On Monday May 4, Boston City Council will hold a hearing focused on the upcoming fiscal year budget for the Streets Cabinet — the Boston Transportation Department and Public Works Department (July 2026-June 2027).
This is a critical opportunity to speak up for safer streets for everyone in the City of Boston.
CC all the at-large councilors, and the Ways & Means Committee ccc.wm@boston.gov for it to be entered into the record. (See list below.)
To: YOUR District Councilor
cc: ruthzee.louijeune@boston.gov, julia.mejia@boston.gov, erin.murphy@boston.gov, henry.santana@boston.gov, ccc.wm@boston.gov, info@livablestreets.info, info@ace-ej.org
Subject: I support a Streets Cabinet budget that prioritizes safety and livability in Boston
[[Share your name, where you live/work/play in Boston and how you get around.]]
I am reaching out today to ask that you ensure the below priorities are included in the City of Boston budget this fiscal year:
Accountability and Transparency: Please ask BTD to release the already completed Go Boston 2030 Revisioned documents and have a timeline for releasing an updated Vision Zero Action Plan. These guiding documents are critical in determining how and where to prioritize the City’s limited resources.
Meaningful on-the-ground progress. Please require that the City complete 7.5 miles of protected bike lanes; add cast-in-place concrete barriers on ALL corridors or at any intersection where flexposts have been removed; install 500 new speed humps in addition to replacing any removed during resurfacing; constructing safety improvements at 8 intersections; and update 50 traffic signals to meet the new 2023 traffic signal guidelines.
Planning with Impact: Please require BTD to create a plan for quick build bus priority implementation in collaboration with the MBTA’s Better Buses program for installation in FY28 and to restart planning and design processes for Columbia Road, Hyde Park Avenue, Roxbury Resilient Transportation Corridors, Commonwealth Avenue Phase 3, 3B, and 4, Boylston St. / Fenway, Downtown Crossing, Connect downtown public garden crossings, Roslindale Square, collaborating with advocates and other
stakeholders.
[[Add any project or priority that is personally meaningful to you.]]
Each of these requests is feasible within the constraints of the existing budget and with the existing staff, and is informed by the City’s most recent transportation planning and policy documents.
Please ensure that these priorities are committed to and incorporated into the FY27 budget before voting yes.
Thank you for your partnership and leadership.
Best,
[[Your name and address]]
