Good morning, happy Star Wars Day.

My name's Ben Weber.

I am the District Six City Councilor and the chair of the Boston City Council on Ways and Means.

Today is Star Wars Day, May the fourth, two thousand twenty-six.

Oh five A.

M.

This hearing is being recorded.

It's also being live streamed at Boston.gov slash city dash council dash TV and broadcast on Xfinity Channel Eight, RCN Channel Eighty Two, and File's Channel Nine Sixty Four.

We strongly encourage residents to take the time to engage in this process by giving testimony for the record.

You can do so in several ways.wm at Boston.gov or by emailing Kurishma Chohan, that's K R I S H M A.

C H O U H A N at Boston.gov.

When we are uh when you're called on to testify, please state your name and uh residence or organization affiliation and limit your comments to two minutes.

Um in lieu of uh testifying at the hearing, you can submit written testimony to the committee at ccc.wm at Boston.gov.

You can also submit a two-minute video of your testimony through the form on our website.

For more information on the council budget process and how to testify, please visit the city council's budget website at Boston.gov slash counsel dash budget.

Uh in-person public testimony will be taken after the first round of counselor questions.

Individuals we call down in the order in which they've signed up and have two minutes to testify.

Uh again, if you wish to sign up for public testimony, have not done so already.

Please email our director of legislative budget analysis, Chris McCoan at K A R I S H M A dot C H O U H A N at Boston.gov.

For the Zoom link and your name will be added to the list.

This morning's hearing is on docket numbers 0733 to 0740 and docket number 0754, an overview of the FY27 operating budget for the uh Boston uh for the Boston Transportation Department and the Public Works Department.

This hearing will also cover the bike share revolving fund.

This is one in a series of hearings to review the FY27 budget.

For my colleagues' information, this is the inaugural fiscal year of the bike share revolving fund.

These matters were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and referred to the committee on April 8th, 2026.

I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Flynn, and Councillor Braden.

Uh we waive opening statements at these budget hearings.

I'm going to introduce the panel and then uh hand it over to you.

Uh today we're joined by interim uh chief of streets.

Is that uh okay, Nick Gove?

Is that the right title?

Do I have yes?

Okay, great.

Um director of finance and budget, Omar uh Koshofa, uh Interim Deputy Chief of Streets uh Infrastructure and Design, Amy Cording, Superintendent of Street Operations, Daniel Nee, John Romano, Director of Operations, and Capitol Projects Design Director, Lydia Hossel.

Do I have that?

Is that pronounced right?

Houseley, sorry, I apologize.

Um, okay, so uh we're just gonna go to the uh panel and then we'll get to our questions.

So uh interim chief uh cove here you floor is yours.

Thank you, Chair, appreciate it.

Uh good morning, everybody.

Uh thank you for the opportunity uh to discuss the FY27 streets uh budget today.

Um the team and I look forward to answering any questions that you may have.

We have a couple other folks joining us today who aren't here on the panel, but I do want to recognize um uh Dennis Roach is the superintendent of waste reduction and code enforcement, our chief engineer Norman Parks, Robbie Pardo, uh director of Central Fleet Manag Management, Mike Donegie, superintendent of street lighting, Tom McKay, Superintendent of Buildings and Bridges, our parking clerk and director of parking and curbside management, Mia McCapone, uh director of parking uh excuse me, um manager of the uh BTD Signals and Science Shop, uh Jean-Luc Texera, uh, and Brian Davis, our interim director of HR, uh, and Ann Roach, uh Director of Communication.

Uh and I believe Kathy Garcia from our permit office is also here as well.

So thank you.

Thank you to this group.

Um this is the group that leads the day-to-day operations of this cabinet and supports the work of the 783 uh team members and streets.

Um they're the ones who deliver the essential city services that keep Boston moving, clean, safe, and vibrant.

Uh, we are incredibly fortunate to have this talented, hardworking, and dedicated team.

I credit the work of this cabinet to them.

Thank you for all that you do every day.

Safe streets start with getting the basics right.

Sanitation, snow and ice removal, street sweeping, filling potholes, resurfacing streets, refreshing pavement markings, maintaining street lights and traffic signals, parking code, and permit enforcement.

Public works and BTD manage over 200,000 311 cases uh each year.

That's 70% of all the 311 cases across the city.

These data points represent not only the cabinet's mission critical work, but the civic commitment of the residents who support us in the system.

We've had a busy year in streets.

We managed a historic winter with 63 inches of snow, the toughest winter we've seen since 2015.

I want to recognize the work of Danny and the entire public works team, including the leadership of Norman, Clarence Perkins, and Gilbert Goston.

Their work this winter was outstanding.

I also want to recognize the amazing job public works has done to clean up following this winter, despite a delay uh to the start of street sweeping.

They did an amazing job cleaning the city up and got us to where we are today.

Um last year we invested heavily in state of good repair work.

We were surfaced 50 miles of roadway, we rebuilt 37 linear 37,000 linear feet of sidewalk, we constructed a record, 1,723 ADA compliant ramps, we filled more than 4,000 potholes with a case closing rate uh of just under 19 hours.

We upgraded over 2,500 light fixtures along major corridors like Blue Hill Ave.

We refreshed 1,694 crosswalks across the city.

We hired a record number of 135 parking enforcement officers, restoring staffing levels to pre-pandemic levels.

We installed over 5,600 signs and installed 1,468 sign poles.

We maintained 50 over 5200 signals, controllers, and pedestrian buttons, and completed 35 miles of double yellow and 73 miles of lay markings.

The FY27 budget will continue this important work.

The streets FY27 recommended budget continues to prioritize basic city services, state of good repair, accessibility, traffic calming, and safety improvements.

For the operating budget, that means maintaining core services, including waste reduction and sanitation, street sweeping, parking enforcement, roadway and asset maintenance.

On the capital side, we'll continue to prioritize investment in ramp and roadway reconstruction, resurfacing, and building neighborhood safety projects.

Here I'm going to pass it off to Omar.

Thank you, Chief.

So I'll try to make this as uh accessible and simple as possible.

I know there's a lot of text on the slide, but our operating budget for the entire cabinet is around 207 million for this uh fiscal year uh for the next fiscal year recommended.

And that's about 2 million or 0.8% increase over this current year.

Um really in a time where a lot of city departments' budgets are going down, it may be not worthy to see that ours is going up slightly.

And that's mainly because a lot of the costs and budgets and contracts that we have are non-discretionary, core services, contractual increases.

And so solid waste and recycling, for example, um consists of 72 million dollars in our 200 million dollar budget, uh, curbside management, which supports our curbside management, parking ticket processing, enforcement operations.

That's about 7.5 million.

Um that contract supports 66 million and more in revenue that the city's operations and parking clerk offices uh produce each year.

So we received the same citywide 2% reduction that every other department received.

Um, and we worked really hard to keep the increase to our budget to a minimum despite multi-million dollar increases in trash, um, recycling, and other services.

So just to go through those real quick.

Solid waste collection and trash disposal.

Luckily, two years ago, through the efforts of our waste reduction team under Dennis and my team, trash collection is stable in Boston today because we were able to negotiate long-term collection contracts with our collection company.

And that helped us avoid the same disruptions that impacted Republic customers last year, if you guys remember for more than 11 weeks.

However, we continue to see significant cost pressure on our sanitation contracts.

So, for example, our trash disposal contracts are up next summer.

We've had those contracts for the last seven years.

So since pre-COVID, we've been locked in at two to two, two to three percent increases.

That's gonna change once we rebid or we renegotiate that contract.

Moreover, the state is requiring us to isolate more waste streams from the trash, like mattresses a couple years ago, or food waste in the future.

Recycling processing is at $90 a ton.

That's about the same cost that trash is now.

The recycling markets are very unstable with what's going on overseas and tariffs, and that's changing month to month.

Every month we get a different price for recycling, and it keeps on going up.

So it makes it hard to forecast what the cost of recycling is going to be.

But next year we're thinking it's gonna be about three and a half million.

Snow and winter management.

As we saw this year, historic winter.

Our snow budget is at 23 million.

And that's because our budget is set on a historical five year rolling average.

And so this year it was definitely wasn't enough.

In previous years, it was more than enough.

And this is kind of sent centrally with by the budget office.

We're working through our FY26 payments to determine the final number for this fiscal year, but this number is also uh this is an account that we can spend into deficit, so we're not constrained by that 23 million.

Street sweeping, essential at 7 million, day and night sweeping, maintaining New York current levels.

Sidewalk repairs, this is a investment that we got a couple years ago.

This is a very small portion of actually what we spend on sidewalks.

Most of our spending on sidewalks, more than 50 million dollars actually occurs on our capital plan.

But we have this contract on the operating budget for small sidewalk repairs, concrete or mostly brick actually that aren't capital eligible.

So just to speak to some of the efficiencies, right?

Um, in a very tough fiscal environment, our cabinet was able to save, again, with the waste reduction team's help, three quarters of a million dollars by rebidding our mattress collection contracts.

And actually, we're able to engage minority owned businesses, and two of them won three of those contracts.

And by having a competitive bid process, that budget, those contracts actually went down from three years ago, which is um unheard of.

That reduces meter repair costs significantly.

We were paying half a million dollars or so in meter repairs.

We're gonna have new multi-space meters.

Um they're gonna be new, so less costs.

Uh, other costs like related to blue bikes, we're gonna be able to move on to our revolving fund.

So we're able to save some money there to offset, which keeps our budget pretty level.

On our capital plan, 1.4 billion, it's about a third of the city's capital plan.

It's actually the largest portion of the city's capital plan by cabinet.

79 projects and programs.

Um here I just have a rough breakdown for you all of the assets that are being addressed through those and the money, the portion assigned to those assets.

So roadway resurfacing and reconstruction, you know, from Rutherford Ave in the future to all resurfacing projects going on today, it's about 750 million dollars or 50 percent half of our capital plan.

Bridges is the other the next biggest um item, 300 million dollars, or about a fifth of our capital plan is dedicated to bridges and bridge repairs.

Um, curb ramps, which we'll talk about more, are a growing portion of our capital plan.

They stand about 15 percent.

Street lighting repairs and replacements, fixtures, pulls, it's about 30 million in the capital plan over the next five years.

Uh, traffic and pedestrian signals, um, same thing.

Just to speak to some of the great work that uh Amy, Norman, Lydia's teams have done uh over the past year and looking forward as well.

Um, goals for this coming year 45 miles of repaving across all neighborhoods.

We were able to put on an extra contract this year for repaving and um across the city.

So these contracts are fully loaded, they were ready on April 1st, and work is underway right now.

Obviously, you know, despite slowdowns from summer events, we'll be going full steam ahead.

1,800 ramps is our goal for this year.

This is a very difficult number to reach, and we'll speak to more as to the pressures this causes on the rest of our capital plan.

75,000 square feet of sidewalk, brick and concrete across the city, our program for this construction season.

And we have seven dedicated sidewalk and ramp contracts covering East Boston, Brighton, West Roxbury, Roslendale, Dorchester, Roxbury, even Chinatown and other projects, citywide brick and concrete repairs, like uh the ones submitted through Route 311, um, and the small brick contract I was mentioning earlier, working in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, and speed humps at various locations, um, which we can speak to more, of course.

And speed humps at various locations, which we can speak to more, of course.

And then just some of the big capital projects you guys probably heard of two weeks ago and through the mayor's release announcement two weeks ago as well, like Congress Street Cummins Highway, hopefully to be completed this year, Harrison Av to start, Jones AV to start, Lower Roxbury to start, and Thurrow Path.

And then design and engagement.

There's a lot more projects that can fit on the slide, but Andrew Square, Rutherford AV, WoodAV are all projects that are moving ahead with design.

And so just to give you guys a snapshot of what this capital plan looks like.

Over the last four years, about 72% of our capital spending has been on those items on the state of good repair, roads, sidewalks, bridges.

We resurfaced 50 miles last year, which was more than double the previous year, or the previous three years on average, and we continue to hope to do so this year as well.

And since 2022, we did 18 miles of bike lanes, about 1500 speed humps, about five uh six and a half thousand curb ramps, 105 miles of roadway resurfaced, and at least, as Chief mentioned, 30,000 feet of sidewalk, uh linear feet of sidewalk reconstructed.

And that's what this looks like, right?

It's it's not uh oftentimes the focus cannot be on those big items, but as you can see from here, like a lot of it is on the roadway resurfacing, the sidewalks and the ramps, the bridges, the street lights, our buildings, um, pedestrians and traffic signals, and where we can, you know, it's kind of like the 8020 rule.

I see it.

If you invest around 20% in transformation, you need 80% to keep the city running and our streets maintained.

So I'll hand it back over to Chief to talk about some of the constraints on our capital plan.

Thanks, Omar.

So I want to talk uh a little bit about the progress that we've made uh on on ramps.

Um we've made a significant investment uh in ramps to improve access and accessibility uh through our curb ramp reconstruction program.

Over the last five years, we've invested more than 70 million dollars, 20% of our total capital budget on ramps alone.

Costs do continue to rise.

In 2026, uh we have established a dedicated engineering contract to support ramp design, ensuring we are able to take on more complex ramp designs and incorporate safety features uh at high priority locations.

Now we have reconstructed many of the easy ramps in our program, and now we need to move on to more some of the more complicated locations.

At FY27, we expect the ramp program to cramp program cost increase to 42 million dollars, uh, which represents nearly 30 percent of our budget in FY27.

Um this is important work.

Folks are aware of the consent decree that we are under, but uh more importantly, this work improves accessibility for everybody.

Uh capital plan changes.

So uh we have restructured our capital plan to maximize investment benefits given the financial uh fiscal constraints we're under.

This required us to rebalance the planning and design work uh of project delivery.

Twenty-seven projects have been removed from the capital plan.

Several projects are now complete, and others were merged into other annual programs.

Other projects were tabled due to constraints that make continuing planning, design, and construction unfeasible at this time.

In the near future, we will launch an updated capital project dashboard that will provide project updates.

We are committed to transparency as we work to implement this capital plan.

Taking into consideration our capital constraints, we will leverage opportunities to integrate safety improvements into roadway reconstruction and resurfacing.

While this capital budget shows a reduction in funds for project planning and design, construction spending on projects will increase.

This reflects a realistic and constructible program.

For context, examples of projects that are at or nearly substantially complete, include the new Bill Russell Bridge, the Whittier Street Roadways project, and the Moon Island Causeway.

Examples of programs we have merged or consolidated into our project delivery model, include the Safe Roots to School Program, which is now part of our larger citywide safety program.

Work within the COMAV, Phase 3, 3B, and 4 projects will be within the transit coordination and construction program and be coordinated with the MBTA's green line program work and dedicated bus lanes will also merge with our transit coordination and construction program.

We have also provided a detailed update on the status of all state and federal grants.

All members of the council should have received this document in advance of today's hearing.

And this information will be available online as part of the project dashboard.

I mentioned earlier.

These funds represent 282 million dollars in capital grants.

As of today, only two grants have been rescinded.

The Roxbury Roxbury Resilient Quarters project, 20 million dollar raise grant, and the connecting people to a healthy vibrant Matapan Square program, a $2 million reconnecting communities pilot grant.

We will continue to work with our state and federal partners to move these programs and projects forward.

Lastly, I want to mention the city's new five-year contract with Lyft to manage bike share operations.

