METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Boston transportation plan touts 58 projects to improve mobility

Plan includes policies for restructured bus routes, autonomous vehicles and development of 'microhubs' with access to bike- and carshare options.

March 7, 2017
Boston transportation plan touts 58 projects to improve mobility

Go Boston 2030 image via Facebook

3 min to read


Go Boston 2030 image via Facebook

The City of Boston's newly released transportation plan is comprised of 58 transportation projects and policies that are designed to expand access to a variety of connected transportation options, improve traffic-related safety on Boston's streets, and ensure reliability of service for the City's residents, commuters and visitors. The Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan, unveiled by Mayor Martin J. Walsh today, highlights projects already underway and presents a blueprint for the City to direct its capital plan funding.

The "Top Policies and Projects" of the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan include:

Top Policies

Ad Loading...
  • Vision Zero Safety Initiatives - continue to implement innovative measures to reduce traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries due to crashes on Boston's local streets.

  • State of Good Repair - investments by the City to repair and maintain Boston's roadways and bridges for the decades ahead.

  • Restructure Bus Routes - work with the MBTA and local communities to develop a new network of bus routes that better match the travel needs of Bostonians.

  •  Autonomous Vehicles - develop policies to prepare for self-driving vehicles and support on-street testing of autonomous vehicles.


Top Projects:

Ad Loading...
  • Walking and Bicycle Friendly Main Street Districts - improve access into and around Boston's neighborhood commercial districts for people traveling on foot and by bike.

  • Fairmount Line Service Improvements and Urban Rail - provide improved connections for Dorchester and Mattapan with an increase to the frequency of service and better payment systems, and then introduce new rail cars to create a rapid transit line.

  •  Columbia Road Greenway - create a neighborhood friendly street for those walking, biking, or traveling by bus along this corridor, that connects to Franklin and Moakley Parks.

  • Neighborhood Mobility microHUBs - develop prominent neighborhood access points to help residents select from a range of connected travel choices including subway, bus, bike-share and car-share.

  • Smart Signal Corridors and Districts - program traffic lights to work together to facilitate movement in congested parts of the City.

Ad Loading...
  • Mattapan to LMA Rapid Bus - design high-quality stops, signal priority, all-door boarding, and some exclusive lanes to create direct access from Mattapan and Southwest Dorchester to jobs and medical care in Roxbury, Mission Hill, and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area.

  • North Station to South Boston Waterfront Rapid Bus and Ferry - introduce direct bus service in exclusive lanes between the Seaport and northern commuter rail in tandem with ferry service. 

Five thousand ideas were submitted to the City during the first round of the public engagement process, helping to set the project's goals and metrics. Moving forward from goals to specific projects, the public submitted another 3,500 policy and project ideas. After analyzing these ideas, nearly 4,000 Boston residents and others helped to prioritize them by voting for their top choices of projects.

Several Go Boston 2030 projects are already underway and are having a positive impact on the City's streets, including:

    -Vision Zero
    -Neighborhood Slow Streets
    -ParkBoston
    -Performance Pricing Parking Meter Pilot Program
    -Boston's Safest Driver Contest
    -Autonomous Vehicle Testing
    -DriveBoston car-share Program
    -Expansion of Hubway bike-share Program
    -Installation of protected bike lanes.

Information on all of these programs can be found at www.boston.gov/transportation.

The Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan provides a blueprint for the City of Boston to direct its capital plan spending and to work with state transportation agencies to begin implementation.

More New Mobility

Gray and white ZAVIR medium-duty shuttle concepts shown side by side with the ZAVIR logo above them.
New Mobility•by Staff and News Reports•October 5, 2026

ENC Unveils ZAVIR Medium-Duty Electric Shuttle

The new ZAVIR brand targets shuttle and paratransit operations with battery-electric and range-extended electric vehicle options.

Read More →
Help Shape the 2027 Public Transit Conference
Management•by Alex Roman•September 29, 2026

Public Transit Conference Returning to GFX in 2027, Call for Papers Now Open

The Call for Papers is now open, allowing transit agency professionals and industry experts to help shape the PTC educational program by submitting session ideas for consideration.

Read More →
Everett Transit and Community Transit buses
Management•by Alex Roman•September 23, 2026

Everett Transit, Community Transit Outline Consolidation Agreement

The proposed agreement calls for a 50% increase in bus service in Everett, a new microtransit zone, continued paratransit service, and the transfer of Everett Transit operations to Community Transit.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A passenger loads a bicycle onto the front bike rack of a VTA transit bus stopped along a city street.
New Mobility•by Elora Haynes•September 22, 2026

What Multimodal Data Can Tell Transit Agencies About Rider Demand

See how bike-on-bus data is giving transit agencies new insight into rider demand, capacity constraints, and gaps in first- and last-mile connections.

Read More →
Luminator Charts a New Digital Path
Technology•by Alex Roman•September 14, 2026

From Hardware to Digital Partner: Luminator Charts Its Next Chapter

CEO Magnus Friberg discusses Luminator’s shift toward becoming a digital partner, the growing importance of software and interoperability, and how AI can help agencies improve operations and passenger experience.

Read More →
Rendering of an Alstom train in a VIA Rail Station
Technology•by Alex Roman•September 10, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A CharterUP branded Holon AV.
Technology•by Alex Roman•August 28, 2026

CharterUP’s Armir Harris on Technology, AI, and the Future of Group Mobility

In a recent episode of METROspectives, CharterUP Founder/CEO Armir Harris discussed the company’s evolution from an online charter bus marketplace into a technology platform supporting public- and private-sector mobility and much more.

Read More →
The Future Hits the Road
Technology•by Alex Roman•August 17, 2026

Jacksonville’s NAVI Project Charts a New Course for Autonomous Public Transportation

Through its NAVI program, JTA is showing how autonomous vehicles, intelligent infrastructure, and coordinated operations can work together to deliver everyday public transportation.

Read More →
Luminator software product example
Technology•by Staff and News Reports•August 14, 2026

Biz Briefs: Luminator Marks Milestone and More

From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro bus and railcar.
New Mobility•by Alex Roman•August 7, 2026

New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick

Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.

Read More →