As part of our ongoing efforts to improve public safety in Downtown Boston and surrounding areas, the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association is stepping up efforts to ensure that our streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and ramps are safe and accessible for all.

The Streets & Sidewalks Working Group of the One Downtown Task Force surveyed nearly every crosswalk, ramp, handicap ramp, and sidewalk / areaway across Downtown Boston and Chinatown in late July 2025. This massive undertaking has led to the creation of a robust database with nearly 1,000 images. AI-enabled models are being used to create “current condition scores” for every sidewalk / areaway issue that was discovered (see map below). The most pressing crosswalk and ramp issues have been identified and are being triaged in partnership with city agencies. Roadway and signage issues will be added to the database next week.

Much progress has been made over the past few months. The City’s Street Lighting team has replaced nearly 400 light fixtures across the neighborhood, resulting in significantly improved lighting conditions. The worn edges of Winter Street and Tremont Street have been rebuilt and repaired. And thanks to your advocacy, the concurrent walk signal — where cars are turning at the same time as pedestrians are crossing — at Boylston Street and Tremont Street has been removed, resulting in a safer pedestrian experience.

While we have made progress, much work remains to be done. The map below highlights the numerous unresolved issues with our sidewalks and areaways, which disproportionately impact those who are mobility impaired and disabled. The handicap ramp at West Street and Washington Street, which has been in a state of disrepair since the summer of 2023, serves as a visible reminder of the challenges that remain — we expect this specific set of issues to be fully resolved in the very near future.

We remain intensely focused on ensuring that everyone who lives, works, studies, and visits Downtown Boston and surrounding neighborhoods is safe and feels safe. The health of our streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, and ramps is critically important in achieving this mission. A world-class city like Boston must have world-class infrastructure without exception - we look forward to continuing to partner with city agencies and other stakeholders to make this a reality.