This contract, which includes extension options through 2035, will continue to support and expand our bike share network.

In response to high demand, we're investing in a major increase in the number of e-bikes in the fleet.

To facilitate e-bike bike expansion, we'll be electrifying some stations to improve operational efficiency and reduce the need for trips to swap batteries.

We will also continue Blue Bike's 15-year tradition of addressing economic barriers by offering a $50 annual and $5 month monthly membership for income eligible riders.

Additionally, we have established a new revolving fund effective July 1st to ensure we support bike share investment, not just today, but in the future.

So with that, we will uh open up for questions from the council.

Thank you.

Okay, uh thank you very much.

Just uh we've been joined by Councillor Durkin.

Uh before I go to my colleague, just a brief anecdote.

Uh like last fall I I had I was on a CNN morning show when it looked like the National Guard was going to be sent into Boston.

They asked me if my constituents you know were concerned about that.

And I said, well, the the most common thing we could call that called about is still speed bumps, but you know, the second most common thing is they're concerned about the National Guard coming in.

So then later that day I get a phone call from a friend in New York, and he's like, I saw you on CNN.

That was great, except for that dumb thing you said about speed bumps.

Fast forward a couple hours, I went to the Linden School, like school beginning, you know, in the in West Roxbury, sort of kickoff barbecue.

And somebody said, Um, I saw you on CNN.

I said, Yeah, my friend from New York said uh he liked it, except for the dumb thing I said about speed bumps, and and this guy was like, that was the best thing you said, you know.

And like that's uh, and I said he didn't he didn't get it, and he was like, That's because he doesn't live here.

This is all we talk about.

Uh, and I think it's just this is the nuts and bolts of the city when we talk about the streets and the sidewalks and the crosswalks and traffic lights and everything, and so uh I'm really happy we could uh be gathered today and talk about this really important issue.

So, Councilor Murphy, uh, your first six minutes.

I guess whenever I have the opportunity, I just first would like to thank our veterans who many are in harm's way, and their work does not go unnoticed.

Um first just want to say thank you for being here.

And also, I know I don't like calling people out.

I might leave people off the list, but any time I do pick up the phone after a resident calls for a safety concern, something that your department needs to address.

Rocco, Mike, Dennis, Eric, John, you're always always on the other end, pick right up and help address it.

So I do want to call that out that your department is very responsive.

Your team does a great job, and I know you work well together, so thank you for that.

We did have a hearing, as you all know, on April 22nd, 12 days ago, and many of similar questions were asked.

I did I believe Shane, thank you for sharing that list of RFIs with me.

Um, none of them have been answered yet, so I'll go back to some of the questions I had then.

Near my house on Gallivan Boulevard, there is a wonderful, oh it's in pretty new, newly installed linking crosswalk, and that was one of my questions.

Um, how many fixed blinking crosswalks or similar pedestrian flashing beacons are currently installed citywide?

And can we provide that list by neighborhood?

Um, oftentimes maybe even council district is the question I asked.

Um, and do we have a formal prioritization process for where blinking cross rocks will be installed?

I know we did talk at the hearing that obviously we take data and try to figure out where they'll best be, but I do feel you know, speed humps.

I would say were semi-um effective, right?

They they people thought they were going to be the fix that I believe they weren't, you know, the fix that people expected, and then we did see even rolling back and taking some out in certain neighborhoods.

You know, overall we just need to drive slower and safer and use other tools to just make sure that happens.

But one thing, especially where I see you know, families, children, seniors, persons with disabilities just trying to get across a main thorough, a main street, you know, those raised walkways just are really effective.

And if we could just speak to the plan of installing more if we have one, and where have we put them so far?

Sure, thank you, counselor.

And I'm we are still working on that RFI from a couple weeks ago.

Um I I don't have the exact number of of those assets here now.

Amy, you don't know a rough number on I don't know off the top of my head, but I can get you a map of all of them.

That that's in an email.

What's that was an email that was okay.

And is like what is the thought then when you sit down as a team?

Do you feel like they're working?

Like I guess it was more to my question than exactly.

The so yeah, the the the flashing lights that you've you've mentioned, they're they're an important part of our kind of overall uh traffic calming and safety program.

Obviously, you know, we prioritize them in school zones, uh, but there's other locations uh where we have data on on you know in our from our high crash network.

Um we will follow up with a kind of full inventory, we can break that down uh by where they are mapped in the city.

They are something that we will continue to maintain and and make further future investments in.

Uh speed humps, similarly, you know, we are going to continue uh to install speed humps throughout the city.

Um that will be in addition to you know other traffic calming measures such as raised crosswalks, but yes, that all of that work will continue into F-Y 27.

What percentage of our funds going toward what I would consider more basic pedestrian safety improvements versus some of the big ticket item larger corridor redesigns?

Sure.

That is a hard number to quantify, counselor, and a per percentage only because you know, so many of these investments um have an impact on pedestrian safety, everything from ramp work to resurfacing to pavement marking signs, signals.

Um honestly uh almost the majority of of the um state of good repair investment we hear we have here today um you know supports pedestrian improvements throughout the city in some way.

And I know that your departments work and coordinate well together, but I've seen it myself, but people will call when it could be you know FENI Brothers or Water and Sewer or just us doing work where we're tearing up a street and it's torn up a crosswalk, but then we just repave it's a good opportunity to use that time to you know upgrade if we're already tearing up the street that it may not have been on the list.

Is there some coordination or an active list that that produ that streets you know moves to the top of the list because we're already gonna have to repave it anyway?

Does that happen automatically?

Yes, counselor, and actually we're we're planning to do more of that type of coordination.

So we're we're planning to do to you know take advantage of an opportunity when we're resurfacing a street to do more of those types of um improvements because in most cases we're often doing the curb ramps at the same time, but that's an opportunity for us to you know change pavement markings, install new signage, um, make signal timing changes, et cetera.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, thank you.

Councilor Flynn, six minutes.

Yeah, I just wanted to make a brief mention.

I know, Chair, you mentioned the the National Guard.

Um I had an opportunity to work with them for 25 years when I served in the Navy, but they're they're excellent, they provide exceptional support to residents across the Commonwealth.

Just wanted to acknowledge their professionalism.

Chief Gove with we've had dozens and dozens of conversations on residential parking in South Boston for years, 24 hours, 24 hours 7, 24-7 parking throughout all of South Boston.

Why are you got why aren't you moving forward on it?

I get calls all day long from my neighbors asking me about it, and I keep telling them be patient, be patient.

This is going on for well over two years.

Yeah, that's not an that's not an answer I can accept right now, Chief.

We're gonna do it this year.

Um I need a better commitment than that.

I've been very patient.

Uh Franklin Hodge mentioned this at a at the mayor's um coffee reception over two years ago that it would be implemented, and here I am still waiting.

Um is there is it being intentionally not being done for any particular political reason?

No, Counselor.

We're we're just we're doing a lot of work on trying to restart the RPP program as a whole, but you know, this is one of the priorities as as we've mentioned, you know, the mayor has committed to doing this, and um so I I do promise as soon as we have um a schedule for the work, we will let you know.

My I'm I'm just letting you know my neighbors in South Boston uh feel disrespected by that.

And I'm the elected official, I advocate the fight for them, and it's it's frustrating to me that I I can never get an get an honest answer.

Chief, the sidewalks um repairs for this year.

What why wasn't there any taking place in um in District 2, Chinatown, South Boston, the South End.

You did mention Chinatown, but um it wasn't on the screen.

We we actually um we're really happy with the sidewalk repair program that we have planned for this year.

We have I think the most number of contracts we've had uh in a long time for both brick and sidewalk, and we are planning to do sidewalk repairs citywide um in every neighborhood.

Um specific to Chinatown, there is a project that's in planning and design.

Is that on Beach Street?

Uh, this is the entire Chinatown neighborhood, so there's a there's a project that's in the planning effort um to look to design, repair and replace all the sidewalks in Chinatown, and that's something we're we're happy to talk more about in the future.

But um, yeah, our you know, our we have a we have a good solid plan for the entire city for this year.

Okay, but I'm focused on my district.

Um will my district get the same level of support as other parts of the district.

Yes, and if there and if there are specific locations that you want to share, we're we're happy to look at those.

Phillips Square, what is um what is the current status of Phillips Square?

It's been a good community engagement.

When is the construction going to start at Phillips Square?

I believe that project we I think we talked the last hearing is what, 75?

Yeah, we'd like to bid it this year.

75 percent design, so the plan is to is to bid that for construction.

Um it is I think mostly funded.

We have a little bit of a funding gap, but we we feel we can make that up.

Um so that's just gonna be you know, putting it out to bid, finding a contractor, and then uh figuring out um construction schedule.

But it's a great project, strong community support.

Uh we're looking forward to it.

And the sidewalks around Phillips Square as well.

Okay.

Um you mentioned e-bikes city investing in e-bikes.

Will people that are using e-bikes will they need to use a helmet?

I am concerned about public safety.

Tell me tell me about the public safety aspect.

Sure.

Well, you know, we certainly recommend and advise people, you know, to wear helmets regardless of what what type of cycle they're they're uh operating.

But it it is my understanding that um, you know, there is potentially some legislation forthcoming uh on micromobility from some of the work that the micromobility commission did last year, and it's we'll see if if it includes some of that.

How much are we spending on the e-bike program?

Um about one and a half million a year.

I don't support that program.

I don't I don't know.

So we do we don't spend our own money?

It's completely self-funded.

I don't like the aspect of people driving going down up and down Broadway.

That can be dangerous at times without a helmet going 20 miles an hour.

I am concerned about that.

I am concerned when they go through crosswalks and people can't you can't stop any bike and people are in the crosswalk.

I've seen crashes, I've seen the misses.

But but safety, public safety is not a part of the program, I guess, right?

It is.

I mean, uh you're right, people should be wearing helmets 100%.

Um that's something we need to continue to do better at in education.

Okay.

Okay.

My final question.

Mr.

Chan.

I'm sorry, we got a full house here, so uh gonna move on.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

You'll have a second round.

We've been joined by Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Santana, Councillor Louis Gen, and Councillor Warrell.

Uh Councillor Braden, you're up next.

Um thank you.

And and thank you for all the um the data um on this um spreadsheet we got.

Um and I know on your presentation it said the grants um that this this this gives us the grant status, but it didn't give us the project status, but the presentation did.

So I'm I'm just curious about the um the Commonwealth Av.

Can you tell us?

I know we're partnering with the MBTA, but the Commonwealth Av phase three and four um project, I know that's been a long time in the works.

Um how do we have any uh I know it's all part of the whole green line upgrades to be able to handle the new the new cars when they arrive, um but also uh pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, and uh all road users are and then also it's a very denuded urban heat island space as well.

So um can you tell us what the plan is for Commonwealth Av and what we what sort of timeline we're looking at?

Yes, thanks, Councillor.

Um so you know, there's a significant amount of work planned uh for the entire Green Line uh system, so the Green Line Transformation Project.

We're working with the MBTA closely on both uh the work plan for the B and E-lines.

Um and so there is you know some short-term work that's gonna happen uh on Commonwealth AB as far as upgrading stations for accessibility.

Um but as far as the larger project is concerned, you know, we are gonna work with the MBTA on both the B and E-line as they go in and make these you know track station improvements, et cetera, to accommodate the new uh train cars you mentioned.

We are gonna take that opportunity to make pedestrian cycling motorist uh safety improvements at those intersections and all along the corridor.

So it's not we've just moved this program, but we're gonna continue the work.

Um you know there's some there's some short-term work have happening in Cleveland Circle, I believe next week.

Um, and I think we will be back to talk more about the the five station uh accessibility improvement projects that are tentatively scheduled for next year.

But just in case I missed anything, what do you Amy?

Anything else to add?

That's that's very accurate.

Good.

Um excellent.

Um then the other as part of the I know the whole issue around bus lanes, etc.

uh is ongoing and we're just wondering in terms of the Alston Brighton mobility study.

Uh are we where are we at with the the 57 um route bus lanes and also as part of the 57 are the also mobility study?

We we talked about bus stops with bought out so that the the bus wouldn't have to pull it to the curb, but the curb would come out to meet the bus.

Uh are we are we incorporating that sort of design in in any of our um road routes that we're trying to increase the efficiency on the yeah so the the you know we're we're taking kind of a quarter approach um you know to transit improvements and we're always looking you know if we're doing a resurfacing project or certainly a reconstruction project, we're looking for opportunities where we can work with the MBTA, you know, to make either accessibility improvements, maybe add a bus shelter.

Um specific to the 57, I think I think the planning effort for that project is is complete.

Um I don't believe it's currently funded in in design and construction, but uh Amy Lydia, anything else to add there?

That's yeah.

Um okay.

Another thing that I know we're spending a lot of time and effort on the ADA uh compliant ramps, and just from walking around, I notice that the yellow ramp pads are falling apart already.

Like are we uh do we have any sort of quality of control um input on this the quality of those ramps?

Because if we're spending a huge amount of money putting in new ramps putting in new new ramps, but the pads, the little tactile pads are disintegrating after a few years is run we can do about that.

Because it seemed to throw in good money after that at this point.

Yeah, we there so there's the ramps that you're mentioning out there.

There was you know product that used that really hasn't held up well.

I believe we've since replaced that product, and we're using a different type of tactile ramp.

Uh most I believe it's cat their cast iron.

Uh so that should that should avoid that problem in the future.

But the locations that you see um where that's an issue, those will also be addressed through this program.

Yeah.

Uh would it be helpful for c uh constituents to call those into 311?

Or are you on top of it?

It's always helpful to identify stuff through through 311.

Um keep going, keep going with the clocks ticking.

Um vision uh vision zero.

I was just looking on vision zero on the um on the dashboard, and we don't have an update for this year.

Uh are we uh do we how often do we uh up the update the crash data on Vision Zero?

Yeah, we do need to up there, frankly, there's a few uh programs where we need to provide some updated data on the website.

Uh we have committed to doing that uh and and prioritizing that that vision zero update is one of them.

Um I know uh the the safety surge in Alston Brighton got to us in August, I think.

We have seven uh speed bumps on Sandhill Street just between the Than Hill Gardens housing and um the um the park.

Uh what's the plan for adding more speed bumps in Alston Brighton in the near future?

I think we have some some uh speed humps uh fully designed for Alston Brighton.

So we'll uh we can we can get back to you on on schedule for those, counselor.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

I'll come back with the case.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

So uh Counselor Dricken, you're up next, and then I think it's Councillor Culpepper, Santana, Louie Jen, and then Warrell.

Thank you so much, Chair.

Um, I'd love to start with some thanks.

Um we have been doing some great work in our neighborhoods, and I know I just want to thank um Gilbert and Clarence uh for their work at 40 Parker Hill Avenue, Mission Hill.

Um they went out twice to make sure it was made safe, and I really appreciate just their collaboration with our office.

Um I also want to um we have been working on this flashing beacon um on minor street for two years.

I believe that it was needed empirically as well, but I saw that it appeared in our in uh Audubon Circle and really really grateful uh for that uh improvement.

Um so I want to start with some questions that I always ask.

Um the past two budget cycles, um there has been crazy national grid work on Boylston Street, which has prevented that normally scheduled one block being replaced every year.

