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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

Funding provided by:

LivableStreets Alliance

LiveableStreets Alliance is an advocacy group for innovative and equitable transportation solutions that create safe, affordable and convenient options for everyone in Metro Boston. LivableStreets envisions a world where streets are safe, vibrant public spaces that connect people to the places where they live, work, and play.

https://www.livablestreets.info

12th Annual StreetTalk 10-in-1

Thu, Dec 08, 2022

After a three year hiatus, 10-in-1 LivableStreets’ annual StreetTalk is back in person in the Old South Meeting House. Ten speakers take the stage on ten different topics in one location to talk about issues regarding transit advocacy, climate justice, protecting our greenways, equitable housing + land use policies, and more!

Each speaker presents for seven minutes.
With Wes Edwards, Jarred Johnson & Matthew Peterson, Jacklyn Thibodeau, Jen Mergel, Tiffany Chu, Shavel'le Olivier, Kassie Infante, Yonerky Santana, Malaysia Fuller-Staten, Maitlyn Lang and Abby Jamiel and Stacie Thompson.

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
13th Annual Streettalk 10-in-1

Thu, Dec 07, 2023

LivableStreets' is back with the annual StreetTalk. Returning to the Old South Meeting House, ten speakers on ten different topics in one location to talk about issues regarding transit advocacy, climate justice, protecting our greenways, equitable housing + land use policies, and more!
Each speaker presents for seven minutes.

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Rethinking Street Safety

Wed, Apr 13, 2022

**Can Removing Policing and Prosecution of Traffic Violations Make Us Safer?** Long before the racial reckoning of 2020, discrimination in police traffic enforcement has been apparent, from the beating of Rodney King in 1991 to the death in police custody of Sandra Bland in 2015. Time and again, research demonstrates that traffic stops result in negative outcomes for Black and brown drivers. And as police enforcement increases, so have serious crashes and traffic fatalities. While many continue to argue that police enforcement and prosecution of traffic violations are necessary for public safety, a growing body of research shows otherwise—and suggests they may even make our communities less safe by overwhelming the criminal legal system, contributing to racial disparities in exposure to policing and prosecution, and eroding public trust. Join Harvard’s Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, the Harvard Kennedy School’s Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, and LivableStreets Alliance for a virtual panel discussion hosted by the GBH Forum Network. Expert panelists will discuss their new research on the role of policing and prosecution in traffic enforcement and answer audience questions. ## Research: [- Presumptive Declination and Diversion in Suffolk County, MA - Felix Owusu, March 2022 ](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Taubman/RIGB/Presumptive%20Declination%20and%20Diversion%20in%20Suffolk%20County%2C%20MA.pdf) IMAGES: [“Police Pulled Someone Over” by bradleygee. Image Cropped and Blurred. CC BY 2.0.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/13951072@N00/4712654618) ["Traffic Light" by grendelkhan. Image cropped. CC BY-SA 2.0.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/98425334@N00/400428874)

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Innovations in Transit 2021

Mon, Dec 06, 2021

The past couple of years have been rife with uncertainty, but there is one thing you can always count on - StreetTalks! We bring back the most popular Livable Streets event - the StreetTalk 10-in-1 - now in a virtual format. This year’s event features 10 speakers from around the region and the country in a lightning round of presentations covering a wide range of topics, including transforming housing policy, the future of the MBTA and expanding the meaning of “safe” on our streets. Speakers include: Anne Calef of Boston Indicators; Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Abundant Housing MA; Christian MilNeil, StreetsblogMASS; Alaa Mukahhal, Boston Transportation Department; A.a.Ron Myers + Ed Word Galan, A Trike Called Funk; Gretchen Rabinkin, Boston Society of Landscape Architects; Jamey Tesler, MassDOT; Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt, 128 Business Council; and Luli Lobos, LivableStreets Alliance. There is still a lot we don’t know about the future - but we do know we’ll need to advance strategies to combat climate change, tackle systemic inequity, and make our streets work for everyone. Add your most burning question below, and join us for an evening of inspiration as we hear about the great work being done by amazing people on the street level. (See what we did there?) # Resources "[Somerville Council Requests New Design with Protected Bike Lanes for Highland Ave,](https://mass.streetsblog.org/2021/02/15/somerville-council-requests-new-design-with-protected-bike-lanes-for-highland-ave/) " Streetsblog MA (Feb.2021) More on the [Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Point System](https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/transportation-demand-management-tdm-point-system) Here’s an article about [the bike & bus lanes in North Cambridge](https://mass.streetsblog.org/2021/10/20/city-of-cambridge-will-adds-another-bus-lane-to-outer-mass-ave-) BSLA Inside Out campaign: https://www.bslanow.org/news/insideout2021 "[State embraces all-at-grade Allston project,](https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/state-embraces-all-at-grade-allston-project/) " Commonwealth Magazine (Sept. 2021) More on [maximum parking ratios](maximum parking ratio guidelines) in Boston. Gender & Mobility Initiative: www.gendermobility.com More about the [Mass Ave bridge bike lanes](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/22/metro/bikers-celebrate-new-lane-layout-mass-ave-bridge/) Photo Credit: Anne Calef

