City of Boston, MBTA Release Updated Design Proposal for Transformative Blue Hill Avenue Project

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The City of Boston and the MBTA shared an updated design for the Blue Hill Avenue project — a generational investment benefitting residents, visitors, workers, and businesses along one of Boston's busiest corridors.

The updated proposal reflects years of public engagement and incorporates significant changes in response to community feedback on the previous version of the design, including maintaining at least two general travel lanes in the majority of the corridor, a net increase in parking, including local parking solutions for high-demand areas like Morning Star Baptist Church. The updated design also reflects additional investment in Blue Hill Ave's streetscape, with 6 miles of new sidewalks, 200 new accessible curb ramps, entirely new street lighting, and 200 new street trees.

"Community input has been critical to shaping a design that responds to the needs of the neighborhoods along Blue Hill Avenue. We look forward to getting the public's input on these design details for a transformational investment in the beautification, safety and reliability of transportation, and infrastructure supporting small businesses along this key residential and commercial corridor," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "We are grateful to our partners at the MBTA and to every resident, small business, and community member who has helped guide this process. This is a true once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver on improvements that will enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for our residents, small businesses, and community."

"This important project in partnership with the City will deliver much-needed improvements to the residents and businesses along the Blue Hill Avenue corridor," said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. "We have heard from the public about how important improving safety, pedestrian crossings, traffic signals, parking, sidewalks, and much more are to this community, and we look forward to more public engagement at the upcoming Town Halls and Open Houses. The updated plan balances enhancements for roadway users, pedestrians, and buses, and we are dedicated to ensuring we continue to listen to the public's feedback as the project progresses. We will continue to work with our City partners on this design so that Blue Hill Avenue becomes the safer, accessible, more comfortable corridor for all who live, work, and play here."

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The investment includes center-running bus-only lanes to improve travel times for the 40,000 daily bus riders who travel on Blue Hill Ave and ease congestion for all road users. The design also includes a two-way, sidewalk-level bike path on the west side of Blue Hill Ave, separated from traffic, to provide neighborhood cyclist connections to Franklin Park.

At upcoming community meetings from September 10 through September 30, the City and MBTA officials will present the updated design, creating additional opportunities for residents, businesses, community organizations and elected officials to review the details, ask questions and continue shaping the project.

The Blue Hill Avenue Investment will bring long-overdue improvements to the corridor between Mattapan Square and Grove Hall, which connects Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury with Downtown Boston. More than half of all people traveling on Blue Hill Avenue throughout the day are bus riders, with 10 bus routes serving more than 40,000 riders and more than 20,000 people who start or end their bus trips in the corridor. To date, the project has secured more than $124 million in local, State and federal funding. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028.

"No amount of planning or design can succeed without doing the groundwork and listening to the community. Blue Hill Avenue is one of the busiest corridors in our City, serving pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, transit riders, residents and local businesses every day," said Chris Osgood, City of Boston Interim Chief of Streets. "The design reflects years of community feedback, and this next phase is an opportunity to get into the details, hear from residents again, and ensure this investment responds to the needs of everyone who relies on this vital corridor."

The later design incorporates community feedback and reflects changes in three key areas: beautification, safety and reliability and support for small businesses. During the upcoming community meetings, City and MBTA officials will review the project block-by-block, answer questions and gather additional feedback from residents and stakeholders.

"This updated design for Blue Hill Ave represents a generational opportunity to finally deliver for our neighborhoods," said State Representative Russell Holmes. "I'm thankful to Mayor Wu, General Manager Eng, and the teams at the City and MBTA for their work to incorporate residents' feedback and refine the design. I look forward to the upcoming community meetings that will help make the design of this critical project even better."

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The redesign features for the Blue Hill Avenue Investment include:
  • 6 Miles of Rebuilt New Sidewalks
  • 200 New Street Trees
  • New Sidewalk-Level Bike Path to Franklin Park
  • All New Street Lights
  • More Parking Spaces than Today
  • Restored General Travel Lanes
  • Fully Reconstructed Road
  • Bus Lanes that Benefit 40,000 Riders

Parking
  • Updated design has more parking than what's available today
  • Bus stops are moved away from curbs
  • Use of rush hour regulations balances parking and travel lane needs
  • Unique solutions at high-use locations, such as Happy Supermarket, Morning Star Baptist Church, Mattapan Square, and Mother Caroline Academy

Traffic Flow
  • More than 70% of the corridor will have 2+ general travel lanes in each direction
  • Some areas with overall low traffic volume have only 1 general travel lane while preserving space for the tree-planted center median, turning lanes, and/or parking

Bus Stops
  • Center-running bus lanes will provide a 10-15 min reduction in travel time for the 28 bus between Mattapan Square and Grove Hall
  • Additional benefits for people taking the 22, 29, 31 & other buses.

Pedestrian Safety
  • The project includes a complete sidewalk reconstruction along the entire corridor, with nearly 200 new accessible curb ramps
  • It adds 19 new signals for more frequent opportunities for pedestrians to safely cross, minimizing crossing time for safety and traffic flow

Streetscape
  • Nearly 200 new trees will provide shade, cooling, and cleaner air
  • All new lighting will make sidewalks brighter and safer

Bike Improvements
  • Shared-use, sidewalk-level walking & biking path along Franklin Park
  • Two-way, sidewalk-level bike path from American Legion Highway to Woodhaven St on west side

Next steps

Upcoming community meetings will focus on the updated, block-by-block design. Participants will be able to provide feedback on local conditions, including parking, travel lanes, bus stops, pedestrian crossings, streetscape improvements and business access.

Additional information on meeting dates, locations and materials will be shared by the City of Boston and the MBTA's website. The roll plan can be found online.
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