I was curious um what blocks of Boylson Street sidewalks plan to be uh replaced this year, and if we're planning to do two blocks to compensate for the work skipped in 2023.

Thank you, Counselor.

Yeah, we so yes, unfortunately the utility activity out there has slowed down some of that um sidewalk progress on Boyleson Street, but uh we do have uh a block that we're hoping to move into construction this year.

Um and I know we have a few others fully designed.

Which which ones are those?

Um the one we're looking to put in for this year, probably this fall would be between Exeter and Ring Road on the south side.

Um and then we do have design active for several of the blocks that are further toward the garden.

Okay, thank you.

Um and I noticed um the brick contract in your presentation, um, Beacon Hell and Back Bay have benefited immensely from there being a brick contractor.

Um we've obviously had a really tough um freeze and thaw cycles uh for our bricks uh on our streets.

I was just curious the status, and you know, um we are coming at you with a fresh new Charles Street brick audit of all the issues on Charles Street.

Um and uh I do want to share a story from the Blackstone Apartments.

Sometimes when we think of accessibility, we don't think of everyone who really traverses a street, and um through a translator was able to speak to um this uh man who without a translator wouldn't have been able to communicate with, who got emotional um after Charles Street was fixed the last time because him and his wife had to um with their roller be in the street, um, and it was very dangerous for them to get to their nearest park, uh, which is the public garden in the Boston Common.

So um, so I just want to thank you.

This work matters deeply, and I'm just grateful uh to the mayor.

I do want to highlight also a letter that the Beacon Hill Civic Association sent to the mayor in gratitude uh for all the break fixes that we've gotten the past year.

Um so I um we've also been working on the public alleys 437 and 434, getting those curb to curb repaved.

I also sent a recent email about 416, which it was brought to my attention by a Back Bay constituent that um they were promised would be fixed in 2023.

Um obviously I wasn't uh the counselor at that time, but I was curious any updates on Back Bay alleys.

Yes, so we do have we do have at least two of the out alleys you mentioned uh at the start, those are in in plan to be resurfaced this year, and I know we're looking at another three to four, uh, and we'll get back to you with that.

Okay, well, I just put 416 on the priority list, and um I know um Commissioner Chief Gove that you went yourself down those alleys, so I just appreciate your care of of this issue, um, which matters deeply to Back Bay constituents.

Um I think this is public works, but it could be parks, so I'm I but 141 and 129 Fisher Avenue, the public stairs between them.

Um it was in my budget last year.

I know that you have a great guy, Dan Murphy, who's working on a lot of these odds and ends projects.

Um I also want to thank him for his work on the thoroughpath.

Um I'm just curious about these public stairs.

Um obviously a lot of this, I believe a lot of this stuff was built in the 1950s, so it really is in need of repair, and we're missing um I mean public stairs are really important in Mission Hill given how steep um how steep the hills are.

Um so I think we're missing at least um we're we're definitely missing uh a railway.

Um so I just want to flag that for you, and hopefully it'll be on the list this year.

It's been something I've been flagging um since last year.

Which one is that one?

Um it's the installation of the railing on the public stairs between 141 and 129 Fisher Av.

They might have numbers, and I don't know the number, so um, so I would love to work with you on that.

Um I also have been flagging in recent hearings, and it's so hard having five neighborhoods because I haven't hit them all yet, but um I it's really important that we get this mid-block cross at the Roxbury Crossing Tea Station.

I know I sound like a broken record, but um, but just want to flag that again.

And I guess with my final time, I'm really really grateful to the mayor and this department uh for working in collaboration with our office on the thoroughpath repaving.

Um I know there was a huge preference from the community for concrete, and I know the bits came back, and I'm just really delighted.

Um, and just want to thank you all for your work.

Um, and specifically want to thank Dan Murphy who did an amazing job with the neighborhood and the community.

So I guess that's all my time.

I'll I'll be back for the second round.

Okay, thank you.

Counselor Culpepper, Mr.

Chairman, and good morning to all of the panelists.

Um just wanted to pick up on the comment that Council Durkin made regarding the street cooling and concrete.

And we haven't started testing with concrete yet, have we?

Because we understand that the lighter the street surface, the cooler it's gonna be in the environment.

And so have we started at least testing the use of the lighter street surfaces versus the asphalt?

Uh no, we we have not at this time.

Um counselor, we we have not.

No.

Have we thought about it?

Is it the cost that's involved?

Yeah, cut concrete is uh obviously much more expensive.

Yeah, yeah.

You can't sold it either.

It's also difficult to treat in the winter.

And so is there something that we can cover the asphalt wood?

I I saw uh I think in California they used this surface over the asphalt to reflect the solar heating that was coming down.

Have we thought about different ways to keep the community cooler with things like putting other coatings on top of the asphalt?

Not familiar with that specific application, Council, but uh we'll investigate that.

Yeah, look at what Los Angeles did.

Uh because I think it could make a big difference, especially in the summer.

The other thing, you talked about a meeting between the MBTA and the city.

Do you have a date for that meeting yet?

You mean the Blue Hill Lab?

I didn't want to mention Blue Hill Lab, but you did.

Well, I I only asked Councilor because we I mean we many members of this group meet with the MBTA on a on a regular basis.

I think it was a high level meeting with the MBTA general manager and uh maybe the mayor uh that we talked about last week.

I don't believe we have uh we have a date scheduled yet, but um can you let me know when you get one?

Yes, sir.

And and on the bike share, uh can we put a moratorium on the bikes going into D7 until we work something through?

Because you guys put those bike shares, those stations in some of the most awkward places, and it's just behooves me sometime when I drive down the street, all of a sudden there's another station.

Many times, you know, those bikes don't come back.

So can we just put a hold on them till we can sit and place them where it really makes sense and where they're gonna be used to the highest level of efficiency?

Yeah, yes, counselor.

If if there are if there are places where we've placed a station that you have concerns, please please let us know, and we're we're happy to have a conversation about trying to find uh the best place to locate those.

Can we put a hold on them for now until we can figure that out?

I mean, because the community is asking me about them.

I don't know how it's decided where they go.

But but I think there has to be some kind of community involvement where those bike share stations go instead of waking up one morning and you see a new bike share station.

Sure.

I don't have the list of where new stations are supposed to go into D7, but I can I commit that we will we will absolutely have a conversation with you before we start putting them in.

I I appreciate that.

Um in terms of the uh the hunt I think there's 158 parking enforcement officers now.

How is it decided where they go?

Because remember we talked about last week, 8 o'clock PM ticketing in on Boris Street between I think was Mass Ave and Hemiway, and not seeing any enforcement on Blue Hill Lab, a place where it's really needed because of the double parking and sometimes triple parking.

Um how is it decided where those officers are focusing on?

Sure.

So we we have we have our shifts for parking enforcement um basically broken into the times of the day, days of the week where demand is highest.

Our our lightest day is Sunday, which we've historically not done enforcement, but we did add an enforcement team uh a couple years ago.

So we have an overnight shift and then we have three shifts during the day.

Um we do do enforcement on Blue Hill Lab, and I think that's we have some data to follow up with you on uh in the RFI from the last hearing, but um you know I can I can let John talk a little bit about our approach.

Um you know, we we we move our enforcement officers around, so once you're assigned to a shift in a particular area of the city, we're gonna relocate you after six, seven weeks sometimes.

But I'll let I'll let John speak to that.

John, here's my question.

Do you increase enforcement officers where there's more of a need?

Yeah, so we utilize both 301 as well as our officers on the ground to help communicate back with our teams for that.

I think the one thing I want to talk about that you mentioned too is double parking specifically or triple parking, right?

I think the where it becomes challenging when you look at just ticketing data for that is that the officers' presence also counts as part of our enforcement for that.

So while you might not see a high ticket count for double parking, if you think about it right, you're in your vehicle double or triple parked, and all of a sudden you see the flashing yellow lights in the parking enforcement officer pull up behind you, you typically move.

Um so that's where the ticketing data you can't just count in and of itself to talk about the enforcement of that.

Uh our officers, like I said, do respond back and I'll tell our teams where to focus on, as well as their own one.

But okay, sorry, Councilor Culpe.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'll wait until my second round.

Thank you very much.

You know, this is uh just uh unfortunately the basketball playoffs bring up too many painful memories if you're gonna be able to do it.

You shot up after the buzzer, it doesn't count.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah, thank you very much.

Uh Councillor Santana.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and um good morning to all of our panelists here.

Thank you for being with us here this morning.

Um the thing I want to start with.

Well, first, I do want to start with is um uh our office utilizes both all these apartments on a daily basis, and um when it comes to people like Eric Prentis, John Romano, um, you know, the some of the best city employees um and my office is uh definitely very appreciative of their um commitment to our city.

Um I would like to start with just um trash contracts.

Um it's my understanding that we had a new set of contracts signed, I think, last year um for trash, and um wanted to know just any updates and if there are any new services um since that contract has been implemented.

Yeah, thank you, counselor.

Appreciate your recognition of some team members there.

Um yeah, we we are very fortunate that we were able to do some contract extensions with our service providers last year, which allowed us to avoid some of the service impacts um that were felt by others uh last year, as Omar mentioned.

Um we do need to uh look at these contracts again by next year, and the contracts are not only just for the pickup of solid waste, recycling, compost, but also the disposal.

And unfortunately, the costs of both of those services are on the rise.

Um we will hopefully, as part of the you know, the next contract look at potential service improvements, potentially some route changes, etc.

Uh, based on um you know, feedback from council and and residents alike, as well as just you know, changes in in populations within certain neighborhoods.

Thank you, Chief.

And on that note, I mean, as we're approaching FIFA um 250 this summer, um, are there any changes to just personnel in general, or uh should we expect uh more personnel different uh different routes um this upcoming summer, or are we waiting after that, as you mentioned?

Yes, we we are and have been planning actively uh for the events that are coming this summer.

Um you know, FIFA is gonna kick off on June 13th, and and you know, that is essentially gonna be the start of a really busy event season here in the city that's gonna run through the end of sale Boston.

Um so you're gonna see supplemental uh parking and code enforcement team members.

You're gonna see a significant increase in highway staff out doing you know, trash sanitation, etc.

You know, we're working with our partners here who will be operating fanfest for 16 days uh on the plaza, but yes, it's gonna be you know, and then we have to do this in in addition to all the other events that we we normally do this time of year.

So uh we are we are prepared for we planning is active, but yes, you're gonna see uh significant supplemental assets on the street.

Awesome.

No, that's good to know.

I think that's what the big messages want to know if want to know if we were prepared.

So um I'm glad to hear that that's the case.

Um switching to um potholes that you know I'm sorry if I missed um the presentation earlier, but um, you know, I think this is something that I think residents um who drive can see and can feel, right?

And um just would like to know just the process of when a pothole is identified as a as a pothole.

What's the process of when you receive that notification to when that potho is filled?

Um I think I want residents to understand the timeline that it takes and and then hear from you all.

Sure, and I I know we have a pothole hearing on Friday where we can get into some of the more details on this, but you know, last year we we filled over over 4,000 potholes.

Our average case closure in 311 for a pothole was under 19 hours, which is something that we're we're really proud of.

Um, it's you know, the number potholes and and condition of a street, you know, that that has an influence on our resurfacing program as well.

Um but Danny, if there's anything else you want to add no uh counselor, you know, case comes in through 311.

Usually highway staff is out there that day taking a look at it.

And if it is just a general pothole, we will fill it within 24 hours.

Um Norman's team's uh resurfacing program, you know, 50 miles last year, um, you know, taking streets off of our deck like like Charter Street and other streets that are just continually they come in as potholes, so not necessarily potholes.

It's deteriorating asphalt and just roadway needed repair.

That continued effort on their part will bring our total number of potholes down.

Awesome.

Thank you for that.

And I'm looking forward to the Friday hearing too to dive more into that.

Um with my final 45 seconds, I do want to ask a question about um just uh bike lanes and the safety for our bicyclists.

I see I know we have our union, our bicyclist union members here who are present, and sorry if I miss it in opening presentations about um what are the future plans?

I know we've done a lot of work over the last few years, especially under this administration, um, to get uh bike, you know, to make sure that uh to all pedestrians, especially our bicyclists can feel safe.

Um, what are the uh future plans um to continue on that model and is um are you working with community um to do that?

Yes, we are, and you know, we've got we've got six neighborhood safety projects that are moving into construction uh this year, and and almost all of them include some level um of you know bike infrastructure that will you know help add and make connections to the uh existing uh network.

We're also working to uh replace a lot of the quick build assets um that were installed with more permanent infrastructure like Cast in place.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, thank you.

Uh Council Warell, six minutes.

Uh thank you, Chair, and thank you to BTD and BWD, I P PWD.

Just want to shout out, you know, Danny Me, uh, Norman Parks, Rocco, Clarence, Eric, uh, Lydia, Xavier, uh, Michael, Wayne, the whole entire team at uh D3 and D7, John, Isaac, V, uh, Brian and Francis for always being so responsive.

Um the first thing I'll talk about is the Lila uh Frederick, the crosswalk over there.

I know that school's coming back online.

Um it's gonna be serving you know our elementary students, and I know there's been advocacy um in the past for um just more crosswalks.

Is it possible to have something uh installed before the school comes back online?

Yeah, thank you, counselor.

Um yes, as part of as part of that school uh coming back online, we'll kind of do an assessment uh of the entire school zone there.

Awesome.

All right, um, and then talking about school zones, uh I've advocated for our daycares, right?

They're not really well, they're not seen as schools, right?

But they are educators.

Is there any way that we can take a look at you know getting some slow slides, um, some of the same safety measures that we get around schools uh for our daycares.

I just all the time see our our youngest, you know, walk in to parks, walking from the daycares or even in front sometimes.

And I just want to make sure that we are putting enough signage so that everyone's aware um that you know there are young young kids in the neighborhood.

Yeah, you know, many of those uh facilities don't kind of meet the definition of the school and so aren't constructed necessarily as a school zone.

Uh that said, we we are we have and will continue to kind of make safety improvements in those locations to slow speeds down.

Um there is there has been some discussion as far as changing some uh legislation as far as the definition of some of those facilities, but um that hasn't moved forward at this time.

But it is something that's on our radar.

We treat those facilities much like uh we would a senior center or a park because we just we understand that it's you know it's critical that we we do some traffic coming there.

Awesome.

Um and then when it comes to business districts um and residential permit parking, you know, you have uh you know, Washington Street over there between Columbia Road, um by four corners uh station, right?

That area right there.

You have residential parking all around that area, but you have a bit businesses that have become very popular.

Um when businesses become popular, sometimes they expand, they get food trucks.

However, you know, oftentimes the people working in those businesses in the food trucks can't park on those side streets.

Is it possible to have like commercial parking and residential parking kind of coexist on the same street?

It's a great question, counselor.

So the current uh City of Boston traffic rules and regulations actually permit a commercial vehicle to park in RPP spaces for a short period of time.

That that's been a long-standing regulation that's existed so that you know individual, you know, folks that are having maybe work done on their property and electrician and the plumber, et cetera, can park for a short period of time.

But I think what you're describing is kind of is more like visitor parking, um, uh, or maybe short-term pickup and drop off or food trucks for food.

Yeah.

We, you know, if if there is if there's specific demand for some uh food truck uh regulations, we do have those in many areas of the city.

Um and and we're happy, we're happy to look at them.

