Mattapan.
Anyone who drives, takes the bus, or tries to cross Blue Hill Avenue knows it is crowded and chaotic.
It can also be unsafe.
That’s why this major corridor in Boston is about to undergo a major redesign.
One of the features that’s already under construction is on the rooftops of 30 bus stops.
It’s called the Living Roof Bus Shelter Initiative.
“This is the largest installation of green roofs in North America on bus shelters,” explained Mike Chavez, a Dorchester architect with the Social Impact Collaborative, who is spearheading this project.
Gardens made of native plants are being assembled on top of the bus shelters. “These help keep the stormwater from the street,” Chavez said.
He says the gardens can absorb an inch of rain at a time.
Because there are 30 of these installations, Chavez says they can help mitigate the impact of street flooding in Boston.
The roofs will attract pollinators and help cool what’s known as an urban heat island, an area with a concentration of pavement and asphalt that bakes in the summer sun.