North End resident Casandra Xavier describes herself as an “avid walker” and loves to stroll around the city. But Xavier, who is deafblind and uses a white cane, says navigating crosswalks can be dangerous for her.
In 2024, Xavier was in the middle of a crosswalk on Causeway Street near North Station when a truck making a right turn came around the corner and nearly hit her. Both she and the truck could legally cross, though Xavier had the right of way. Now, she avoids certain intersections she fears can put her at risk.
“I could never totally relax because when you’re out you have to be on guard,” she said.
Most Boston intersections are designed so that pedestrians are the only group that can legally be in the crosswalk. But the city also uses what’s known as “concurrent signaling” at a third of intersections, meaning that vehicle traffic runs parallel to pedestrians — and cars can legally turn into the crosswalk while people are crossing and have a walk signal.
Xavier is among a growing number of people worried about concurrent signaling, even though vehicles officially have to yield to pedestrians. The process is common around Boston and many cities across the country. About one third of intersections in Boston use it, according to the city’s transportation department.
But a number of people with disabilities told GBH News they are frustrated. They say concurrent signaling leaves all residents vulnerable, especially people who can’t see or hear turning cars coming and people who can’t suddenly speed up or slow down to dodge an oncoming vehicle. They say it’s also dangerous for people who use mobility devices like wheelchairs or scooters and may be harder to see on a crosswalk.
“I would like it to [be] where, if they can fix it, pedestrians cross first, drivers go second. Prioritize pedestrians,” Xavier told GBH News while walking around downtown Boston. “People are very inconsiderate about pedestrians crossing, more so ... when it’s people with disabilities.”
On Wednesday, city traffic officials were questioned about the issue during a meeting of Boston’s Disability Commission Advisory Board.
Isaac Prizant, senior traffic engineer with Boston’s Transportation Department, told attendees they don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to intersections. He said there are concerns that eliminating concurrent signaling could lead to more traffic, and that many pedestrians would refuse to wait to cross.
The debate about what to do with crosswalks is heightening around the country, he said, and city decisions are made with the help of data. He said the city is increasing the number of intersections that use leading pedestrian intervals to give people a head start before traffic starts — now at about 5% of signals.
“It allows you to have that initial time where vehicles are still held on red and you have the walk indication to go out and establish your position in the crossing,’’ he said. “It improves the visibility to you.”
Boston’s 311 app has dozens of complaints about intersections where pedestrians have had close calls.
The city has defended the practice, saying they take safety seriously and meet federal safety standards. “The concurrent pedestrian system is widely used throughout the country and allows for longer pedestrian ‘Walk’ times while also reducing delays for both vehicles and pedestrians,” the city response reads on one 311 complaint.
City Councilor Ed Flynn, concerned about the danger to pedestrians, has been pushing the city to stop using concurrent signals over the last two years. Despite support from the other city councilors, he says, the city’s traffic department hasn’t budged.
Flynn cited an incident in April when a driver hit a group of preschoolers in the South End in a crosswalk, when the driver had a green light.
“I’ve been hearing this issue for seniors, persons with disability consistently for many years. They’re afraid to cross the street,” Flynn told GBH News. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”