All right, yeah.

Um, and I'm sure that we've already reached out about this, but it's on Glen Arm Street, one of the businesses there, they very popular business, and that they also have a food truck, but in order to load up the food truck, it has to be next to the business, but then is residential park permanent parking on that side street on Glen Arm Street, so they're getting tickets now.

Okay.

That that sounds like a good example of uh you know, an area that may need to be regulated as like um you know, commercial loading for a period of the day.

Right.

Yeah, so we're we're happy to take a look at the curbside regulations there.

Awesome.

And then when it comes to um enforcement uh for traffic enforcement officers, glad to hear that you know 150.

That's awesome.

Uh do we have a dedicated time that they're inside of like a doorchester?

Are they there overnight or what's the schedule?

So we are we are seven day a week operation now and pretty much have almost 24-7 coverage, with the exception of some limited hours on Sunday and into Monday, which I don't want to broadcast because I don't want to uh let that out.

But um, you know, we we have strong coverage in the majority of our shifts are you know in the on the hours when kind of the city is is is busiest.

Um you know, overnight is more limited to RPP enforcement, um, you know, um parking in front of hydrants, HP D V spaces, that kind of thing.

But you know, during the day is really focused on you know, you know, meters, double parking, parking and sidewalks, uh crosswalks rather, um, kind of the things that you know to keep the keep the city moving.

But um, I can let John talk a little bit more about some of the specifics.

Yeah, and I think it's important every neighborhood during all of our shifts is covered.

So we do have folks all throughout Dorchester, not Dorchester being the largest neighborhood of the city, right?

Might not feel like there's an officer right across the street from you at different times, but we do have a large force of our officers both doing street sweeping and regular enforcement during the street sweeping time throughout the city and throughout Dorchester specifically as well.

Awesome.

Shout out to my bro, too.

Thanks.

Okay, thank you, Councilor.

Um, after a video review, I've been notified that Councillor Louis Jim was actually here before Councilor Warel.

I apologize for that.

Um but uh counselor Louis Jen.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair, and I want to thank everyone from the admin who is here who um for all of your dedicated work and also just want to uplift so many people that my team work with all the time.

John Ulrich, uh Dennis, uh John, uh there's so many uh people, Mohammed who is now part of the environmental team.

Uh, we're really grateful for all of the work that Public Works is doing specifically around holding landlord um absentee landlords accountable when it comes to trash.

Um we've been working a lot, uh especially uh specifically around APM in Mattapan and High Park, and so I just wanted to thank them for that work.

Um wanted to get a sense of an update on the Cummins Highway redevelopment.

What is the timeline for that to be completed?

Thank you, Counselor.

Um I think we have good news.

Cummins is scheduled to be uh complete this summer.

I think we're hoping for for late July.

Okay.

One piece of feedback and a few piece of feedback, you know, for folks who are either in the Mattapan High Park area or who travel through it is that the rotary right in the middle seems to be bigger than it needs to be, and that seems to be an adjustable issue.

So if your team could review that, um it's an I think it's a it's a good intervention.

It's actually right by my house, but it's it's it takes up a good portion of the street.

Um I was on Friday in Nubian Square and seeing a lot of walking around with a few residents, and there are a lot of uh streets in the area that are in deep deep need of repair, wondering what the status is to do repair work to make to address simple quality of life issues like accessibility on the streets um and also cleanliness.

We do have uh a bunch of state of good repair work uh planned for Nubian, and we can we can get back to you on that.

But um, you know, as of today, that is that is one of the squares that we pay a lot of attention to.

But Danny, why don't I let you explain the uh the work that we do in Nubian every morning?

Thanks, Chief.

Yeah, so Councillor every morning about 5 30.

Yeah, you got them.

Yep, and it looks beautiful.

on the streets um and also cleanliness we do have uh a bunch of state of good repair worked uh planned for nubian and we can we can get back to you on that but um you know as of today that is that is one of the squares that we pay uh uh a lot of attention to but danny why don't I let you explain the uh the work that we do in Nubian every morning thanks chief yeah so counselor every morning about 530 to and it looks beautiful and then it's they come down full full full steam ahead yeah blow off all the sidewalks yeah um sweep it empty litter baskets to whatever small minor repairs they can at that point um typically out of there by 615 ish so ahead of the you know big school um you know with D uh with Delhi station being there new you know all the school kids coming in and just to get out of the way and not cause traffic so is there a possibility to do a like a midday sweep so we do have hokey personnel go through there yeah um I find we we find that kind of the the messiest kind of time is like after school to like early evening um so we don't you know we don't have anyone overnight um in district 10 which is why we come in at 5 30 to try to get it you know back to uh reasonable shape for the morning community okay um but we do have a hokey personnel through there you know throughout the day and then does the MBTA have its own separate hokey personnel for so they do but they're more confined in in inside the uh station they you know there's a a magic line that they won't cross okay um because even with those interventions the that might not be enough so we shouldn't be thinking about what else we need to be doing it's a it's you know how many people go through that station um yeah every day it's like the second most I think after Fannywell Hall area track like you where you have people crossing through numbers you might make a case for the number one yeah it's just it's just very busy I mean the amount of school kids like it's just you know in it's it's a lot you you know obviously addressing these issues will help to bring more foot traffic into the Nubian square area and so I just want us to continue to put our thinking caps on because I mean there are residents who do live there who want to make sure that they have like a better experience and there are other issues that are obviously not related to that but we've run into some issues with some of the newer developments there like the bar of the street apartments complaining about the the noise that we cause in the morning with the street sweepers and we'll power we'll pressure wash and do in the morning so I don't know how receptive they would be to like a 10 or 89 10 o'clock in the evening cleaning we can certainly look at it.

Okay thank you I think it's important to look at um then uh my questions are I mean you may have addressed this but waste collection and disposal are now represent one of the largest and fastest growing components of the street's operating budget exceeding a hundred million dollars annually can you break down what is driving that growth whether it's contracts tipping fees labor or volume and outline what long term strategies we're pursuing to manage or reduce these costs of that sanitation spending does not continue to crowd out other essential street investments although it's important to spend on sanitation just like the cost increases that we're seeing are a bit yeah thank you counselor yes obviously one of the most important services that we provide to answer your question what is driving the cost short answer is everything that you mentioned right cost of labor cost of uh disposal trucking fuel all of these expenses are are are on the rise and that is what is driving uh the increase in in both solid waste recycling and compost pickup so you know we are we are working to try to as we approach what will be our next um contracts next year um things that we can do to try to drive at least stabilize costs because the the increases that we are seeing today these are not short term these are these are costs that we project will continue to increase uh over the next five years so uh we are working to try to figure out what we can do today to bring those costs under control but also to set us up um to be able to control those costs in the future thank you and then um my last question probably for this is uh we obviously are dependent all upon a lot of our um a lot of our city employees to make sure that we're doing this work like hokies and that nature what impact to personnel has budget uh cuts have had on your on your department sure so we we have um you know we have had to um you know have some salary savings as part of our two percent reduction but we were able to accommodate most of that through uh vacant positions um so we've been able to in uh actually increase our overall staffing levels since last year uh particularly for areas uh in you know sanitation and parking enforcement thank you and if I can just add one thing real quick um one clear example of this and Danny can speak to this uh CDL drivers right so we in one of the biggest reasons why our snow costs are so much higher is the contracted cost of plowing the street versus the city cost is vastly different and because we can't keep a lot and hire a lot of CDL drivers we're having to rely a lot more on contractors and so that combined with the increase in contract costs um means that we have to spend a lot more on contract uh contractors for snow pond that's just one example which is you know we're talking 300 an hour versus what we would pay which is 30 to 45 dollars an hour okay thank you very much yeah I mean if you're asking your question and the buzzer goes off while you're asking your question we'll have the the panel answer the question if you're trying to ask a new question after the buzzer you'll have to wait for the next round I think it's

And so that combined with the increase in contract costs, um, means that we have to spend a lot more on contract uh contractors for snow pond.

That's just one example, which is you know, we're talking $300 an hour versus what we would pay, which is $30 to 40 five dollars an hour.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Yeah, I mean, if you're asking your question and the buzzer goes off while you're asking your question, we'll have the the panel answer the question.

If you're trying to ask a new question after the buzzer, you'll have to wait for the next round.

Um okay, so uh just uh I have received a letter of absence and some questions from District One Counselor Coletta Zapata.

Uh I would encourage my colleagues if you can't make it and you want to submit a question or two, I will ask them uh from the uh from the chair uh during the hearing.

I I will say I'm gonna give special dispensation to uh expectant mothers, and my my understanding is that Councillor Coletta Zapada is still expectant.

Um but in support of uh mothers uh everywhere, anyone who's out on maternity leave or paternity leave, I will just give you six minutes and ask your question.

So I'm just gonna run through a couple of these questions from Councillor Coletta Zapata.

So on trash contracts, there's a new set of contracts signed last year that this council helped push forward.

What have the outcomes been since instituting these new contracts and what additional services did we get?

Well, I think I think first and foremost, we managed uh by doing so we managed through the service disruption that many customers saw throughout the region last year.

We did not experience that.

But in addition to that, you know, we've seen uh routes getting done faster.

We there's been investment in new trucks.

Um overall, I think the service the service has improved.

Um but again, as I just mentioned earlier, you know, we have work to do in anticipation of rising costs uh in the coming years.

Okay, uh for mattress pickup, can you provide current performance metrics for core services such as mattress pickup response times and illegal dumping enforcement?

I don't have uh those metrics offhand.

Um who would have them?

Uh Dennis is Dennis is here, he may or may not have them, but we're we're certain we have them, and we're certainly happy to follow up with them.

Okay.

Uh and then do we get any funds from the state to assist with mattress pickup this fiscal year?

Uh we do not.

How is this funding if okay?

Do we expect any have we ever gotten state funding?

I don't believe so.

Okay, no.

Um in terms of staffing levels, how many vacancies do we still have and where are we seeing the most personnel vacancies within the streets cabinet?

Omar, do you have that data?

Yeah.

Um we have about 250 vacancies.

We have a thousand positions and about three-quarters of those are filled.

The most from my understanding are, like I was mentioning, CDL positions, driver positions.

Um how many of those 250, you know, or CDL?

I don't know off the top of my head.

Okay.

But it's upwards of 30 to 50, yeah.

Okay.

Uh and uh what um what cost saving, what could cost savings look like for employing youth uh Redshirt 2.0 during the summer months to help fill vacancy gaps while ensuring city delivery, ensuring delivery of city services?

Or have you thought about that?

Uh have not thought about that specifically, but uh we're happy to get back and answer that question.

Okay.

Um do you have any additional supports in terms of contracted services or personnel in place uh for East Boston during sale Boston uh during the World Cup or Boston 250?

Yeah, as I mentioned earlier, we're gonna have supplemental um you know support throughout the city, including East Boston for everything from parking and code enforcement, you know, to highway sanitation, etc.

Okay.

Um and are you encouraged increasing the number of trash barrels or the number of times trash barrels are cleaned out during those events?

Yeah, in certain areas, yes, and then obviously many of the venues like um out here on City Hall Plaza and and other locations, they'll they'll have their own supplemental uh receptacles that'll be that'll be serviced as well.

Okay, um uh do you have any data regarding how long it typically typically takes takes the city to repave streets following utility work?

Yeah, I mean I think that's a issue all over the city.

You you end up driving over streets and there's sc gaps and scars and uh what is the policy for after a street's been dug up?

What's supposed to happen next?

So obviously the respective utility is responsible for that immediate uh kind of trench or whatever, whatever's been excavated.

Um you know, we have uh a patch paved contract that addresses kind of short segments of roadway.

The challenge is is that often let's say it's an advance of uh reconstruction project or resurfacing work.

There's often multiple utilities that have to go into uh a roadway or a quarter, and and that is why it can sometimes take a while, sometimes multiple seasons, um, you know, to coordinate that different uh utility.

But at the end, um, you know, all of those places are are resurfaced.

Okay.

Um how's the city prioritizing street and sidewalk repairs under the FY27 budget?

So as I mentioned earlier, we've got uh we've got a robust plan to resurface uh almost 45 miles of sidewalks, uh excuse me, 45 miles of roadway, and I think is it 7,000?

75,000 square 75,000 square feet of sidewalks.

Uh a lot of that is driven um by our own uh in-house valuations that are done uh through our our uh contractor who does that work for us as well as 311 data.

So, you know, we we feel this year we have you know as many resources as we've ever had to put towards this work, uh and we feel like we're gonna be able to address a lot a lot of the outstanding concerns.

Okay, and just lastly, any updates on the Bennington Street project uh funded through federal dollar dollars.

I don't I don't have an update on Bennington, no.

Okay.

Uh okay, thank you very much.

Uh Council Fishel, do you want to go or uh I'm ready, yeah.

Okay, great.

Six minutes.

Great.

Thank you very much, Chair, and I do apologize for my tiredness to all, but thank you all for being here.

Uh we'll jump right in.

Um of the questions I had, Oma, I think you sort of uh just alluded to where I was gonna say it seems like there's less and less boots on the ground over the years from say maybe even 10 years ago, right?

And continuingly ask our great city workers to outperform and and to continue to rise their level uh of work.

What in the future, and I understand there's the current economic times don't allow for maybe the the vast hiring we would want to do, but what is the plan to identify um and hire uh to grow out those for us?

I mean, and same to the CDL, if CDL is a big issue, what is are do we have a plan in place to sort of identify and train these CDL drivers so we don't have to contract as much.

Um but across the board both BTD and public works.

Sure.

We have a counselor, thank you.

We we have a mixed story here because we have made some really great strides in addressing vacancy issues like in BTD, we're we're almost at our number of budgeted positions and parking enforcement, but we we we are still struggling in other parts of of the cabinet.

We you know we've done uh a number of uh reclassifications over the last several years to uh increase uh salaries for certain positions.

Um, you know, uh almost all of our employees saw uh uh a bump in in the both the senior and the ASME contract negotiations.

We have our own in-house CDL training school that's open and available to city employees uh who want to do that.

I think the challenge on CDL um is you know, frankly, we we just cannot compete with with the private market um rates there.

But um, you know, we are continuing to recruit for that uh and it's something that we're gonna continue to work on.

And theoretically in a downturn, that helps a little bit um when private jobs or less, but not great for the city as well.

So we may have some new applicants coming in eventually.

Um the winter storms uh this past uh year.

Um just thinking about the two the two big ones where we sort of one of them we left the emergency designation on.

The second storm we left it on for an extra day.

I think it made a big improvement that as opposed to the first storm and maybe taking it off a day early.

Did we learn uh just the lessons learned from there as to what we saw, what worked, what didn't work, and why we maybe made one call for one storm, one call for the other, and how we can uh right just avoid that again, simply.

Sure.

Uh a lot of lessons learned from this winter.

Um, you know, certainly the the decision on the second event um was was driven by also the amount of snow that we had on the ground.

But uh there was no question that the you know the the two factors that helped us with that second event most was the fact that we didn't get that second five-inch storm that we got uh the night following the first event, uh which was really part of the same system.

Um and and then you know, the the ability to you know we had an extended um parking ban.

We also had pretty good compliance in that second storm uh is as well.

So um, you know, snow and ice is it's some every storm's different.

Um, you know, we certainly we you know I think move going into next year there'll be some some changes to the program.

