MassDOT implements policies to increase walk, bike, and transit travel

By Eric Sundquist
In support of its goal to triple walking, biking and transit travel by 2030, the Massachusetts DOT has issued a Healthy Transportation Policy Initiative with several implementation steps.
Among the actions required by the document:

  • All MassDOT-funded projects must seek to increase pedestrian, bicycle, and transit trips. Levels of service for these modes should improve but must not be degraded by projects.
  • All highway, transit, and aeronautic projects that are not yet under way must be reviewed by Jan. 1 and potentially redesigned to ensure non-auto modes are adequately addressed.
  • Where land uses suggest high non-auto travel demand, MassDOT projects should include features such as wider sidewalks, street trees, landscaped buffers, benches, lighting, frequent crossing opportunities, and strong intermodal connectivity to transit.
  • Staff designing bikeways may refer to standards and concepts in the NACTO guide, as well as the AASHTO bicycle guide and MassDOT’s own engineering guidance.

The Health Transportation Policy Initiative and mode-shift goals are part of MassDOT’s GreenDOT initiative, an even wider policy initiative aimed at providing sustainable transport.
Eric Sundquist is Managing Director of SSTI.