Division Mission

The Transportation & Infrastructure Planning Division is a core focus of the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) planning practice. The Division’s mission is to plan sustainable and reliable transportation and infrastructure systems while working collaboratively with communities, private sector groups, and other government agencies. Our transportation and infrastructure planning seeks to enhance mobility and help neighborhoods maintain their unique characteristics and quality of life.

Role at the Agency

Recognizing the character and quality of Boston's built environment influences how its residents and visitors move throughout the City, we use urban planning and design best practices to plan for a system that advances safety, comfort, and mobility for everyone and connects people to opportunity and one another. We focus on transportation planning for all modes—walking, biking, transit, and automobiles—to ensure that Boston’s future is equitable and environmentally sustainable.

The lion’s share of our work focuses on:

  • Reviewing development proposals, including Article 80 projects, to ensure they support neighborhood mobility needs and goals;
  • Collaborating in citywide and neighborhood planning to support the preservation, enhancement, and growth of neighborhoods;
  • Implementing Boston’s Complete Street Guidelines and sustainable infrastructure planning and design;
  • Advocating for City goals and aspirations with partners at state and federal agencies; 
  • Guided by Imagine Boston 2030, work towards realizing the vision and goals laid out by GoBoston 2030, the City's comprehensive transportation plan; and
  • Implementing the Boston Smart Utility Standards and Boston Smart Utilities Policy for Article 80 Development Review.

Organization 

Our professional transportation planners collaborate closely with our partners in other City Departments, such as the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Department of Public Works (DPW). Additionally, we partner with state agencies such as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the Massachusetts Port Authority (MassPort) to plan and implement projects. We also partner with community and neighborhood groups and stakeholders to build consensus around transportation and infrastructure policy, plans, and design.

Staff

For more information, please contact Daniela Espinosa, Transportation Planning Assistant.