Um but yeah.

No, and and thank you to all the all the folks that were out there removing the snow.

Uh that was not an easy job this winter.

Um a couple of just quick hits locally.

Um the intersection of Adams and Milton Street, uh right by the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Uh there's been a strong request from the community there to put a crossing light in.

Uh so pedestrian crossing blinking light.

Flash like flashing light.

Um so I just want to highlight that um because that's a big uh cause kind of speed on on Adams there.

Um and then what do we know what the new locations are for the Dorchester bike share?

Because I know that uh I think we put out some, and I don't know if that would fall if you guys would have maybe have that immediate, but if you could because I know there were a couple locations that I had suggested that guys, this is this will not be a yeah for fond place to put these specifically at this location with the way that thing is set up.

I just want to make sure that um we can follow through on that.

I don't have locations offhand, counselor, but I can I I will follow up.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Um I did get word, I believe, that there are were some speed humps uh coming off of uh a list of mine um that should be coming up in the next month um on specific streets.

Um that was sort of about two and a half years in the making now, so I'm looking forward to that.

I hope that is true.

Yeah, we have we have about 150 speed humps, I believe, going out this month.

Some are some are replacement from streets that were resurfaced last year, but uh that work is is starting this month.

Awesome.

Um a question about uh this summer, just prep for everything, right?

Uh in terms of you guys being the the bread and butter of uh of government services and and public works and BTD.

Um is there anything new you guys have done to prepare for everything and like sort of what is the thought process or the focus, I guess, just a couple of highlights that you guys are saying.

Hey, this summer might be a little bit different with the amount of people we're gonna have here in the city.

Uh what have you guys sort of tweaked to be prepared for, be prepared for that?

Yeah, thank you, Counselor.

You know, we've we've been planning for this in some cases for over a year.

Um, you know, this is gonna be the the city has not seen a summer like this in in a long time.

Right.

Um, you know, we are gonna, you know, as I mentioned earlier, you're gonna see a significant increase in parking and code enforcement staff, highways, sanitation, street sweeping, et cetera.

Um, you know, we're working closely with our partners at BPD, the MBTA, parks, etc.

But the other impact it's had is on our construction season.

So folks may have noticed we're we're we're uh grinding out some streets downtown for resurfacing.

We've had to look at this as almost two construction seasons, one before, right?

Because we're gonna pause construction downtown, right, to help mitigate traffic, uh, and then a construction season that starts after Sale Boston in July, right?

What it has done is it's allowed us to push this a lot of work out into the neighborhoods, and we've planned specifically for that.

So you know, in many ways, this is gonna be like a six-week event for us.

Um, but you know, we're we're very fortunate that we've got we got a really talented group of people who have done this before, and um we're we're very confident that we can execute on it.

Excellent.

Okay, yeah, thank you, Counselor Fisher.

Very much too.

Okay, so I have a couple questions, then we're gonna go to public testimony and then to a second round of uh questions from my colleagues here.

Uh I guess so um it's a very it's a tight budget, you know.

We're talking about cuts and uh you know, almost everywhere grants, positions, uh BPS, stuff like that.

So I guess why does this cabinet need like I think around 250 vacancies?

If you can talk about that.

So I I misspoke.

Actually, we have about 920.

Well, 920 people.

So positions.

Positions, yeah.

So I mean we I I have slightly less as so I have public works has 95 vacancies projected for next year, and BTD has 77, so it's less than 250.

I let you we can just work on those.

Why does why does why do why does P public works and PTD need, you know, 16 positions that are not filled right now, you know, or why do these those need to be budgeted?

So in my view, counselor, all those positions are actively sought to be filled, but because of the difficulties we were talking about the attrition rate across many of those categories, it is just so difficult to fill some.

We've had some successes, like Chief said.

Um for every two you get, you lose one.

And so it's this constant filtering process through which we and uh to be honest, some of those positions are getting removed as part of this budget, some of those long-term vacancies.

Yeah, and and so there are there is a sizable amount of salary savings.

I think it's like three million for BTD and uh similar amount for public works, uh, but as a cabinet, it's almost eight million.

Yeah, so can you just explain?

So I you know, uh I look at it, I see 150, 160 just positions we're budgeting without you know probably not filling.

We may fill some.

We're not gonna fill all of them.

If you look at the historical data, there's always hundred plus vacancies, you know, generally.

Um and then you have salary savings, which are it's a more than last year.

And so it's like if we if we took out a vacancy and use that to fund like a you know food assistance program or something.

I uh you know, uh I don't want to you nobody wants to impact your operations.

So I know you've already factored in uh like you're not budgeting for all those positions, but can you just explain what the formula was, where what the how many positions the eight million that you're not budgeting for would uh like would be in the budget?

Sure.

So you know, as part of the FY27 budget process, we we have removed a number of long-term vacancies uh from our roster.

And as Omar mentioned, we've also uh uh identified salary savings, uh I believe up to almost eight million for those vacant positions.

Our our concern is that you know there are parts of the cabinet where we are still trying to hire um the positions.

So for example, we've got what another 13-15 vacancies um in parking enforcement that that we would like to fill.

And certainly on the on the public work side, you know, we don't want to give up on some of these positions, particularly CDL drivers, because if we can hire those positions, it's actually gonna reduce our overall costs, right?

So as Omar mentioned, you know, the rates that we pay uh for contractual plow driver uh are you know almost you know three, four times what we would pay someone in-house.

So that is why we're still trying to um and the other the other part of it is that you know, while we are very confident that we have the staffing levels to do the you know basic city service work, we need to, we also have to be thinking about attrition in the future.

So we need to be able to have the flexibility to continue uh to hire, foster, uh, and bring people um into the into the cabinet.

And counsel just add, yeah.

Basically removing a position does not add any money because of the level of salary savings that we have.

Right.

So at current salary saving levels, we are almost um salary saved in a sense, all those vacant positions um worth about eight million dollars.

Okay, and then in terms of filling those vacancies, uh does uh does the residency rules like does that make it is that a problem?

I can you just talk about it.

It's it's certainly a challenge, yeah.

Yeah, I mean for my standpoint, it's like with parks we talk about that.

It's just if you're talking about low the lower paying jobs and the most expensive place to live.

So it's hard to make that work uh for people, is I'm assuming that's uh it is that's what you're saying.

Okay, and in terms of hiring positions, I'm just um Eric Prentis is like the hero of my office.

Are you uh planning to hire someone to help him?

Eric, yeah, you can uh well you know you owe me lunch, actually.

So I believe we we do have one vacancy in that in that year.

Yeah, there's a principal administrative assistant.

I I don't know.

Uh I believe that's such it I I feel like that it would be great if uh um we could just do more of what Eric does.

Uh okay, so you you next year you'll have that position fulfilled by in our next budget meeting.

I hope so.

Yeah, okay.

Um and then uh sorry, just my last question.

Um the uh center South Street, you know, uh we've been working on that.

You hired consultants, we did a walkthrough.

They're sure this it's been going on for a long time.

It's just it's been in the capital budget for years, it's just not in the capital plan.

Uh can you tell me why and uh so we just spent money and we're we've spent money on consultants that were just not gonna use their input?

Sure.

So the the planning effort um is you know it that work is done.

Uh we unfortunately this is one of the projects we had to make a decision on that you know we can't afford to move into design and construction at the moment.

Um but that doesn't mean it it goes away.

It just it has to go on a project bench, right, until until funding becomes available.

Okay.

Um thank you very much.

We're gonna go to public testimony.

Um I've got uh I don't know, about 10 or so people signed up.

Anyone online?

Okay, well, we'll double check on that.

So first I have Cassandra Xavier, then Stacy, I think it's Thompson, Amira Patterson, and then John Kuiper.

So Cassandra, uh, you'll have two minutes to testify whenever you want to start.

Um I'll start the clock.

Hello.

Um my name is Cassandra Xavier, and I am a disability advocate from the North End, and I represent or advocate alongside transportation for Massachusetts, RTAC, and many other places that supports folks with disabilities.

Um first thing I'd like to say is or ask is when these ramps and sidewalk restorations were being made.

Were there any disabled community members there during that time?

Did you get any insight from someone or persons with disabilities at that time?

And um it's quite interesting because you know to make things make policies or make changes about things regarding accessibility without those with lived experience is a bit disconcerting.

We don't want anyone doing anything about us without us.

It's not gonna work if you do not include folks with disabilities in these things that it's happening.

And as far as for the paused projects regarding um infrastructure reconstruction for people with disabilities.

Why are those things being paused?

And you know, we've the ADA has been around for 35 plus years.

And we are constantly fighting over the exact same thing over and over again.

Why would you why are these things being mowed over and why are we not being included in these processes?

You can't have a house without a foundation.

Okay, thank you very much, Cassandra.

So generally with the public testimony, we're gonna have a back and forth.

We're not gonna have a back and forth, but I just wondered if anyone on the panel, in terms of who they who you coordinated with in the ramp uh projects.

Who with a disability did you have there that's yes, no, yeah, I know I I mean I just I want to the city has its own disability people.

I I what who was involved in those discussions.

Yeah, so our you know, the entire ramp program, um, and frankly, any of the projects, capital projects that we implement, we work closely with and coordinate with the disabilities commission.

Uh and specific to the consent decree, you know, there are very clear ADA requirements that we are required to fulfill uh as part of that reconstruction work.

Okay.

Okay, so yeah, Cassandra, I think this is it may be a question for Commissioner Makash and they coordinate with the disability commission, uh, who presumably but I I think we we can resume this uh after I think there's some other folks here who okay cool.

Thank you very much.

Um Stacy Thompson.

Hello, thank you uh for the opportunity to provide comment today.

My name is Stacey Thompson, and I'm here in two capacities.

One as a resident in the city of Boston and two as a volunteer for Livable Streets Alliance.

As you know, Mayor Wu has received a lot of feedback about the lack of progress on our streets, and I appreciate the counselors who've shown up, listened, echoed, amplified.

However, I am not here today to talk about Mayor Wu.

I am here today to ask the council to step up.

I chose to come to this hearing because it is a budget hearing.

And that means that you have a fiduciary duty to make sure that you understand how the administration is spending its money and how that money is being allocated.

Livable Streets sent the administration and all of you a letter that outlines in great detail a number of questions and a set of recommendations to ensure that the money is spent well.

I am asking that you ensure that all of those questions get answered and that we have clarity on those recommendations before you vote yes on the budget.

That is power that you as counselors hold.

I'm gonna provide an example, Councilor Flynn.

Years ago, we worked with you to get two positions through the budget process to make sure that we would get monthly vision zero data.

We're not getting that data anymore.

Those positions exist.

I'm calling on you to find out why and to get a commitment that we will get monthly data before that budget is secured.

And I want that from all of you today.

It is up to you.

I'm gonna real talk.

I don't care about social media hot takes, I don't care about speeches, I don't care about quotes in the press.

I care that you use the power that you have in this chamber to get the folks who've been showing up for months the clarity that they deserve.

And the last thing that I'm gonna say is that if Marty Walsh had said he was gonna build 2.5 miles of bikeways, I would have destroyed him.

We gotta get to five.

We've got to get to 7.5.

We are a major city in America.

Thank you so much for the time.

I look forward to the actions that you will take to get the answers from the folks who've been here today.

Okay, thank you.

Umirra Patterson, then John Kuyper, then Cole Lewis.

Yes, thank you.

Good morning.

So my name is Amira Patterson.

I am a Brighton resident, as well as the community engagement specialist at T for MA.

And T for MA is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations that advocate for just an equitable transportation across the Commonwealth.

T4MA also co-leads Transit is Essential, which is a coalition coalition of more than 60 environmental justice, mobility justice, and business organizations working to ensure that the MBTA and public transportation are safe, reliable, and affordable for everyone in the region.

So we recognize that the fiscal constraints that currently fall in the city and the competing needs that have to be balanced against a drop back, a backdrop of federal funding challenges.

As we have consistently shared with the administration, we particularly transit is essential, sincerely wants to work in partnership and collaboration with the city to ensure that residents benefit from the actual projects that go into their communities that improve their quality of life.

With the proposed level funding for the street cabinet operation budget, we hope to see vital vacant positions filled to optimize staff capacity and additionally give the past years standstill on quite a number of critical transportation projects and the removal of projects like the Center, South Street, Jamaica Plain, North Station to Seaport Multimodal Corridor, and Roxbury Resilient Corridor for the Capitol project.

We would like to see the city seize this budget season as an opportunity to reset conversation with residents, neighborhoods, and advocates, beginning with the transparent explanation of the criteria used to decide which projects to pursue, re-evaluate, or scrap.

To illustrate, in the hearing on last April 22nd, the administration manifested that it's reevaluating and setting a new criteria for the safety search programs, though it did not yet specify the particular constituted the criteria and timeline for the construction and out of how the streets cabinet can fully leverage the proposed $13 million budget for the fiscal year 27 and the coming years, given that the fiscal year 26 is only spent 450,000 out of its $15 million budget.

More importantly, it would be instructive for the public to know that this year's plans has been informed by the 30-day review finding in all of the prevented wasteful underspending that undermines pedestrian safety and to close.

We would also like to know where in the budget findings for free fares for the Route 23, 28, and 29 is reflected on the budget, if at all.

This is a lifeline for a lot of the residents who are very limited access.

So we look forward to the administration to be able to address these inquiries and update us on the progress of the critical projects of these funding states statuses, and they manifested in the last hearings.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um John Kuiper, Cole Lewis, um Maha Aslam, and then Tiffany Kogel.

My name is John Kuiper.

I am the co-chair of the Transportation Department of the Massachusetts Sierra Club.

I am also a resident at 11 Center Street in Roxbury's Highland Park Fort Hill neighborhood.

And right above the Columbus Avenue and one of the most dangerous intersections in the entire Commonwealth.

The uh I'm quoting from a letter I wrote to the uh Globe about a month ago that had an editorial about the new um busways on Columbus Avenue, and I uh which glossed over the fact that the uh the um uh the busway ends at Jackson Square and does not go the final mile to Ruggle Station.

And it is one of the uh I've lived in this neighborhood for uh about 50 years now, and uh I remember the Southwest Corridor project, which reconstructed Columbus Avenue, and unfortunately turned it into a six-lane uh blast way.

I mean, it reminded me of made me wonder if they really killed the Southwest Expressway or just uh put it on the street level.

Um the unreconstructed mile from Jackson to Ruggles, you know, is often has traffic zooming by up to 70 miles an hour, you know, at least twice the posted speed limit, and with multiple fatalities over the years.

Um I have been aware of at least six fatalities in the uh half mile between Roxbury Crossing and Jackson Square within the past 40 years.

You know, as Mr.

Kuiper, I'm sorry, could you wrap it up?

Uh okay.

Well, as one who lives a block up Cedar Street, I've had a ringside seat to the frequent crashes in front of Roxbury Community College, and I was eager for the final mile of this uh busway and was frustrated to see that it was um uh you know has been indefinitely postponed, which I felt is a uh you know inexcusable.

Okay, thank you very much.

Um Cole Lewis, Maha Aslam, and then uh Tiffany.

I don't want to mispronounce your last name, Cogol.

Thank you, Chair Weber.

Uh, my name is Cole Lewis, I'm here representing Transit Matters.

