A major advantage that Broad Street has is its proximity to unique historic sites. It intersects the historic State Street, home to the Old State House and Custom House Tower, at one end, to the Greenway and through the arch at Rowes Wharf to the harbor at the other.

By making Broad Street a connector to these historic sites, it also allows them to serve as anchors for the urban design vision for Broad Street.

Cross-streets, intersections and thresholds are all important opportunities to draw activity and create memorable moments along Broad Street.

The Oasis strategy is about emphasizing these cross-connections, several of which are landscaped and direct people to major civic, cultural or tourist destinations and open space such as Post Office Square, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the Aquarium and Long Wharf and the Greenway itself.

In the Oasis strategy, trees, planting and programmed "nodes" will serve to accentuate these connections, creating significant, highly visible bonds between these districts, and providing new ways of looking at and navigating the city.