Pedestrian-friendly, active retail corridors = LIVABLE STREETS

The EALS Coalition represents residents throughout the east-side’s many sub neighborhoods and has almost 250 names on our e-mail contact list, including 30-35 core group members who regularly attend our monthly meetings at the Fox Library, and a advisory board of 9 people. The group is modeled after the Cambridge/Boston-based LivableStreets Alliance, who advocate for a more holistic and sustainable transportation planning and streetscape design paradigm. Collectively, we think differently about urban transportation and advocate for a system that balances the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders with motorists.

We formed primarily in response to the commencement of the Town’s planning process for the Mass Ave Corridor project. We felt that changes to Mass Ave will have significant impacts on East Arlington for many decades and that our community needed a stronger and more-organized voice in the process. EALS intends to additionally advocate for other improvements that will enhance the livability of our neighborhood, with a focus on transportation-related projects. Besides our quest to make Mass Ave more pedestrian and bike friendly, other issues that top our agenda include:

• the mitigation of speeding and cut-thru traffic on residential streets
• enhanced parks and open space
• working with our two elementary schools and the Town to promote more walking and bicycling safely and responsibly to school, ie. “Safe Routes to School”
• improved transit service and bus stops

Ultimately, our Vision is for a more safe, green and sustainable East Arlington neighborhood that is more walkable and bikable, containing healthy and vibrant business districts.

If you would like to join our email alert list or find out what you can do to help please contact us.

Click on the images below to see larger more detailed images.

Proposed Mass Ave Improvements