Many advocates and residents here today were in this chamber two weeks ago.

We're demanding substantive updates and progress on the many stalled transit and safety projects across Boston.

This budget process is our chance to be concrete about our city's priorities and our actual goals.

Well, we are pleased to see that the transportation budget was not cut overall.

Uh, it is discouraging to see previous commitments to safe streets and dedicated infrastructure for transit riders reversed.

Notably, $7 million for four bus lanes has been removed, and funding for a study to improve the Fairmont Line commuter rail service has been cut short.

Additionally, the plan to redesign three key Roxbury streets for bus riders, cyclists, and pedestrians, part of the Roxbury Resilient Corridors project has been shelved due in part to city in action.

Funding level is only half the battle.

The other half is the city's willingness to actually spend it.

We need a roadmap for completing Blue Hill Avenue designs by March 2027 and a public timeline to resolve Chief Gove's stated design issues on the Tramont Columbus Ave project in coordination with MBTA.

BTD must also provide a tangible vision for resuming engagement on High Park AV, Columbia Av, Blue Hill Av, and Columbus Av.

We must establish a clear vision for Boston's transportation future and set concrete goals for what the city will accomplish this fiscal year.

To that point, Boston also needs ambitious targets for bike and pedestrian safety infrastructure in the coming year.

Taking it slow on speed humps and building two and a half miles of bike lane over the next year is insufficient to meaningfully reduce road fatalities.

Five miles of new bike lane and 500 speed lanes is the speed humps is the bare minimum that Boston should commit to.

Last week, Boston released its climate action plan, which sets ambitious goals for reducing transportation emissions.

Blue Hill Ave, Columbus Av, Columbia Road, and Hyde Park Av are all explicitly listed as key bus priority projects, critical to reducing vehicle miles traveled by 2030.

Yet every single one is currently paused.

These climate goals are dead on arrival if we do not commit to pushing these projects forward now.

To make a real impact for transit riders and vulnerable road users, the city must align its budget with its climate action plan.

No budget that slows Boston street investment to a crawl should pass through this council.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um then Tiffany.

Um hello, thank you so much for um the opportunity to testify today.

My name is Maha.

I'm representing Local Streets Alliance.

Um, a few weeks ago, you guys heard we're at the transportation hearing, you heard from community members, you heard from advocates.

Um, and following that hearing Louisville Streets puts together a set of priorities.

Chief Bo, we sent it to you, we sent it to the counselors.

Um, we're hoping you will address some of the questions that we have added to that uh document.

If you haven't received the letter, I do have a copy and I can give it to you all.

Um, our priorities are focused on critical safety plans and data and accelerating investments in safety projects.

Um, we also want to make sure that we have our protected bike lanes, we have our bus priority projects, we care about the corridors that have been paused, we care about those communities that have been asking for this change and not receiving change.

Um, we see this uh budget as an opportunity to research some of these conversations around transportation and advancing like long-standing projects that have been at a halt.

I do want to clarify we're not asking for more money.

We're saying that we are in a financially like bad year.

We need to be very, very sure about where we spend our money.

And like my colleague Stacy said, I think city councillors, this is where you step up and make sure that you don't sign off on a budget that doesn't have timelines, that doesn't have detailed like deliverables and what those deliverables will get us.

Um, I think we've talked a lot about intentions, and I know that the city, we want to work together as partners.

So we want to encourage, like, while we're talking about this, let's talk about some details of when things will go in because we've had many fruitful conversations in the last couple of months around what everybody wants and you know um why things are happening the way they are.

So if these commitments are not guaranteed today, we have no way of knowing if these projects will ever happen.

So I urge you, city counselors, to please use your power to the best.

Get this budget, do not sign off on a budget that doesn't have actual deliverables and diamonds.

Thank you so much.

Okay, thank you.

We have uh Tiffany, followed by uh Greg Maynard, Dan Kavanaugh, and Matt Lawler.

Good morning, council.

Uh, I want to thank you all for allowing us to be here to testify, and thank you for the counselors in this body who always uh show their advocacy and allyship to uplift safe street um projects.

And uh thank you to all the advocates who showed up to uh to also speak about the importance of safety infrastructure.

I feel like this is my other job space.

We've been here so much lately.

Uh it's important to show up for the people who are going to be impacted when safe infrastructure is not implemented.

Uh, I'm still learning a lot about how budget process works.

So even though I represent the Boston Cyclist Union in a professional capacity, I also look to so many community members who don't really understand this process.

Right?

So we're calling on the city council to make this budgetary process transparent and to focus on the infrastructure projects that came to be for a reason.

There were disparities of in safety.

That's why these projects came to be in the first place.

And it seems to me that we would have a lot more money to play with or to work with, and our budget had earmarked dollars not been shoved to the wayside due to an action.

So we are asking for specific timelines for specific projects with specific deliverables, so that there will be transparency, and so that the people who work and live in the city of Boston understand exactly what they can expect from this administration.

And we ask that unless deliverables and specifics are really put into words, into written word, that this council will not sign off or agree to a budget unless there are specifics and transparency.

This city has a very robust um history and advocacy.

Back to 1969 when we stopped a highway from running through Roxbury when youth stopped bus hikes.

That is those are the people that we come from.

We want to be able to work with the city council in good faith.

We do not want to have to fight y'all.

But we know what advocacy looks like, and we know how to be persistent.

So we're hoping that you all will do what you know you're supposed to do.

Thanks.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh we've uh Greg Maynard, Dan Kavanaugh, Matt Lawler.

Hello.

Uh my name is Gregory Maynard, and I am the co-founder and executive director of the Boston Policy Institute.

When I first wrote this testimony, I was planning to start by saying it was impossible to fully prepare for this hearing because the Wu administration had not made its list with the status of state and federal funding for transportation projects public.

Now, that isn't quite true.

It's now impossible to prepare because that list was sent to the council this morning minutes before this hearing was scheduled to start.

This list was supposed to have been provided to the public almost two weeks ago.

Interim Streets Chief Nick Gove told the council he had the list at the council's transportation hearing on April 22nd and said he would provide it then.

Waiting until this morning to share this list ensured that this hearing would be less insightful than it otherwise would be.

People with different perspectives and goals, watchdogs, advocates, counselors, and their staff were all denied the necessary time to prepare.

With those folks unable to prepare, this hearing will be less newsworthy.

Reporters can't cover honest disagreement about policy if no one is ready to talk.

Let me give you an example.

The Tremont Columbus phases one and two is a project that the city and MBTA are working on together, but it's not on the city's list.

In fact, the phrase MBTA doesn't appear on that list at all.

That is concerning because of credible charges.

The city is dragging its feet on this project.

Streets blog mass, a transit-focused press outlet, obtained emails between a BP a BTD planner and the MBTA that showed Chief Gove ordered the planner not to meet with the MBTA.

To date, the council has not asked Gove about those emails.

This is the bottom line.

There is genuine disagreement about how to use streets from Boylston to Blue Hill Ave from Maverick Square to Mattapan Square.

Boston needs a legible and productive conversation about transportation policy in the city of Boston.

Instead of fostering that conversation, it appears City Hall is playing high to the ball with important information.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh Dan Kavanaugh.

I do not see Matt Lawler.

And then I I don't know if anyone else signed up to testify.

If any if anybody here hasn't been called on yet.

I think there was one, there is one name on the Yeah, yeah, that's fine.

You I don't have to read out your name and just come up and get in line.

Great.

All right.

Thank thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning.

Uh my name is Matt Lawler.

I am a resident of Roslendale, and I represent Walk Up Roslendale here this morning.

I submitted my own email to the council last week and walk up Rosendold did so this morning as well.

I simply call upon this council not to approve the city's fiscal year 2027 budget until the administration has responded satisfactorily to Liverpool Street's letter and committed to the specific actions and projects listed therein.

That letter is a lifeline to the city's administration on what should happen this year.

I sincerely hope that it is taken, because that is a spirit in which it was offered.

I'll say this in closing.

The numbers on speed humps continue to shock me.

Effectively killing that program last year, spending a tenth of the available appropriate funds from this council was deeply problematic.

It cannot happen again.

The administration's commitment on these issues must precede the council's vote to approve the budget.

Thank you again for your time.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Amima.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Hamima Haleem.

I am an I am a resident of Alston Brighton.

My fiancee and I have been living in that neighborhood for almost 10 years, living right on Calm Av, watching cars, bomb through that road at you know 50 miles an hour.

You know.

Um I just want to say that I I really think that we could use so many more speed humps in this in this neighborhood, so many more bus lanes in this neighborhood.

I am a regular commuter of the 66 and 64 bus lines, and the amount of times I have seen uh not just the 66 bus lane but the 57 bus lane um be at its best a uh speed boost to my commute and at worst a uh an additional parking lane for DoorDash drivers really just shows to me both the promises and risks of uh bus lanes that are properly enforced and not, and I just really want to see more of them in the city, and I want to see more speed bumps and speed bumps in the city.

The fact that I can be I could technically bike to my work and not because I have personally seen so many bike accidents in my neighborhood, even with protected bike bike lanes up and down, combat.

Um yeah, it's I I I really wish I could be able to bike in the city and feel safe, but I can't.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Uh there's no one signed up online, so it's gonna wrap up our public testimony unless somebody here um okay.

So we're going for a second round of questions, five minutes.

Counselor Flynn.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um Chief Gove, we the City Council recently passed a unanimous resolution on um concurrent jurisdiction against this practice, basically, you're very familiar with it.

Basically, the pedestrian in the vehicle would not have the right of way at the same time.

Um we know this is a major public safety problem.

Um it is in my district, certainly.

Um, I I believe the pedestrian should always have the right of way if the vehicle has to wait a certain amount of time.

Um but I don't I don't support this practice.

Uh neither does the city council uh after the uniman unanimous vote.

When are we going to um implement this change?

Thank you, counselor.

It you know, unfortunately we do not have a plan to implement that change at this time.

Um it would be counter to the city's current signal policy.

Um I think I'm gonna let Amy do a little background on you know how we got to where the current policy is.

No, that's that's okay, Chief.

If you're not going to implement it, um, you know my my colleagues went on record because it was important because we've we've constantly hearing from residents that this is an unsafe practice.

Um so it's definitely not going to be implemented.

We have no plans to implement them at this time, though.

Okay.

Um want to say thank you to Cassandra for testifying earlier for her advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities and and our seniors as well.

Disability rights are civil rights, and we have to provide a safer environment on our streets and sidewalks in our sidewalks for uh persons with just disabilities or our seniors.

I see a lot of parents taking their kids to school.

Um but the the streets are not safe for them, the sidewalks are not safe for them.

I also believe part of the solution is more traffic enforcement from the Boston police.

Um Chief, w one issue I do want to focus on and ask you is I I I have a great deal of respect for the traffic enforcement offices at Boston Transportation Department.

Many of them are a woman, they live in my district, they do an exceptional job.

I also see often people harassing them, um, yelling things out the window or just kind of being disrespectful to them.

Um are we able to consider having a public awareness campaign to support to support them, but also to encourage people.

You know, that's if you have a problem with the traffic enforcement, it's not the individual traffic enforcement officer.

There's a better way to voice your opinion than yelling at the officer.

Um just want to see is there something you might um be inclined to do to support them and to make their job a little easier.

Yeah, thank you, Counselor.

I think that's something we would absolutely consider.

I also want to thank you for your continued support of all of our enforcement staff.

Uh as you know, this is an incredibly difficult job.

Um they deal with you know all sorts of issues on the street.

Um, you know, we do a lot of training in-house on on working how to you know de-escalate situations, how to you know put their priority and safety first.

Um but I appreciate you bringing up this issue.

It is something we're happy to explore.

Um it is a problem that we we do do have to deal with.

It is a problem that we we do do have to deal with.

Okay, maybe after the budget the budget season is over could we do kind of a brainstorming session on how we can work together to educate the public about being more respectful to traffic enforcement officers.

Yes.

Okay.

I was over in Chinatown the last twice over the last three days talking about um clean streets, clean sidewalks, pest control as well.

They have unique problems over there as you know and some of it is related to the restaurants in a very congested dense neighborhood.

Are we able to give them a little bit of extra consideration based on their neighborhood based on their specific conditions of in it's almost impossible for them to move their cars as you know at times and for the hokeys actually to get in between them because it's so it's so narrow.

Just want to see what your thoughts might be.

Sure you know yeah Chinatown obviously is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the city we do a lot of service there Danny and his team we're happy to have some conversations with the community around street cleaning and things that we can we can do to uh improve sanitation there but you know we we do we do have a throw a lot of resources at it now we do think you know as I mentioned earlier that the reconstruction repair of sidewalks there could potentially open up some opportunities but we're we're helpful we're happy to to work on on solutions there.

Thank you.

Okay thank you counselor okay Madam President um okay um the MBTA launched an automated camera enforcement program in early 2026 on to ticket vehicles blocking bus lanes and stops in Boston um I think they focused on uh the silver line silver line four and five um to improve bus speeds and reliability are we working with the MBTA to expand expand that program to other bus routes because I was on Harvard Ave the other day and there was a bus there was double parking on both sides of the road and there was an MBTA bus that just could not could not get through um are we are we going to expand that program yes and and thank you Council President we we've been working with the MBTA even since before uh the program was was piloted there's they're in the early phase of implementation our understanding is that they are looking to roll out uh more bus routes this year uh we'll we will be an active partner in that process that same legislation that authorized uh the MBTA to conduct some enforcement also allows us to use uh some automated enforcement on fixed assets which as they continue to roll out the program is something that we will we will explore.

Yeah and uh to our um comment from one of my resident our one of my constituents earlier the 66 to 57 are in the top five busiest uh routes in the city so obviously I'd hope that they would be considered and then the 64 which goes over through the Longwood medical area is another another one that um oh 64 goes to Cambridge um yes that's good um the other thing uh I wanted to ask about was um does the um BTD have enough in-house capacity to meet the federal procurement guid deadlines regarding design review um and if if we don't uh what's the plan I'm I'm sorry counselor I what you know the design review for all the the federal projects this big long list of sorry I I just didn't hear yes yes we do okay and um and in terms of just what's um what sort of you know there's a lot here do are there particular projects that are getting more more urgent than others in terms of deadlines uh coming up or what's what's the plan there?

You know um in that list obviously there's you know we're prioritizing the pro the programs that are either imminent because there is a submission deadline or a funding uh deadline but they're all in various stages um you know of of their planning and design effort okay and then um what's I know we had um well there's uh we have got a lot of feedback from our constituents about the remo the the the damage that was done to our bike lines over the winter what's the what's the timeline for putting back um protected bike lanes on Western Ave and North Beacon and then what's the plan to expand and are we going to add some more bike lanes this year where where are those going to be added sure so we we are working uh now to um you know restore um assets on on bike lanes throughout the city many of those are gonna hopefully be permanent um uh rather than uh temporary materials so

What's the what's the timeline for putting back um protected bike lines on Western Ave and North Beacon?

And then what's the plan to expand and we're gonna add some more bike lines this year where where those going to be added?

Sure.

So we we are working uh now to um you know restore um assets on on bike lanes throughout the city.

Many of those are gonna hopefully be permanent um uh rather than uh temporary materials.

So there's a number of locations we're looking to reinstall to install cast in place uh instead of flex posts, that work is active.

