Mayor Walsh reaffirms commitment to delivering exceptional basic City services

Through his Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget and capital plan proposal, Mayor Martin J. Walsh is continuing his commitment to delivering exceptional basic services to all of Boston's residents. The Mayor's Building a Better Boston capital plan increases Boston's street resurfacing and sidewalk repair program by nearly $4 million and bridge repair by over $6 million.  

"Through engaging with our residents, we know the importance of providing dependable basic services," said Mayor Walsh. "This additional funding will allow us to build on our success over the past two years of providing the highest quality of basic services and create cleaner, safer streets for our neighborhoods."

Last year, the Boston Public Works Department (PWD) paved 42 miles of roads, and the increased funding will increase the paving budget by a third.

Building on the nearly 100 miles of road work performed in the last two years, this funding will create more accessible sidewalks for pedestrians and smoother roads for drivers and cyclists along Boston's major arteries. Increased bridge funding will help prepare spans, such as the North Washington Street Bridge, for more comprehensive capital improvements.

This capital plan also invests $66.7 million in the comprehensive redesign of squares, corridors and public spaces across the city. Examples of these planning, design and construction projects include East Boston's Central Square, the Commonwealth Avenue corridor in Brighton and Allston, Dudley Street in Roxbury, North Square in the North End, Quincy Street in Dorchester and Audubon Circle in the Fenway.  

Each project will help transform these areas reflecting the vision of the local community. Go Boston 2030, Boston's comprehensive transportation planning effort, has revealed that one of the top priorities among residents is the delivery of basic services.

The launch of Boston 311 last year has also allowed the City of Boston to better understand what Boston residents want. The new modernized and efficient system has allowed City of Boston employees to quickly respond to resident's requests and resolve issues.

Boston 311 can be accessed anywhere within the City limits from both landlines and cell  phones, and should only be used for non-emergencies. 311 will be available through several different platforms, including:

• Mobile: download the free BOS:311 app on iOS or Android (previously known as Citizens Connect)
• Online: Boston.gov/311
• Social media: tweet @BOS311
• Phone: dial 3-1-1 (previously the Mayor's 24-hour hotline 617-635-4500. For those with VoIP and for calls from outside Boston, callers should continue to dial 617-635-4500.)

As part of his budget proposal, the Mayor has also announced that starting in FY17, Boston 311 will reach even more residents by adding translators for six different languages.