COVID-19 Resources
Shared Streets
Repurposing street space to accommodate
increased walking, biking, dining, and retail
As we begin to reopen and public health guidelines continue to encourage physical distancing, how can municipalities repurpose street space to accommodate increased demand for walking, biking, and outdoor retail?
MAPC is helping our municipalities answer that question. We're eager to support our cities and towns in thinking through ways to repurpose street space to allow for safe walking and biking, more efficient bus service, and expanded outdoor dining and retail options. Here are some ways we can be of help:
- Regional visioning and planning
- Collective procurement of materials
- Coordination and sharing best practices
- Technical assistance at the local level
On this page, find resources and grant opportunities for shared streets initiatives. Please reach out with questions and project ideas!
Questions?
If you have questions or would like to work with MAPC on shared streets initiatives, reach out to MAPC Transportation Director Eric Bourassa at ebourassa@mapc.org.
Map of Shared Streets and Spaces in the MAPC Region
Maps: Municipal COVID-19 Street Changes
Resources & Opportunities for Municipalities
Grant Opportunities
MassDevelopment Commonwealth Places: COVID-19 Response Round
Commonwealth Places' COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places aims to help community partners prepare public space and commercial districts to best serve their population during communities’ economic recovery efforts. Eligible projects will comply with the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts plan, and may include outdoor seating spaces, sidewalk retail venues, partitions to support social distancing, and more.
Non-profits and community groups are eligible to apply to MassDevelopment for grant awards of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project may be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020. Learn more here.
MassDOT's Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program
Webinar:
Sharing Our Streets
MAPC held a webinar on Thursday, June 4 on how municipalities can create more space for walking, biking, and outdoor retail. Missed it? You can watch the recording below.
Our speakers included:
- Eric Bourassa, MAPC Director of Transportation
- Brad Rawson, City of Somerville Director of Mobility
- Kate Fichter, MassDOT Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination
- David Loutzenheiser, MAPC Senior Transportation Planner
Procurement
Materials to establish interim roadway projects
Guide to statewide contracts that can be used to facilitate shared streets equipment purchases.
List of vendors that offer materials for shared streets and spaces programs. The listed vendors may or may not be under a Massachusetts Statewide Contract administered by the Operational Services Division. Neither the Metropolitan Area Planning Council nor the Massachusetts Department of Transportation endorse any vendor. This list is provided as a convenience and it is not represented to be a complete of all vendors that provide the materials.
Case Study: Arlington Shared Streets Pilot
A description of a residential shared streets project piloted by the City of Arlington between April 27 and June 1, 2020.