We are working on a solution uh for Western Av now.

Uh and the the six neighborhood um uh construction projects I mentioned those safety improvement projects.

Um in those six, I believe there's two and a half miles of of new bike lane in those in those projects.

Um and then the other little thing was uh what's the status of the congestion relief grant funded funded shuttle service?

And oh also also bright and charlestown, South Boston was later to get micromobility options or do we do we know where that's at and what's happening with that?

Don't we are not the recipient of that grant?

We're a sub-recipient.

Um so I'm not sure honestly about the status, but we can get that for you.

That would be great.

I'd love to know where that's at.

Um and then uh our old favorite chess mode uh contract uh uh uh um the resident parking program.

Uh is it up and going again?

Uh as as we mentioned earlier, yes, we are finally planning to restart uh RPP and and there's and and you know what I'm gonna say next.

Yes.

Um it's um Brinard Road.

Yeah.

Brookline is wonderful overnight parking and Brennard Road for all the folks who live in Brookline.

So uh we'd love that would be the top of our list in terms of priority for uh the folks who live on Brainerd who lived, they could actually park in their own street, so we'd appreciate that.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Council uh Durkin.

Sorry.

Thank you so much.

Um so I know I looking through um revenue, uh parking fines are one of the top you know sources of revenue for this department, and 90% of um of that revenue is fines.

I'm curious, um we have made some changes in the back bay um to from commercial metered spaces to residential spaces.

Um can you talk about the revenue on a metered space versus an RPP spot uh specific not I can't speak specific to the the what we changed in the back bay, but no, I guess what I mean is what kind of revenue does a metered spot in the back bay bring in versus you know versus potentially the tickets that you would you know issue to I I guess not having an answer to that question is actually telling in its own way because we are in a if if it is one of the top sources of revenue for the city and we don't sort of know what those trade-offs are when we make those decisions.

Obviously, I came in as a city counselor, supported work that had been done by councillor Bach.

A couple streets um I ended up saving because uh there were a couple businesses on those streets that advocated for for uh meter parking.

Um but I think that those trade-offs really need to be um talked about.

Um I also think the fact that we don't charge for resident parking when it obviously has a cost to the city, um is something that we should look into this year.

Um I know that you know it's not easy as an elected official to say, you know, something was free and now we're gonna charge you for it, but it's long overdue.

Um and so in a tough budget year, I mean we have done the math.

I mean, it if you even charge $25 for the first car, or even zero dollars for the first car and fifty dollars to the second car, uh it would have enormous revenue generating benefits to the city.

And um, I don't mean to you know drop something here, but it's like we're looking at um I have you know advocated for through the third-party delivery ordinance.

I had advocated for a 15 cent fee on every delivery order, that would have been three to five million dollars in revenue.

Um I think as an elect as elected officials, we it if we don't look at this issue of RPP parking spots, if we don't look at um, you know, revenue that we can generate through implementation of an ordinance, um, we're not doing our jobs.

And um, and how do we pay for enforcement?

How do we pay for greater enforcement?

Um we need rust resources.

So that is definitely something I want to talk about with my colleagues.

And um I the mayor did tell me that she had um, you know, I this is something that she considered when she was a counselor, and she did not recommend it for me.

So um so but that and that I think is really really important and essential that we um that we think about this.

Um I also want to read into the record um the speed hump requests I have.

This is a letter that the Beacon Hall Civic Association created.

Um they are requesting speed humps on Walnut between Mount Vernon and Beacon Street.

They're requesting speed humps on West Cedar between Revere and Mount Vernon Street, and they're requesting um speed humps on Mount Vernon between Charles and River Street.

If that freaks anyone out, that's the flat of the hill, not the um, and then uh I know that we are on track to replace the speed humps that were removed on Pickney Street um thanks to Boston Water and Sewer work.

Um I just want to tell you those speed humps were removed, and within months a car flipped over on Pickney Street.

So the the these are not like you know arbitrary asks, like they're they're real, and thank goodness a tree guard saved this car from hitting a house.

So it's like I mean, that tree guard was you know, it was on the uh it it really it really did a lot, and I you guys know how expensive tree guards are.

They're like over five thousand dollars, so it really it was worth it for that um that instance.

But I want to also call into um call to attention walnut street.

Um if there was a speed hump on walnut street, I don't think that most recent car would have landed in the Boston Common and wrecked all the cast iron.

Um so I know very intimately that these are not on the list except for the Picney Street um replacements.

I know that these are not on the list, but I would like to advocate and just uplift the work of the Beacon Hill Traffic and Parking Committee as well as the um this actual letter is sent from the president and the chair of the Beacon Hall Civic Association.

And I have so many more neighborhoods.

Maybe I could come back for just a quick what once everyone else goes.

Yeah, sure.

Thank you.

Um okay, Councilor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, Chair.

Um thinking about the ADA uh the accessibility more on sidewalks.

I want to focus on the moment.

I know that there's always a battle.

Uh I think the city needs more trees.

I'd love to see more trees along the sidewalks.

Trees create a lot of the sidewalk 80 exit uh issues uh as they mump out.

Well is there any, and I there doesn't need to be a direct answer to this, but is there any thought given as to like is there new materials or new methods that we can do that uh will allow for more tree plantings while not uh setting ourselves up for a lot of sidewalk replacements once those trees mature?

Yes, there's certainly um everything from selection of species to making sure that you know tree pits are wide enough and large enough to accommodate that, designing sidewalks in a way that you know to minimize um you know route route disruption.

Um the city, as you know, counselor is investing heavily in its in its tree canopy, both maintenance and and planting of new trees.

So uh it there are tools that you know didn't exist 30, 40 years ago.

Um and you know, we we certainly try to uh incorporate uh new tree plantings and green infrastructure in almost all of our projects.

Great.

Um thinking about in the traffic enforcement.

I know a lot would rely on, well, I think in the future a lot's gonna rely on cameras or things of the like.

Um but in thinking about a a traffic uh the accountability for traffic enforcement.

I don't know when you guys talk about it.

Do you feel it falls more would it be better if it fell under you or under BPD?

Because I know you guys have some accountability um traits where you could you know writing tickets and all that stuff, but even in the in the cars in motion, I think that can only be a police thing if that's correct.

So for under there, but what what other is there anything else that I just am not aware of at the moment that might be um you know things in the future that we could look at where it's like hey, we can help play a role in the moving vehicles by doing X, Y, and Z on this side, and you know what you think the I guess overall what that cost would be ultimately, right?

traits where you could you know writing tickets and all that stuff but even in the in the cars in motion I think that can only be a police thing if I'm scored mistaken so for under there but what what other is there anything else that I just am not aware of at the moment that might be um you know things in the future that we could look at where it's like hey we can help play a role in the moving vehicles by doing XY and Z on this side and you know what what do you think the I guess overall what that cost would be ultimately right like what is what what is it to to truly successfully implement it what would you need sure I I think you know we would certainly advocate for an increase uh of in traffic enforcement and by that I mean you know enforcement of moving violations right now under the under the current laws that would that would have to fall under uh BPD I think there is there's existing and emerging technology um to you know on the enforcement side from from automated enforcement on that um you know can be a piece of the overall enforcement plan you know we're advocating strongly frankly for red light enforcement speed enforcement uh we think those are two areas where um you know automated enforced can enforcement can be really helpful but I think again as we've talked about you know all of this goes back to the design of our streets as well um and you know what we have uh for infrastructure out there to you know naturally provide that traffic calming and and you know take away that opportunity for the behavior that we often see today understood um I guess for anyone else and for folks that haven't got to speak as much I I sort of turn over my remaining minute and change uh if there's anything that you guys would like to brag about or that you are proud about in your department or otherwise things you're working on that might uh that you could highlight now uh I open up that to the whole panel and um happy to hear and learn from any of you thank you volunteers I will say one thing it's not it's it's the opposite of what you're asking um well but I'm sorry I missed that what no it's the opposite of what you were asking for which is um I critique yourself that yeah not myself but basically just one thing for you guys as you see you got numbers in front of you on our budgets how much we spent in the last year different lines that have numbers you know contracted services supplies and services you know last year the council cut our supplies and services I don't know if you guys remember but it was a big cut uh through the amendment process it was about 30 percent in public works and transportation sometimes just because of the way we spend money throughout the year it doesn't hit till the end and so sometimes those cuts impact our ability to buy asphalt for potholes um uniforms for parking enforcement officers so just as you if you have any questions about those lines specifically and oh we're not spending here or we're not hiring there we're happy to answer those after obviously the hearing because that's one of the areas where we actually got impacted and we didn't have money to buy uniforms or even buy asphalt at the end of this year because we're having to fill in the gaps in those lines because there was an impression that those lines are being underspent and probably rightfully so about this by this point last year uh they were probably underspent but uh sometimes there's like context behind the numbers that I'm sure the budget office or we can provide that um does impact operations especially in a year where it's like we're not getting money for FIFA or sale Boston like our budgets are the same so we're having to manage the extra trash pickups and pothole repairs with our budget right now and so that's just like uh I'm sorry I I know you were looking for accomplishments and that's the feedback this body needs to hear right because we have hard decisions to make during the amendment process and there are things that people right where advocates from every other field saying put our money back in and where do we take it from and we have to understand more truly what those impacts are of where we take money from and where we put it to so I I appreciate the openness and honesty I don't hold it against you at all that that's what this body needs to hear so thank you for taking that time to translate that.

Appreciate the time thank you counsel warrell yes thank you for that and I just want to just clarify it was end of the year numbers that we took a look at so it wasn't a point in time and it was end of the year numbers for the past three four five years right so it wasn't just one year that we took a look at it was a historical context but I do I do take what you said um but I just want to just kind of you know remind my colleagues that we looked at end of year numbers and it wasn't a moment of time.

Yes, counselor.

First part of your question, yes, we will absolutely work uh with ONS, and I think I think there's there's an opportunity here to do some more education about uh some of the changes to our traffic rules and regulations that we made last year.

We also appreciate your feedback and helping uh get this regulation changed.

I think we landed in a in a very good place.

Um painting we we do not do.

There are areas in the city uh where it exists, but um it would be a very difficult thing for us to take on and maintain.

Awesome.

All right, and then hokies.

How many hokies do we have?

Is it too early to talk about how many hokies we have?

Never too early.

Okay.

Full time right now.

We have 20.

Okay.

How many how many are we budgeted for?

20, I think.

20?

Okay, so we're fully staffed.

Fully staffed.

Yes, and we actually got a couple back if they were out injured.

Um, we also have like about 12 seasonals in the pipeline, PRC pipeline, uh, trying to get bring them on board for you know for seasonal appointments.

Okay, and then for seasonal, how many are we staff for?

Is it the 12 or I believe nine?

19?

Okay.

Um and and then the seasonal hokies are dedicated to a specific area.

Um yeah, they'd be deployed to a district yard.

Um, we'd spread them out, much like the full-time.

All right, awesome.

And then when when do they start?

I just want to try to make sure you know Ash Ma Station, the areas that I hear about get covered.

Yeah, absolutely.

We're working now through the process to get them.

I don't have stock dates yet.

Okay, all right.

Um, but but they could apply for the job right now, correct?

I believe there's a posting still on online.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Um the other question I have is Columbia Road.

I know we went through a transportation design and we put up some temporary um infrastructure over there, uh, whether it was like the the build-out of the median, um, there's also a commitment through that transportation plan for artwork, and then silence.

Uh any update on reviving uh or getting some of that stuff permanent or some of that artwork installed.

Yes, so the yeah, the Columbia Road project is is still funded in the planning phase.

Counselor, as you mentioned, we we pulled we pulled some short-term improvements out of there and implemented those last year, and I think there's still some others uh that that we need to implement and and we can get back to you with uh schedule for that.

I live on Columbia Road, and I think the temporary you know um installations are working perfectly.

Um so I am supportive of making making those permanent, and I think the artwork uh will be a great addition.

Great, thank you.

Um and then there's a bridge on Columbia Road, which I think could benefit with some artwork there, because Ceylon Park is um active during the spring and summer all the time, and a lot of the people do gather under that under that bridge.

So we'll love to kind of think through what that looks like.

Okay.

Um the American Legion Highway.

Uh, that's all temporary, but it's been temporary for like four to five years.

Um I am a fan of what happened, the temporary installation over at uh American Legion Highway.

I would love to kind of discuss, you know, what does that look like to make that permanent?

Um Yeah, we we agree, counselor, the that you know that traffic coming, that kind of world diet has been successful, um and it is something that we would like to move into a more permanent design.

Uh and I think we we have some smaller components.

It's obviously that to change the entire corridor is a much larger long-term project.

Right.

Uh but we are looking at some uh short-term more permanent improvements there.

Yeah, we'll love that, and I know the neighborhood and the residents over there will love that as well.

Um which brings me to my last question.

Well, not really, but I had the buzzer.

Yeah.

How how can we change the name from highway to a parkway?

Yeah, it's uh it's a little bit complicated um in the what a parkway means and its designation, um, but I think that the biggest obstacle is that it is involves every resident and address along that way.

You'd have to change your indeed on your house, you have to change your driver's license.

You have to change your how people.

Just remain in the highway.

Yeah, so there's a little bit, it's it it is a little bit more to it.

Um, but yeah, we know that that's uh a thing that's come up before.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh I I just I have a couple questions, and then if any of my colleagues have additional questions, we'll we'll you just put your light on.

I was gonna say, I I can't remember exactly which there's somebody who renamed a road in in uh West Roxbury after a a baseball player, like went on Google Maps and suggested something, and then it came up on the MBTA bus, like you're here at Lou Gehrig Street or something somebody.

Yeah, what was the name?

It was it was a baseball player who played like two games or uh or maybe more than that, but not a famous person.

So you can try try that.

Um okay, so just uh in terms of uh you know, for director Kashofa, we in terms of what data we're looking at.

We did uh and and Councillor as the ways in mute share, we looked at historical underspending on a line item.

Uh and so it's like okay, if the if it's 500,000 for let's say maintenance and you're only spending 300,000.

Obviously, if we you know if there's 50,000 we take out of there for an amendment, you know, odds are it's not gonna impact, but I you know, I I hear you, we'll we'll talk about it in terms of what we're you know, the yes, new new uniforms, asphalt, whatever it is, is obviously needed, but we're making tough calls here, and it's like if we can save a family from being evicted from their housing, you know, maybe a a pothole, you know, we'll will we'll take that bargain uh with you know more potholes over more evictions.

So it's uh we're all making tough calls here, and we certainly uh you know, if anything comes up in our analysis, we'll you know, my office will be in touch with you for give you a chance to explain exactly what would happen.

Um so in terms of hokies, I don't know.

I I heard uh from uh Main Streets and J Jamaica Plain, they they hope they want a hokey.

I don't know how do they get a hokey on center center south.

Uh so district two has one right now.

Um we can certainly get more out there as as these seasonal folks come on board.

Okay.

And then in terms of street sweeping, like we my office has heard in West Roxbury, people feel like the the streets aren't getting swept as much, so they're like leaving their cars out there, and there's not enforcement, and that makes it harder to sweep the streets, and then sort of a cycle here.

How like what is the schedule for street sweeping uh and how can we make sure those streets get swept?

Sure.

So there's no posted um program in West Roxbury, meaning no you know, ticket and towing.

