Activating Columbia Road: Reframing a Missing Link

Case Studies
We reviewed three case studies of comparable
urban greenway projects in Oakland, CA, Brooklyn,
NY, and Los Angeles, CA.
Mapping
Our final research method employed mapping
to assess existing conditions, understand the
neighborhood context, and to identify gaps in
resources. When available, we utilized existing
maps included in previous reports.
We addressed the following topics:
Mobility
Mobility, including the MBTA bus system, Fairmount
Indigo Line, and commuting patterns.
Figure 64: MBTA Bus Stop Usage & Routes
Figure 68: Fairmount Line in Relation to Columbia
Road
Figure 69: Commute by Car, Truck or Van
Existing Conditions
Environmental Justice &
Public Health
Existing conditions, including site context,
neighborhood and sub-neighborhood boundaries,
demographics, locations of civic institutions,
land use, street views, and nearby development
projects.
Figure 12: Locus Map: Greater Context of Columbia
Road
Figure 13: Study Area by Census Block Group
Figure 14: City of Boston Neighborhood Boundaries
Figure 15: City of Boston Sub-Neighborhoods
Figure 16: 2017 Average Household Income
Figure 17: Predominant Population by Race
Figure 18: Linguistic Isolation
Figure 19: Percentage of Population with a
Disability by Census Tract
Figure 20: Percentage of Population Under 18
Figure 21: Percentage of Population Over 65
Figure 22: Distribution of Civic Institutions
Figure 23: Streetscape Types
Figure 25: Land Use Variation Along the Section
of Columbia Road Between Blue Hill Ave and the
Fairmount Commuter Rail Overpass
Figure 42: Development Projects Along Columbia
Road
Environmental Justice and public health, including
Environmental Justice communities, access to
open space, social vulnerability, flood hazard
areas, greenhouse gas emissions, and distribution of
chronic disease.
Figure 26: Environmental Justice Communities
Figure 27: Status of Environmental Justice
Figure 28: Accessibility to Open Space
Figure 29: Social Vulnerability Index
Figure 30: Trips and GHG Emissions in 2016
Figure 31: Flood Hazard Areas
Figure 32: Asthma ED Visits Among 5- to 17-Year-
Olds by Neighborhood
Placemaking Initiatives
Placemaking initiatives, including a vicinity map
showing accessibility to placemaking initiatives.
Figure 40: Placemaking and Public Art Vicinity Map
24 Activating Columbia Road: Reframing a Missing Link