Expensive Chief Franklin-Hodge and Commissioner Gove,
We’re writing to you in the present day to specific our issues and opposition to the growth of 7-14 BlueBikes stations in South Boston and the South Boston Waterfront. As we perceive it, earlier this yr, the administration introduced 100 new BlueBikes stations all through the Metropolis. South Boston neighbors and civic teams have contacted us to convey that they don’t see the demand that may require growth on that scale, particularly when all new Article 80, Massive and Small mission, multi-family proposals are required by the Metropolis to have BlueBikes stations on web site. As our places of work have mentioned many occasions to Boston Transportation Division (BTD) workers in each inner and neighborhood conferences, it’s important that the town be aware of our slim infrastructure and sidewalks that make present circumstances typically tough for our residents and pedestrians to navigate; particularly our seniors, individuals with disabilities, and younger households with strollers.
Nonetheless, whereas we perceive the Metropolis has made its intentions clear to maneuver ahead with these 7-14 stations in South Boston and South Boston Waterfront, we’re respectfully requesting BTD to take the real-life issues of the South Boston Elected Officers, our neighbors, and constituents significantly. Whereas we must always at all times be cognizant of highway security for all customers, we also needs to acknowledge that a lot of our long-time residents who proceed to contribute to the town in quite a lot of methods -including by larger property taxes – could also be a senior or an individual with disabilities that’s bodily unable to trip a BlueBike to make appointments, or a younger household selecting up their kids from faculty to shuttle them to bop class, the hockey rink, or different actions.
Their duties and household commitments are nearly inconceivable to be made, particularly within the winter months, by way of BlueBikes. However in addition they view taking away parking spots, after we’re capable of finding BlueBikes places elsewhere, as wholly tone deaf. We are able to’t declare to be probably the most household pleasant metropolis within the nation if we proceed to make it tougher for households to navigate by Boston, our excessive visitors corridors, and have the ability to park remotely near house.
There is no such thing as a want to position these stations on the places that may exacerbate our residential parking O’Callaghan Approach at Boston Housing Authority Mary Ellen McCormack. Furthermore, Councilor Flynn, a retired U.S. Navy Veteran, is of the opinion that it might be inappropriate to position a station at Medal of Honor Park (M St & East Broadway) when there are extra appropriate places. As well as, as we communicated beforehand, the places at William J. Day Boulevard & L Avenue outdoors the Curley Group Heart, in addition to the one referenced at “Day Boulevard at Babe Ruth Park”- the place the snack bar is on Carson Seashore and throughout from Moakley Park – ought to be positioned outdoors of the sidewalk, as they each would unnecessarily hinder accessibility on a serious pedestrian, jogging, and highway race route as deliberate presently.
We also needs to be aware of taxpaying residents who persistently specific their frustrations with parking in South Boston, and the dearth of resident parking protections that different neighborhoods in shut proximity to Downtown Boston take pleasure in. As you already know, lately, a BTD research discovered that there have been 28,900 lively resident parking permits and solely 10,600 on-street parking areas. At Councilor Flynn’s request, the Boston Transportation Division did an audit of resident parking permits and canceled 7,674 in South Boston. Nevertheless, on the similar time, residents proceed to focus on the COVID-era coverage of the automated renewal of residential parking permits (RPP) with out in-person visits to Metropolis Corridor to supply proof of deal with. There’s a concern that whereas these 7,674 non-residents with RPP stickers could have been faraway from the Metropolis’s database, those that have previous parking permits on their automotive should be parking on our streets with out penalty. In observe for enforcement, it might require each parking attendant to examine each single allow to make sure they aren’t one of many 7,674 permits that had been beforehand eliminated.
These are among the the explanation why we proceed to advocate for residential parking permits solely, 7 nights per week, all through all of South Boston – with strict enforcement. If we’re really advocating for the usage of public transportation and different modes, there ought to be no issues with discouraging all the extra automobiles that come each weekend and current each public security and high quality of life points within the type of blocked bus stops, handicap spots, driveways and crosswalks. When you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our places of work.
Sincerely,
Stephen Lynch, United States Congressman
Ed Flynn, Boston Metropolis Councilor, District 2
Nick Collins, State Senator, 1st Suffolk District
David Biele, State Consultant, 4th Suffolk District