Um Fred Mycroft and uh Dustin, they'll they'll kind of do the day after trash pickup.

Um yeah, without enforcement, right?

If if cars are parked there, you know, you're not getting to the curb and it's not as effective.

Okay.

Well, that's something to keep an eye on.

I don't know.

Uh we have there have been multiple complaints.

Usually we get those complaints right after the the first kind of melt.

Um, the sins of the winter start to expose themselves.

Um we did a comprehensive review of of GPS, and they are on the streets, but again, without curb access, it doesn't look like um, you know, it's not effective.

Okay, and then just last question for me.

And I know we we talked about uh JP Center South in that project.

So uh I believe there had been 600,000 for consultants and we build maybe 300,000 of that.

I mean I apologize if you answered this before and I just didn't pick it up, but so rather than just continue to work on it, we're just like uh we're not fulfilling that contract, or we're not gonna bill out that full amount to the contractors, and it just seems like we're my worry is like we're just gonna end up starting farther from the start line next time because we're we we we had been making progress.

Um yeah, sure.

The the the funding reduction was to the FY27 allocation, I believe, of one of one million.

You know, we will we will bring the work done to date, right, to a logical close, so that when we go, when you know we eventually do revisit the project, right?

We can pick it up from uh you know a place that makes sense.

Okay.

Um I I know a lot of folks uh in in JP uh want that project, and I I you know it's obviously central corridor.

Um and just to highlight, I there's also one thing just about that.

If you if you send anyone out there about any time around three o'clock on a weekday, going from Green Street to Hyde Square, they'll just be a line of cars, like for the half a mile.

Uh and uh I know Yasha had said if you look at it, it's because after a green street going you know, sort of toward Rosendale, there's seaverns right there, people are making a left and just a very tight thing, and it it the the backup is is incredible, and if there's some fix there, some way to address that, uh maybe ban left turns.

Yeah, we uh we can certainly, you know, as part of the planning work uh that's been done recently, even and even going back to the original planning study in 2011.

We can see if we can pull out some short-term work uh to complete there.

Okay, and I I know we were with the mayor for Sills, you know, we're gonna talk about uh uh Hyde Park Av.

Do you know what the next step is there?

Yes, we've uh we've been doing some work on uh specifically looking at segment A, right?

From from Ukraine to Arbor Way, and um we hope to be back soon to share uh an update on what we could do there short term as part of some resurfacing work.

Okay, okay, thank you very much.

Uh so we're going for uh I know Councillor Culpepper, you've joined us.

Uh we're going for a short final round.

We've gone through two, uh so I'm gonna give you three minutes.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and uh Nick, I do want to say that your team has been working with the office on those uh bike shares, and it's been helpful.

I just want to try and do as much in terms of giving the community notice about different changes that are taking place as they take place, and there's a lot taking place in District 7.

But I always hear how come we didn't know, and so the amount of time just giving them notice so they'll know what's happening, uh whether it's on the street or down the street.

I do think we need to look real carefully at where we're putting those uh bikes here stationed so they can be used at the highest level and not just sit there.

Uh I want to thank Danny Nee for the work that you did during this winter and how responsive you were.

Uh whenever we call, even if it was midnight, somebody was answering the calls.

I just thank you for that, because it made a big difference.

And if someone didn't call me back, I knew that you took care of whatever they called about.

I did want to ask about the bike share, and I saw the 1.4 million dollars, I think.

Does that come just from the uses of the bike share, or is that city money going into bike share?

That's just the money coming from the user fees and the sponsorships and the advertising.

And so we don't put anything into it budget-wise.

This year we did um because of some of the buzz it constraints.

Next year we won't.

How much did we put in to the bike shares?

Um about 200 to 300,000 for the subsidies for low-income riders and uh Boston resident memberships.

And and how does the how does it work for the subsidy for low-income riders?

I mean, how do they get you can sign up directly through uh blue bikes?

You just have to present some kind of proof of income, uh, like uh, you know, food stamps or anybody who qualifies for any kind of public assistance, and you qualify for five dollars a month.

So many of the students that are using those bikes now are using them, using the subsidy?

I believe so.

Okay.

And when the subsidy runs out and they apply for it, then what happens?

I believe that I think they can believe they can continue to apply for it.

Annual.

So it's not a one-time uh thing.

Unlike the other one, which is for the Boston residents, you can only do it once.

You can only do one.

And and my final question, uh Chief, is uh as we look at the different categories where it looks like we lost two million dollars in Roxbury.

I think it was uh two thousand dollars in one category, I think.

Where what was the how did we lose that money?

How did DOT take that money back?

I think the I think the grant you're referring to, Counselor is the Matapan Square grant, yeah.

That was one of them two million dollar uh grant that was rescinded um by federal DOT.

And why did they rescind it?

Why didn't we use it?

No Manopain Square could use whatever they whatever beautification we unfortunately never got the opportunity to.

They um rescinded the grant uh before before we had an opportunity.

In their letter, they said because the grant mentioned something about electric charging or whatever other thing they wanted to pick on, they said your grant is canceled.

They said your grant is cancelled.

They sent us a letter.

And that was the two million.

The two million and the 20 million.

And there was one more.

And I don't remember because the phone isn't and there was one more.

What was that one for?

I think that was in Roxbury.

Rox the Roxbury Brazilian Corridors project.

That was that was a 20 million dollar grant.

That's the 20 million dollar.

Was that Warren Street?

Was that that Warren Street money that was going to be?

Pick up where so was that to be coupled with the center bus lane.

And was that where the center bus lane?

If it came down Blue Hill Lab, it would then take a left on to Warren Street.

Though this was a separate sub-separate project.

And what was it for?

Specifically.

Warren and corridor.

And it was for bus improvement, sidewalk.

It was like the whole corridor.

It was quarter reconstruction.

Going from Newbie and Square down Malcolm X up the tree.

Okay.

Yeah, okay, that's funny.

That's one of them.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Councillor Copeber.

So or just uh if anyone has any other questions, I'm gonna call in the order that you arrived.

Uh just uh Madam President Braden.

Yeah, I'm gonna give you two minutes, but yeah, we gotta get a uh I would say we ought to be done by one, so prepare for the two p.m.

Um for the launch of the Capital Plan dashboard.

You mentioned it like earlier.

Um I think project residents would really have a better understanding of what project status was.

Do we have a timeline for when that dashboard is up?

As soon as possible.

This is something we'd like to get up in uh very soon.

Question for public works.

We passed uh uh uh home rule petition at the state house last and we got it through after two years of work, January 25.

Have we raised the fines on code violations yet?

Uh we have not done any code fee or fine promulgations uh yet.

No, because it's we haven't used them since 1983, so maybe it's time.

And now we've got clearance to do it, so that's good.

We we agree, counselor.

I I think we we would just like to come back with a comprehensive fee package.

Good.

And then um the green bin uh food composting process projects really popular in our neighborhood.

Unfortunately, units that uh buildings with more than six units aren't applicable, aren't included.

Um how are we addressing that issue?

I know we have some um project Oscar bins around the place, but uh are we able to expand that in any way?

Unfortunately, this program is actually seeing a cut counselor um this year, and we're working with the vendor um to try to figure out how to uh sustain that service level.

Um that said, um, we are looking at potential expansion of the Project Oscar program.

Um how many tons of food waste go out are taken out of the trash with that program?

Do we know?

I think we removed 2500.

2500 tons of food from the solid waste stream.

Okay.

And just watching um, I think I've run out of time.

I'll give you all a break and take a deep breath.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate all the work you do.

And uh I know where you are if I have other further questions.

Thank you so much.

Okay, thank you, Councillor.

Councillor Durkin.

Thank you, Chair.

Um well, first I'd like to say thank you for blue bikes.

I want to say thank you to Louisa and Kim.

They do an amazing job and definitely have consulted me a lot about things in my district.

Um obviously the uh I find it particularly concerning the idea that we would take out areas from the blue bike network because that means people in my district can't get to people, you know, get to other places that they need to get to to go to work.

Um it is it is being adopted, like um, and the numbers of ridership are going up and up.

Um so there's a lot of data online, so I just want to make sure that that is read into the record here.

Um there's a ton of data that's out there about the um I also want to reaffirm I we had a great hearing about transportation philosophy and other dockets in the planning development and transportation committee.

In that we asked for crash data.

Um so I would like to just formally put that on the record for crash data through April 2026.

Um, and I don't know about it have having been monthly before, but if that's the case, it should be monthly.

Just want to give a shout out to Kenny Ryan Senior from Graffiti Busters does an incredible job.

We have a lot of, you know, uh graffiti in Mission Hill that I'm hoping gets dealt with soon.

So but he does an incredible job and is always texting me the updates.

Um I do want to get on the record a question about open newberry.

Um other parts of the open streets program are run through a different department.

Is open Newberry continuing this year and how many dates.

Thank you, Counselor.

And just uh some data points on the first part of your um comment.

You know, there's currently 347 blue bike stations in the city of Boston and plans to uh expand another 30 stations uh that'll meet the mayor's commitment from from 2022 to expand uh a hundred stations.

Um as far as well, I'm sorry, what was the last question?

Well, I crossed that well, cross data if you want to respond to that and then open your right.

Open Newberry.

Um there will be an open newberry.

We don't have a schedule yet.

We're trying to work around the schedule of events for the summer.

It likely would not start until after sale Boston, and we need to just engage with the community on the number of events they'd like to see.

Yeah, and I'll just say, and I know I'm over um, but I'll just say that the mayor and I worked with the community for with for a compromise of eight dates um last year.

We wanted to do, I mean, I think a lot of people in the community wanted to see 12.

Um, and we worked with the community because there are certain you know, there's certain businesses that are disproportionately impacted um by open newberry just because of the type of business they do.

So we worked on a compromise and got it to eight.

And um of that we decided to do a holiday stroll for two of the dates.

So we already kind of worked out a compromise, so that's what and we had a meeting and we've like done deep engagement with the community.

So that's what I'm looking to see this year because we already did that work and we already did that community process.

So um, and and the holiday stroll was a little bit my idea.

So thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Councilor Warrell.

Thank you.

Um when it comes to EV charging stations inside of municipal lot, um, some residents and civic uh neighborhood groups would just love you know, more conversations and engagement around that.

Um they have you know referred to other to a few lots that have lost parking, but you know, they did not get the proper notice or any notice at all regarding those installations.

So just would love to uh you know flag that for you.

And I think the one group is Greater Bowdoin uh neighborhood association having a conversation about you know the EV charging stations that were um installed.

The other thing is when it comes to ride share programs.

I know New York does this.

They they created a preference for New York residents to be the preferable drivers by working with their working with um the ride share programs and algorithms.

So just wondering, you know, your thoughts on that.

Um so that you know we are trying to you know get as much rise and money to Boston residents as possible.

And then hackney.

I know hackney um in terms of like the taxi rates that sits over with the Boston Police Department.

Um maybe you don't answer it, but uh I know there has been advocacy on you know removing it out of BPD and bringing over to BTD.

Um I guess you could answer it your your thoughts on that, because my understanding is that they haven't changed their rate in a long time, and I know the the taxi drivers are are um advocating for that.

So uh and then lastly, I'll just add um I know the conversation around Blue Halav Um in the center running bus lane um started back in 2009.

Uh since then, uh the Fairmont Indigo line has expanded with what I believe like four different stops.

Um I'm always advocating the community has advocated for you know best better transit, but I think an interconnected one is what we'll what we'll you know really looking for.

So just want to you know flag that and put that on the record as well.

Is you know, we do have uh a lot of yeah, buses, we have rail trying to find uh interconnected way uh making it you know more efficient for all the residents there.

Yeah, appreciate your feedback on the EV charging stations.

We'll make sure that we do a better job moving forward as far as uh communicating where those go and get feedback uh on on locations that make sense.

As far as um you know the hackney division, we do work closely with BPD on this now, obviously, as part of the curbside regulations that have to help support that.

Um kind of neutral on where it lives.

It's just historically lived within uh BPD.

Um we'll research that um uh what's been proposed in New York as far as TNC.

I'm not sure if if we can do that here, but I'm just curious we'll we'll look into uh what they've done there and and you know appreciate the the comments uh on the Fairmont.

You know, I think we're all excited about the future of that being electrified and the opportunities that that's gonna open up to the neighborhood.

And in New York, I believe they did it at the airport.

So there was a preference at the airport on who your driver would be.

I think that preference went to New York drivers.

Great.

Thank you.

We'll look into that.

Thanks.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Councillor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, sir.

Okay.

Uh Councillor Culpepper.

Mr.

Chair, real quick, yeah.

I'll take my two minutes, but with regard to the uh parking in front of the fire hydrants, Chief.

How do we how do we handle that?

Because from what I've seen, there are some parking hydrants that folks think are really parking spaces now.

And they park there all night.

And you know, I hope there's never a fire in that area, but if there is what a mess that would make.

How do we handle those parking in front of the fire hydrants?

Sure.

So you know, we issue violations for hydrant violations all the time, and frankly, we will tow as well.

Uh and we do that quite a bit.

Who can I call you?

And I don't want to.

You can always call me.

Because it seems like these folks will park in in front of the hydrant all night long.

Yeah, no.

If there are counselor, if there are places where that is happening on a regular basis, we please let us know.

We do encourage anyone who sees somebody parking in front of a hydrant in HPDV space in a crosswalk, please put it in 311.

Okay.

Well, they'll tell you to call the police.

They won't take that call.

Yeah, and that's fine too.

Yeah, they won't take that call.

The other thing is we've been getting some complaints about Nubian Square.

And now I don't know if someone stole the trash cans or what happened, but they have asked to ask you for more trash cans in the Nubian Square area because they come up missing.

Now, I don't know, I don't know what happens, but if you could just uh make sure they get some new trash cans.

We we are looking at new receptacles in Newbie and potentially replacing maybe adding a few more.

We got a meeting there Thursday night.

You think when I get to you think they'll be there by Thursday?

Because I'm telling you, they're gonna ask me Thursday night about those trash receptacles.

The ones that went missing wheel.

Thanks.

Danny, you are the man.

Whenever I call you, look, appreciate all of you.

I mean, we've got a lot to do.

You know, the community is always making requests, and so I just appreciate the cooperation and the answering of the phones because that's where it starts.

Appreciate you all.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I just had one last question about uh trash removal transfer stations.

Um I I read somewhere that in other communities around Massachusetts they have host community agreements where they you know uh they they're bringing in trash from wherever other places and they pay the communities.

Do we have a host community agreement for for our transfer stations and if not why not?

Uh uh well I'm I mean I'm not sure we're probably bringing a significant portion of that solid waste into the into the transfer station.

Um I'm looking at Dennis here.

Okay.

Yeah, don't we take in other communities trash also?

Yeah, that's right.

We do.

Uh okay.

But we also wouldn't, I mean, we wouldn't want to start uh, you know, because we also take a bunch of our waste outside the city as well.

Okay, maybe that explains it.

Okay, well that that was it for me.

Um I think we're yeah, okay.

Uh we're good.

My colleagues.

No, any party shots.

Okay.

Thank you.

No, no, sorry, you had yours already.

I I can't my left ear isn't working that well.

Um okay, thank you very much to the panelists.

We have another hearing, gotta give central staff an hour.

Uh yeah, I like your pointing, and it's a good uh this hearing is now adjourned.