LYNN — The city of Lynn plans to use the data from two ongoing transportation studies to create safer streets.
The two studies, “get [t]here Lynn” and “Lynn Safe Streets Playbook” are being conducted at no cost to the city, according to Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
Administered by Sasaki and partially funded by the Barr Foundation, “get [t]here Lynn” is a mobility survey that aims to gather data from residents on how they get around the city on a daily basis, McGee said.
The survey will collect data on what forms of transportation residents are using, such as whether they drive a car, ride a bike, walk, use a rideshare app or take public transit. In addition, the survey will solicit input on where residents are traveling in Lynn and some of the issues they encounter in reaching their destinations, McGee said.
“As that information is gathered, it informs us on transportation issues and the kinds of investments that can be made,” said McGee. “(We will be able to) understand the roadblocks and challenges of how people get around the city.”
The “Lynn Safe Streets Playbook” study, administered and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), consists of experts traveling around the city to determine what streets have safety issues for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists, McGee said.
“They’re going around the city and creating a plan for us on how to address the issues in the city,” said McGee. “We can use that information to look for funding opportunities with the state.”
McGee said the data collected from both studies will impact their planning process going forward and will open up grant opportunities for the city to address its infrastructure needs, as the results of those studies will be readily available for future applications.
“We’re excited to have both of those groups at the same time to have them gather around the city and collect information we can really use in a positive way,” said McGee. “(It) allows us to take that information and expand our opportunities for other grants and outside dollars.”
