MASCO's Area Planning and Development Department
can be seen as a successful prototype of business improvement districts that are forming
all across the country.
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Longwood
Avenue being
widened in 1983. |
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The Area Planning and Development
department strives to create an environment that is inviting and accessible for patients,
students and visitors of the LMA, while planning for growth and development. The
department works cooperatively with member institutions and state and city agencies to
identify and solve common problems, and implement improvements in traffic and access, open
space/urban design, and public transportation services and demand management. In addition
it establishes a framework for long-range land use, transportation, and infrastructure
planning while coordinating development and enhancing community relations. Area Planning
and Development Services include:
- short and long-range planning studies (land-use,
open space, parking, traffic & access, energy)
- capital improvements (LMA signs, bus shelters,
identity banners, open space/streetscape, traffic signals, roadway and sidewalk
circulation)
- development planning and construction coordination
- transportation demand management services
(CommuteWorks)
- liaison with public agencies and community groups
- staff to planning, energy, and disaster
preparedness member committees
- area-wide maps, data and inventories
Recent accomplishments include: completion of
long-range master planning concepts for its college members and implementation of a
college kiosk/identity program; design and installation of area-wide banners to complement
the LMA sign/identity program; traffic and access improvements including meter removals on
key streets to create roadway circulation capacity, traffic and pedestrian signal
equipment upgrades at key intersections, and circulation/safety improvements through
pavement markings and new one-way or two-way designations; open space/urban design
improvements at Blackfan Circle and Avenue Louis Pasteur; planning and implementation of
new area-wide disaster communications equipment and protocol; and, advocacy to secure
state funding for a Major Investment Study on the Urban Ring. |
