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Principles
Multimodal Street space will be optimized to balance the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists, and will not be dominated by cars. Road widths will be reduced to the minimum necessary to accommodate pedestrians, vehicular traffic (including bicycles) and on-street parking. Opportunities will be taken to reallocate roadway space once reserved for motor vehicle use to wider sidewalks, bikeways, and plazas where possible.
Boston Transportation Department
Roadways will be designed to protect the environment by reducing stormwater runoff, resulting in less erosion and water pollution. Green street elements will collect and filter stormwater, while simultaneously reducing the amount of pavement and the associated heat island effects. Roadways
Another key principle in roadway design is the desire to regulate speeds to ensure the safety and comfort of all users. Collectively, these principles set a new standard for the design of Boston’s streets.
Green
Smart
III.
The principles below reflect the guiding principles for the design of Boston’s roadways. These principles for roadway design reinforce Boston’s committment to the design of streets that multimodal, green, and smart—the main themes of Boston’s Complete Streets design.
Roadways will take advantage of technological advances that make travel more convenient and safe. Roadway design, signage, and lane allocation will be coordinated with signal timing and intersection design to effective flow of motor vehicles, bicycles, and transit.
Updated as of December 2010
Boston Complete Streets Guidelines
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