
10-15
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
5.0
Education & Training
5.1
Professional Training and Education
Purpose: Impart state of the practice
planning and engineering techniques to
professionals involved in improving
conditions for walking.
Sponsor and run professional education courses
and training programs. Target audiences: public
works directors, regional and local planning
officials, regional transit authority personnel,
MassHighway transportation professionals,
and consultants. Examples are recent Bicycle/
Pedestrian Crash Reconstruction Training
Program, NHI Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety
and Accommodation course, courses in traffic
speed mitigation, walkway design, and land
use planning and development and other topics
to support walking.
Research organizations, GHSB, MDC, DEM,
RPAs/MPOs, cities and towns,
5.2
Pedestrian Oriented Training for Local
Police Officers and School Crossing
Guards
Purpose: Impart state of the practice
enforcement and education techniques to
law enforcement officers.
Training for local law enforcement officers
should include a component on pedestrian safety
and address importance of accident reporting
accuracy. An improved training program might
also include techniques for becoming an on-street
source of safety education for the public.
Encourage police patrols on foot and bicycle.
Local police departments, MSOL, GHSB
5.3
Safety Education Program For Elders
Purpose: Improve walking safety
awareness and skills targeted specifically
to this group.
Develop safety education program for elders
and provide to senior centers and organizations.
GHSB, local senior centers, councils on aging,
local police departments/MSOL, MDPH,
GCPFS
5.4
Safety Education Program For School-Age
Children
Purpose: Improve walking safety
awareness and skills targeted specifically
to this group.
Create a safety education program with a
variety of materials and curriculum units for use
by local safety officers, school teachers, and
parents in educating school-age children on
pedestrian safety.
DOE, local schools, local police departments,
DPH, GHSB, GCPFS, MSOL
10-16
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
5.5
Reduce Alcohol Related Vehicular and
Pedestrian Injuries
Purpose: Raise awareness about the role of
alcohol in accidents involving pedestrians.
Publicize statewide campaign to reduce alcohol
related accidents. Address and publicize the
issue of alcohol-impaired pedestrians.
GHSB, DPH, state and local police
5.6
New Driver Training
Purpose: Develop good habits in new
generations of drivers.
Enhance the handbook for new drivers to
emphasize driver's responsibility for
pedestrian safety. Emphasize pedestrian
safety in drivers license written and operating
examinations. Operating examiners should test
driver response to pedestrian crossing
situations. Provide local schools and police and
private driver training schools with Driver
Education materials emphasizing pedestrians.
RMV, GHSB, local police departments
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan
10-17
Recommended Actions
Opportunity/Need
Recommendation
Agency Roles
6.0
Enforcement
6.1
Enforce "Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk"
Law
Purpose: Emphasize appropriate walking
and driving at designated crossings.
Enforce the MGL 89:11 - "Yielding ROW to
Pedestrians" in areas of jurisdiction [See
Appendix D]. Publicize and carry out
concentrated enforcement operations to issue
warnings and/or tickets to vehicle operators
who fail to yield and to pedestrians who
violate laws.
Local police departments, State Police
6.2
Target Enforcement Zones for Traffic Speed
and Safe Walking
Purpose: Increase effectiveness and public
awareness of enforcement programs
addressing both pedestrians and motorists.
Identify areas where regulations for motor
vehicles and pedestrians will be strictly
enforced. Use signage and curb marking to alert
motorists and pedestrians. Phase in pedestrian
rule enforcement, first issuing warnings and
providing educational materials; once program
has been publicized issue fines to violators.
State and local police departments
6.3
Fines for Pedestrians
Purpose: Improve enforcement tools
available to local police officers.
Recommend to the Legislature an amendment to
Chap 90, Section 18-A [see Appendix D] to
increase fines that police officers can impose on
pedestrians from current $1.00 to a higher
amount.
GHSB, General Court, EOPS, police
organizations
10-18
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan