Retime pedestrian signals for longer crossing
Asks the city to retime pedestrian signals so walk phases last whenever no vehicle conflict exists, giving people more time to cross and reducing jaywalking.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Pedestrian lights should allow walking whenever there is no legal path for vehicles to conflict. Instead, they often turn red early, which violates section 6.1.1 and is inconvenient. Retime these lights to maximize time for pedestrians to cross.
Who it helps and why
The sidewalks and crossings are the most accessible and equal mode of transportation, available for free for everyone. Correcting the pedestrian crossing timings will give everyone more time to get across, save time waiting, and reduce jaywalking, making streets better for everyone.
Details
- Cycle
- 2024–25
- Submitted
- August 4, 2024
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Streets & Sidewalks
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
- Themes
- Pedestrian & bike safety
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Pedestrian & bike safety from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2026–27 (53 matching)
- Planters at intersection daylighting areasResident proposes planters in striped daylighting zones near crosswalks to stop illegal parking and speeding turns, improving pedestrian safety and adding greenery, especially in minority neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- Murals and pavement art outside BPS schoolsPaint murals and sidewalk or pavement art outside all BPS schools to build school pride and remind drivers to slow down, as a scalable alternative to slow traffic calming.2026–27City-wide
- Pedestrian safety education campaignPromote education about crossing the street safely as a pedestrian, framed as both a public health and public safety issue.2026–27City-wide
2025–26 (23 matching)
- Review traffic light timing and use side-street sensorsResident asks the city to review signal timing and consider sensors on side-street lights to keep main roads moving and reduce idling and air pollution.2025–26City-wide
- Enforcement against texting drivers and crosswalk violationsResident asks for more resources for street safety, such as tracking technology and substantial fines for drivers who text or fail to stop at crosswalks, to protect seniors and children.2025–26City-wide
- Hire more parking enforcement officersResident asks the city to hire more Boston Transportation Department parking enforcement officers because drivers ignore limits, making use of scarce street parking less equitable.2025–26City-wide