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Livable Streets, Vibrant Communities, and the Future of Transportation

Tue, Dec 08, 2020

When LivableStreets was founded 15 years ago they set a bold vision for urban streets -- and it’s time for them to do that again. From expanding transit access, to transforming housing policy, listen to this conversation with national leaders about what is needed in the next 15 years in transportation to combat climate change, tackle systemic inequity, and make our streets work for everyone. Co-hosted by Executive Director of the LivableStreets Alliance, Stacy Thompson, and GBH News Transportation Reporter Bob Seay.

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Transportation and Housing: What Will Make Communities Resilient In The Future?

Wed, May 13, 2020

In these uncertain times, one thing is certain - transportation is more important than ever. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its spread across the globe, density and public transit have been blamed as unsafe and a factor in the spread of coronavirus. What's the future of density, housing and transit during—and post—COVID-19? The pandemic is illuminating what we already know - density in and of itself isn’t what makes communities vulnerable, it's the kind of density and the way it impacts how people live. As Massachusetts looks toward opening parts of the economy in the coming weeks and months, we need to focus on what will make our communities healthy and prosperous now and in the future. This panel explores examples of dense urban areas nationally that are successfully fighting the pandemic. They discusses lessons learned that can influence better infrastructure policies at the state and federal level, and they cover how the COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan will need to address the pre-existing housing crisis.

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Don’t Stand So Close To Me: Keeping Transit Moving, While Keeping People Safe

Wed, May 06, 2020

What does it take to keep the nation’s third largest transit system running in the midst of a global pandemic? The MBTA has been hard at work adjusting schedules and employing new cleaning procedures to protect their workers and riders, and responding to service needs. Once jobs and businesses begin to re-open, how can the MBTA continue to allow people to be safe and feel comfortable getting back on transit? This talk explores what is happening globally as transit systems in other countries begin to welcome non-essential riders back and discusses what we can learn from their experiences. The conversation includes Heather Thompson from ITDP ([Institute for Transportation & Development Policy](https://www.itdp.org/) ) and Steven Higashide from [TransitCenter](https://transitcenter.org/). Image courtesy of Pixaby

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Walk This Way: How Do We Keep People Healthy and Safe On Our Streets?

Wed, Apr 29, 2020

In these uncertain times, one thing is certain - transportation is more important than ever. Cities in Metro Boston and across the country are taking different approaches to address the challenge of getting around during this pandemic. Oakland, CA opened a network of slow streets, and Chicago, IL is closing a major lakefront trail. Speakers who will explore the pros and cons of various street interventions: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Lynda Lopez from Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance, and Naomi Doerner from the accessibility group Nelson\Nygaard. This is the second in a **[four-part virtual StreetTalk series](https://forum-network.org/series/streettalks-transportation-during-covid-19-pandemic/)** focused on our streets, our transportation system, and the future of mobility. Join our solutions-oriented discussion where we explore mobility challenges brought about by COVID-19 and physical distancing and highlight practical and equitable steps we can take to keep people safe and healthy on our streets now and in the future. Image courtesy of Pexels

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
From the Beltway to the Bay State: Impacts of COVID-19 Policy on Transit

Wed, Apr 22, 2020

In these uncertain times, one thing is certain - transportation is more important than ever. Federal transportation policy can be confusing and feel disconnected from our day-to-day lives. But the coronavirus public health crisis has jumpstarted action in Congress, which has important implications for Massachusetts transportation. Join Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Beth Osborne, the Director of Transportation for America, who will help us unpack how the most recent stimulus package impacts local transportation and explain what we’ll need to do to make sure future transportation and infrastructure bills get it right. In partnership with the WGBH’s Forum Network, LivableStreets will be hosting a four-part virtual StreetTalk series focused on our streets, our transportation system, and the future of mobility. Each StreetTalk will feature a discussion with guest speakers followed by ample time for Q&A with the audience. Image Adam E. Moreira/[Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Outbound_Green_Line_train_leaving_Fenway_station,_August_2005.jpg)

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance
Innovations in Transit 2019: Ten Talks

Tue, Dec 10, 2019

**Watch Live:** The 9th annual "StreetTalk 10-in-1" hosted by the Livable Streets Alliance, a Boston-based advocacy group working for innovative and equitable transportation solutions. Hear from ten transportation experts and community thinkers hailing from the Boston area and elsewhere around the country. Each presenter will take the stage and share their big ideas in short, rapid-fire, lightning rounds. Get some transportation inspiration to take back to your own community group.

Forum Network

Partner:

LivableStreets Alliance