ADA-accessible Comm Ave Mall crossings
Resident asks to reduce vehicle crossings of the Comm Ave Mall and add raised crosswalks so the park path is accessible to all pedestrians and ADA compliant.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
The Comm Ave Mall should be accessible for all pedestrians by reducing unnecessary vehicle crossings (i.e., several crossings between Mass Ave and Berkeley) and adding raised crosswalks where crossing needed to the path accessible to all.
Who it helps and why
The crossings between segments of the Comm Ave Mall are not ADA compliant 30 years after passage. Instead, City policy has prioritized many cut throughs for road traffic despite this being one of the key parks in the City. It is unjust for the City to decide not to comply with the ADA: all pedestrians deserve to be able to move about our City, particularly in parks, which ought to be spaces of rest and comfort, not stress and fear.
Details
- Cycle
- 2026–27
- Submitted
- August 7, 2026
- Neighborhood
- Back Bay
- Place
- Commonwealth Ave., Boston
- Portal category
- Streets & Sidewalks
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
Ideas in Pedestrian & bike safety from Back Bay in the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2025–26 (4 matching)
- Close Dartmouth St during Open Newbury StreetResident proposes a pilot closing Dartmouth Street between Copley Square and the BPL on Open Newbury Street days because of heavy foot traffic and driving alternatives.2025–26Back Bay
- Protected bike lane on Mass AveResident asks for a protected bike lane on Massachusetts Avenue to keep people who cannot afford cars from being killed.2025–26Back Bay
- Year-round Sunday Open Newbury StreetResident asks the city to extend Open Newbury Street to a year-round Sunday event, funding road closure barriers and operating costs, to improve outdoor mobility and business opportunities.2025–26Back Bay
2024–25 (8 matching)
- Protected bike connection on Dartmouth StreetThe resident asks for a bike-friendly connection between the Charles River Esplanade and the Southwest Corridor on Dartmouth Street, since existing lanes are unprotected and one-directional.2024–25Back Bay
- Raised crosswalks on Comm Ave mallResident asks for raised crosswalks between each block of the Commonwealth Avenue mall to make it more accessible and pedestrian friendly.2024–25Back Bay
- Physically protect Mass Ave east-side bike laneResident asks for physical separation of the unprotected bike lane on the east side of Mass Ave, which cars constantly park in.2024–25Back Bay