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Talbot-Norfolk Triangle

This page contains information about the Neighborhood Slow Streets plan for the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle neighborhood.

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Neighborhood Slow Streets is a new approach to traffic calming requests in Boston. We're focused on street designs that self-enforce slower speeds and safer behaviors. Through this program, we aim to:

  • reduce the number and severity of crashes on residential streets
  • lessen the impacts of traffic, and
  • add to the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

The Talbot-Norfolk Triangle is one of two pilot communities that joined the program in 2016.  This spring, in 2021, we will install changes that will slow speeds, turns, and make crossings safer at Southern Avenue and Whitfield Street and Talbot Avenue and Colonial Avenue. 

Latest

In 2016, we began working with residents in the Talbot-Norfolk-Triangle neighborhood. Our goal is to design safer crossings and intersections that encourage slower turns and safer speeds.  

Beginning on Monday, April 5, 2021, construction crews will build:

  • a raised crosswalk at Elmhurst Park
  • a raised crosswalk and curb extension at Colonial Avenue and Talbot Avenue, and
  • a mini-roundabout or "traffic comma" at Southern Avenue and Whitfield Street.

Key street safety improvements

Southern Avenue and Whitfield Street 'Traffic Comma'

Shaped like a "comma," the mini-roundabout and curb extensions at Southern Avenue and Whitfield Street will guide safer, slower movements through the intersection.

Talbot Avenue and Colonial Avenue

A wide intersection with visibility issues will become a regular, "T-intersection" with curb extensions and a raised crossing.

Elmhurst Park Raised Crosswalk

A raised crosswalk at Elmhurst Park slows speeds and creates a safer, more comfortable crossing.

Previous Project Updates

Previous Updates

We've heard from many community members that are excited about the implementation of the traffic calming plan in the TNT community. We collected data so that we can better understand the impacts of the changes. We also developed designs for "gateway treatments" that slow traffic and improve crossings:

  • a raised crosswalk at Elmhurst Park
  • a raised crosswalk and curb extension at Colonial and Talbot
  • a mini-roundabout or "traffic comma" at Southern at Whitfield 

We shared these designs at a neighborhood meeting on March 26, 2019.

View slides from March 26 meeting

We’re excited to say that we’re well into the implementation phase of the Slow Streets project in your neighborhood. We’ve come a very long way in a short period of time. From having zero Slow Streets zones, to bringing the designs for the two pilot communities from concept, through design, and into the real world, and welcoming five new communities into the program, we’ve made a lot of progress!

You've probably noticed that we're not *quite* done yet. Unfortunately, winter is approaching, so we must pause for now. But, as soon as the weather warms up next spring, we’ll be ready to get right back to work on the finishing touches. This includes:

  • markings for the "gateway” treatments and daylighting areas
  • the temporary curb extensions at the intersection of Southern and New England, and
  • some of the signage.

We appreciate your patience as we pilot construction in your neighborhood! This is our first time implementing Slow Streets zones. Each step has been a learning experience for us. We’ll learn from this too. We’re still working on design plans for the raised crosswalk at Elmhurst Park and ideas for the intersection of Southern Avenue at Whitfield Street. The City is also evaluating potential changes on New England Avenue and along Talbot Avenue.

Thanks, and we’re so excited to continue to make progress on improving streets in our communities!

We joined the TNT community at the September 26 TNT Neighbors United meeting. We discussed the final design and construction timeline.

View the final Design

We met with people who live in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle community to discuss updates to the plans. You can:

Representatives from Vision Zero Boston gave an introductory presentation. We explained the basic concepts and goals of Vision Zero and Neighborhood Slow Streets, and got initial feedback.

View December 1 presentation (PDF)

We continue to revise and review plans for both the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle and Stonybrook Neighborhoods. Residents provided lots of thoughtful feedback and posed many questions. We hope to address each one through the revisions process. We will post updated plans and any upcoming meetings this spring.

The meeting was held at Prayer Tower Apostolic Church, 151 Norfolk St., Dorchester, at 6:30 p.m. Comments were accepted via email through October 11, 2016.

The City of Boston has developed a plan to calm traffic in the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle neighborhood. Our proposed designs include visual and physical cues to slow drivers to 20 mph. We want to make each street feel safer and more comfortable for people who live, walk, bike, or play in the neighborhood.

Our plans include:

  • Signs to alert people that they are entering a Neighborhood Slow Streets area with a speed limit of 20 mph and ahead of any traffic calming devices.
  • Pavement markings to help organize the streets and indicate traffic calming devices.
  • Speed humps to self-enforce driver speeds on each route through the neighborhood. Speed humps are typically 4 inches at their highest point and 12 - 14 feet long. People in cars and on bikes can comfortably travel over them at safe speeds, and they do not impact parking or drainage.
  • Daylighting and curb extensions to enforce no-parking restrictions and improve visibility of crosswalks and other drivers at intersections.
  • Raised crosswalks to help emphasize pedestrians crossing the street.

Representatives from Vision Zero Boston, TNT Neighbors United, and the Codman Square NDC walked through the neighborhood with community members. They learned more about their concerns, and reviewed the August 2015 Eco-Teens TNT Walk Audit Report (PDF).

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