The newly opened entrance at Arboretum Rd.Updated Arboretum Map & Blackwell Path connection.
We here at WalkUP Roslindale have been advocating and organizing around the Roslindale Gateway Path since our inception almost a decade ago and, thanks to the sustained leadership and partnership of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the Arboretum Park Conservancy, LivableStreets Alliance, the Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, Rozzie Bikes, Hubluv, the Solomon Foundation, and of course the City of Boston (especially the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu as well as the Parks and Recreation Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Transportation Department), we now have the first tangible result of those efforts – the Phase 1 extension from the terminus of the Blackwell Path at South Street alongside and then under the MBTA Needham Line tracks to a brand new and fully fledged Arboretum entrance on Arboretum Road. This is a great step forward in providing better access to this Emerald Necklace jewel to/from this part of Roslindale. It’s long overdue and very welcome, and we will continue to advocate for the rest of the path going forward, so that improved access can be achieved at Archdale Road and at the Roslindale Village Commuter Rail Station. We also urge everyone to mark your calendars for Saturday, 19 July 2025, when the formal grand opening celebration will be held. We’ll share details on that as they become available. Many thanks to all of the players who made this possible!
Close on the heels of the end of the comment period yesterday, the Planning Department is hosting their scheduled closeout meeting on the zoning map and the revisions made thereto since its release in February. We encourage supporters to attend and thank the staff who have worked so hard over the last year to move the process from visioning to the small area plan and now the adoption of a new zoning map for the plan area. Information on the meeting and how to sign can be found HERE. Thanks!
As we continue to work our way through the Squares & Streets planning and zoning reform process here in Roslindale and look ahead specifically to the Rozzie Zoning Zoom on the 13th of March in which one of our panelists will be none other than Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, we simply cannot commend enough this piece by Susan Gittelman from B’nai B’rith Housing that recently appeared in Banker & Tradesman
It’s a quick, but hopeful read about the compelling message that one of our principal, short-, medium-, and long-term goals must be to “build housing where people want to live.” That the Cambridge City Council voted 8 to 1 to support this fundamental a change in that city’s approach to how it zones for housing is indeed remarkable. In the end, the broader idea is to move toward that goal in the way that makes the most sense for every city, town, and neighborhood. As City Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui, co-chair of the council’s housing committee along with Councilor Azeem, notes in the article: “Cambridge has unique economic forces and a unique culture that will affect the details of how other communities might want to apply these concepts.”
Hyde Park Ave. is a key connection between Roslindale and adjacent neighborhoods but has long suffered from significant safety issues as a result of decades-old road design decisions that encourage fast and unsafe driving. On December 11, 2024, the City of Boston ran a “Community Open House” for the initiative to improve safety on this street. It had been advertised in advance that draft designs would be shown at the meeting, but instead it was announced that the City will spend all of 2025 running additional community meetings. Streetsblog Mass covered this meeting in detail.
Residents dismayed by this delay are circulating a letter (English / Español) to sign in response, requesting more immediate action.
We support this effort and encourage our supporters to check out the blog post and join the letter.
Today, we sent in our comment letter on the proposed zoning amendments from the Squares + Streets initiative. Given the significant impact on our core issue of housing, we collaborated with Rozzidents for More Rozzidents and Abundant Housing Massachusettson the comment letter. The full letter is reproduced below.
REMINDER: Orange Line Service Suspended for 13 Days Between Forest Hills and Back Bay October 8 – 20, Suspension Extended Between Forest Hills and North Station October 12 – 14
Following up on the previous announcement on September 18, the MBTA is today reminding riders that Orange Line service will be suspended between Forest Hills and Back Bay October 8 – 20 with the service suspension extended between Forest Hills and North Station October 12 – 14.
Riders can find more information at mbta.com/OrangeLine. More information on these service changes and alternate travel options is below:
October 8 – 11, October 15 – 20:
Between Forest Hills and Back Bay
Free and accessible shuttle buses will make stops between Forest Hills and Back Bay as well as Copley on the Green Line.
Riders are also encouraged to consider the Commuter Rail for fare-free service between Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay, and South Station.
October 12 – 14:
Between Forest Hills and North Station
Free and accessible shuttle buses will make stops between Forest Hills and Back Bay as well as Copley on the Green Line.
Riders should note that there will be no shuttle bus service between Back Bay and North Station. Riders are encouraged to utilize parallel Green Line service between North Station and Copley for travel through the downtown area. The MBTA will increase Green Line service during this time to accommodate anticipated increases in ridership.
Riders are also encouraged to consider the Commuter Rail for fare-free service between Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay, and South Station.
Riders using shuttle buses during these service changes should budget ample extra travelling time. For example, a rider travelling to Downtown Crossing from Forest Hills should anticipate an extra 40 minutes in addition to their regular commute. Again, riders are strongly encouraged to consider the fare-free Commuter Rail during this service change.
Commuter Rail trains operate about every 30 minutes during morning and evening peak periods. Travelling between Forest Hills and Back Bay on the Commuter Rail is about 10 minutes. Commuter Rail schedules are available at mbta.com.
This service change is in place to support critical work as part of the MBTA’s Track Improvement Program. The Track Improvement Program will replace tracks and ties to alleviate speed restrictions along the line while crews maximize the outage by performing signal work and station amenity upgrades, including new lighting, painting, tiling, power washing, and more.
The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service. We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.
More information is also available through in-station signage and public announcements. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA for up-to-date service information.
As some of our readers may have heard, the City’s Planning Department are now projecting the following milestone dates on the Squares + Streets Roslindale Square small area planning process based on current progress:
Mid-October: Draft Small Area Plan for Roslindale Square study area will be released for public review (45-day comment period). The small area plan is expected to include revised recommendations that integrate public input from the Ideas Reception Survey under the following five categories: Housing+Real Estate, Small Business, Arts+Culture, Open Space, Transportation, and Land Use Framework and Design.
Early November – Draft Zoning Map Amendment released for public review (30-day comment period). The map, which will be drawn based on the public input on the Land Use Framework, will illustrate parcels recommended for rezoning, and the specific Squares+Streets zoning categories recommended to be applied to those parcels.
Early December – Public comment periods end.
January – BPDA Board votes on the adoption of the Plan and Zoning Map Amendment.
February/March – (Depending on the outcome of the BPDA Board vote) Zoning Commission votes to add the Zoning Map Amendment into the zoning map for Roslindale.
Here’s a helpful timeline graphic that was provided with the revised schedule:
WalkUP Roslindale have been active and enthusiastic supporters of the bus lanes on Washington Street all the way from initial conception and the early pilots to their implementation and operation the last few years. The Boston Transportation Department is now soliciting feedback on next steps and upcoming improvements. The squib from their website reads as follows:
“Since 2018, we have added new bus lanes to Washington Street from Forest Hills to Roslindale Village, serving 10 MBTA bus routes. Join us for a virtual public meeting on Zoom to discuss the bus lanes.
