Cross-Sector Partnerships: Asphalt Art

Cheyenne Cohn-Postell, Program Officer

photo of people painting a brightly-colored mural covering a large intersection between 2 main roads. — Community members in Dedham painting a mural at the intersection of Whiting Ave. and Mt. Vernon St. Photo courtesy of Bryan Plummer, Dedham Active Transportation Working Group.

As part of the Agency’s Advancement work, the Communities Team is highlighting local successes and cross-sector partnerships that position the arts and culture as an essential component in problem solving across the Commonwealth.

What you will find here is just a small part of the story of these projects. We encourage you to reach out to the partners involved to fill in our gaps.

What does ART have to do with TRAFFIC SAFETY?

Asphalt art utilizes horizontal pavement designs in crosswalks, alleys, and intersections as a traffic-calming strategy, offering visual cues that encourage drivers to be more attentive and respectful of pedestrians and bicyclists.

As a part of their overall Asphalt Art Initiative Bloomberg Philanthropies provides resources, including a 2022 study that shows asphalt art has a strong correlation with improved safety benefits, including:

50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
27% increase in frequency of drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians with the right of way.

The Commonwealth’s Creative Application

video still showing a blue tarp spread out with various very large buckets of paint placed on it with text Street Mural Artistic process — Check out thecollab’s Instagram documenting their process.

Dedham

The Town of Dedham has created a series of crosswalk murals in high traffic areas. Their Active Transportation Working Group — made up of residents, town leaders, and local stakeholders — worked with Boston-area muralist duo, thecollab, to paint curb bump-outs with bright, eye-catching designs.

Learn more on the town web site or contact Dedham ATWG.

North Adams

In North Adams, Mayor Macksey, City Councilor Fitch, the Public Arts Commission and Cultural District all came together to provide an honorarium to four local artists to paint eight downtown crosswalks. Photos available from the Berkshire Eagle.

Contact: North Adams Public Arts Commission for more information.

Somerville

In Somerville, the volunteer group Neighborways partnered with the municipality to create safety features in four neighborhoods. Check out the in-depth case study on the project, produced for the MAPC Arts & Planning Toolkit.

Advancement