Officials Suggest Improvements to Arborway Crosswalk Near Arboretum

Boston officials are looking at curb extensions and a possible flash beacon in an effort to improve safety at the Arborway crosswalk adjacent to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. 

The state Department of Conservation and Creation, along with the Arborway Coalition hosted a community meeting on the matter last week, during which officials suggested implementing markings, signs and fence adjustments to the area, among other improvements, according to the Jamaica Plain Gazette. 

In their presentation of findings after a safety study of the crosswalk, officials found that motorists do not yield to crosswalk users on the Upper Arborway about half the time, there has been confusion with the intersection control change, and that the signalized intersection needs to be upgraded with countdown pedestrian indicators. 

Suggested improvements also included a raised sidewalk, speed bumps, and zig-zag markings, among others, according to the report. 

To read the full presentation, click here. 

Input from the public is welcome and encouraged, and a comment period is currently underway, and set to end on May 20. 

"In the course of this project, the comments and suggestions that we have received from our stakeholders and the public have served to highlight issues of concern for our attention," officials said in a statement. "The public's input will be a key component as DCR finalizes a plan for safety improvements that will be implemented over the summer."

Comments can be submitted by email to dcr.updates@state.ma.us and using "Arborway Crossing" in the subject line, or by writing comments and mailing them to the following address:

Department of Conservation and Recreation
Office of Public Outreach
251 Causeway St.
Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114