dorchester (dot) greenway

The Dorchester Greenway is a community-led vision for a 0.7 mile off-road bicycle and pedestrian path on top of a subway tunnel cap in Boston.

what we loved

From a community advocacy perspective, the Dorchester Greenway has been a strong example of local creativity and persistence. Dorchester residents have led the charge for the project and the enthusiasm of its supporters is inspiring.

From the lens of planning and design, the site is a thought-provoking (and even fun) challenge. The tunnel cap runs directly behind the homes of residents, adding complexity to any potential lighting, noise, and safety strategies. It is critically important that any possible future space maintains the privacy, safety, and nature that abutters love about their homes. Although less than 1 mile long, the site changes often. It is rather narrow and often intersects with highly trafficked local roads. At some locations it is level with the ground while at others it rises many feet into the air. 

Finally, the momentum gained by the project in 2023 shows the exciting power of collaboration. After years of stalemates brought on by administration changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the time was right for the City of Boston, MBTA, and community to come together and seriously discuss the project. With aligned intention, the project took many big steps forward, underscoring the power that comes when people, politics, and potential all pull in the same direction. 

Client:

City of Boston

Massachusetts Bay
Transit Authority (MBTA)

dorchester greenway: boston, ma

The Dorchester Greenway is a potential greenway in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The idea for the project was imagined by members of the Dorchester community and stewarded by local non-profits and organizations for over a decade. If created, a subway tunnel cap, owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) would be converted to public open space. 

Since 2021, members of Ombuds, then working for LivableStreets Alliance (a Boston-area transportation advocacy organization), “kept the project alive” through advocacy. They continued to push the project to neighborhood, city, and state agencies, impressing the necessity of a safe, off-street, and green corridor in a car-centric, highly trafficked neighborhood. They also kept the project alive in the minds of neighborhood residents. This included interactive "tactical urbanism” style activities at Open Street events with partners TransitMatters and CultureHouse. 

In 2022, team members partnered with the City of Boston and the MBTA to write (and win!) a MassTrails grant totaling over $600K for the project! The grant provided finances to both study the tunnel cap’s structural capacity and engage with community members. One of the primary engagement goals was to ensure Dorchester residents still want the project. 

While greater public sentiment was important to collect, the engagement strategy was to connect with abutters, local leaders, and previously unheard voices. The campaign included direct mailers, surveys, and focus groups offered in multiple languages. Engagement partners, CultureHouse, fabricated and executed 4 pop ups between 2022-2024 to promote the project. 

The engineering study is expected to be completed in June 2025. If the project is deemed feasible by the MBTA, there is potential to open the site to the public to test out temporary ideas.

    • Grantwriting (and winning!)

    • Community engagement: strategy and execution

    • Advocacy + momentum building

photo credit Annielly Camargo (@anni.elly)