Retime signals to allow safer street crossing
The resident asks to retime traffic signals to give people more crossing time, prioritizing the widest and most dangerous streets, since many intersections are too fast for families, seniors and people with disabilities.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Retime traffic signals to give more time for people to cross the street. Allow people to cross partway on boulevards when cars are stopped in one of the directions. Prioritize the widest streets and most dangerous locations.
Who it helps and why
Many intersections give inadequate time for families, seniors, and people with disabilities to cross. Boston is a walking city and should prioritize safe crossing for all people, not just the average or fastest moving.
Details
- Cycle
- 2026–27
- Submitted
- July 6, 2026
- 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.
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
2024–25 (37 matching)
- Expand bike lanes to underserved neighborhoodsResident asks for bike lanes connecting lower-income communities and communities of color to existing networks in Downtown and Back Bay, offering a cheaper commute and more foot traffic.2024–25City-wide
- Make Boston more bike friendlyResident asks for a more bike-friendly Boston with fewer cars, noting biking can be faster than the train for their commute.2024–25City-wide
- App to report drivers endangering pedestriansResident proposes a BOS311-style app for submitting photos and videos of drivers endangering pedestrians so police can fine or charge them, citing unsafe crossings and road rage.2024–25City-wide