Boston GoHubs! Mobility Hubs
Boston, MA
Project Summary
Over the past decade, cities have faced increasing competition for space in the public right-of-way as new mobility choices have emerged, leveraging advances in electrification, internet connectivity, and sharing models. In a first-of-its-kind project, the City of Boston focused on filling last-mile gaps in the City’s transportation system by better integrating these emerging modes with existing public transit facilities. Toole Design worked with the City of Boston’s New Mobility Team, other City agencies, stakeholders, and neighborhood groups to design and implement eight mobility hubs (known as “GoHubs!”) throughout the East Boston neighborhood.
Over approximately 26 months, Toole Design led extensive community outreach and involvement; planning and site selection; needs and use assessments; GoHubs! typology development and design; and urban design and placemaking that reflected each neighborhood’s character. Additionally, we oversaw the procurement, fabrication, and installation of the pilot GoHubs! and developed a post-installation evaluation methodology to inform a larger-scale rollout of the GoHubs! concept.
Each GoHubs! mobility hub drew from a kit-of-parts that included traditional transit services, enhancements to bicycling and pedestrian access, and new transportation modes such as ride-hailing, carshare, bikeshare, and e-scooters. Urban placemaking elements were also part of the kit-of-parts, as were new technologies to improve the user experience, including solar-powered kiosks for trip planning and wayfinding, localized Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging stations, and flexible management of the curb space.
Among these new mobility options, GoHubs! include access to Bluebikes bikeshare, which links the hubs together and makes connecting to other transportation modes easier. The system now includes over 4,000 bikes and more than 400 docking stations, giving riders access to a bike without having to own one.
Building on the success of the GoHubs! pilot in East Boston, the City has expanded the mobility hub program to three additional neighborhoods. These locations will bring new amenities to neighborhood public spaces, making it easier for people to travel, navigate, and gather. They will also incorporate public art to invigorate the community and embrace local identity.