Mayor Michelle Wu helped to host the final meeting and answered several of the questions about the project. Seth Daniel photo
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The City of Boston and the MBTA wrapped up a series of four meetings detailing new designs for the Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan on Wednesday evening in the Holland Tech High School (formerly Jeremiah Burke High School) auditorium. The two-hour town hall-style meeting was mostly a replay of an initial gathering at Morningstar Baptist Church on Sept. 10.
After an hour-long presentation that included remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu state transportation chief Philip Eng, some 90 minutes were devoted to answering questions and taking feedback with participants able to submit questions via note cards or by coming to the microphone for a one-minute time slot.
Most of those assembled in the room of roughly 250 people signaled opposition to the plan, particularly the center-running bus lane that has been a flashpoint of resistance to the $163 million project. Many of those same people attended a pre-meeting protest staged at Grove Hall’s Mecca plaza.
“The problem is the center-running bus was already decided before it got to us,” said Jackie Fonseca, a neighbor who attended the meeting. “We’re being asked now for our feedback when the decision was made first. We were not asked for our input…We’re also cutting the number of bus stops in half and that’s a big issue.”
Grove Hall’s Grace Richardson spoke in favor of the bus lane and Mayor Michelle Wu’s investments in the community – including plans for a women’s professional soccer team stadium at Franklin Park’s White Stadium.
“The City of Boston has failed to invest in the Black community since the Jewish folks moved out, and I will not stand here and allow other people to stop the investment we’ve been waiting for all our lives on Blue Hill Avenue,” she said, pointing at the crowd as they shouted back at her. “I encourage people before coming to these meetings to read. It’s all online.”
Kahlil Cooper, who is involved with the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, also spoke in favor of the project.
“I’m 23 now and I can’t wait any longer,” he said, dressed up in a traffic light Halloween-like costume. “I want this now. My lungs are full of asthma. The bus isn’t reliable. I can’t wait.”
Cooper is part of a newly-formed coalition of organizations that released a statement through a public relations company ahead of the meeting. Those organizations include Transportation for Massachusetts, Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Bikes Not Bombs, Boston Cyclists Union, Livable Streets Alliance, TransitMatters, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, and New England Community Project.
“We are united in calling for a transportation approach that makes the corridor safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more equitable for everyone who depends on it now and in the future,” read part of their statement, which several members in attendance also read publicly on Wednesday night.
Still, the clear majority in attendance were against the bus lane aspect of the project, including elected officials like state Reps. Chynah Tyler and Chris Worrell, and City Councillors Brian Worrell, Erin Murphy, Miniard Culpepper and Registrar of Probate Stephanie Everett.
One new criticism brought to the forefront at the Holland School meeting involves the proposed reduction to number of bus stops, going from 38 stops on the corridor to 20 in the new plans, which critics said would likely mean longer walks to reach a stop.
Others questioned why the city couldn’t use $18 million from its budget to make immediate improvements to less controversial items of the proposed project like sidewalk repairs, better street lights, and beautification.
West Ward called for “No Center Bus Lane” during a rally of opponents in Grove Hall’s Mecca plaza ahead of the official meeting. Seth Daniel photo
“We’ve already set aside $18 million in our Capital Plan that can be Phase 1 of improvements here,” said Councillor Worrell. “Let’s put it to work repairing sidewalks and improving lighting…Show residents what this will deliver, and it can begin now.”
But Mayor Wu said she didn’t think it was a wise use of project dollars.
“If we were to use the $18 million now, it does in fact end up costing more than to just do them together and make it actually done,” she said. “So, we could take an additional $18 million today and put some paint refresh and make all the crosswalks look perfect but then if we decided we wanted to change the roadway, we’d end up digging everything up and wasting that money by the time the next project came around.
“We actually get more value if we take the time to see how all the dollars fit together and then see the design we’re actually trying to do in a big way,” she said.
Phil Eng, MBTA General Manager and interim director of the state Department of Transportation. Seth Daniel photo
Chief of Streets Chris Osgood noted there have been some near-term improvements along those lines, citing last month’s repaving and striping of Mattapan Square.
But some residents like Dr. Brandy Brooks, who operates Higher Ground Boston on the corridor, said the time is now for initial improvements.
“With all due respect, we can’t wait two to four years for construction to fix things problematic in our community,” she said. “We can do things about them right now.”
The online survey and comment period will remain open until Oct. 14.
And while this latest round of public meetings have concluded, Osgood said officials would be back in November to “report out on what we heard and some design changes we are exploring as a result.”
“In the meantime, we are going to continue to do that outreach to businesses, that outreach to institutions, and community organizations. That’s a core part of the work we are going to do,” he added.
In 2027, there will be an additional round of meetings on the design progress and to get more community feedback.
The City and the MBTA hope to begin construction on the project in 2028.
Copyright © 2026 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. This content may not be re-published or re-used without written permission.
District 7 Councillor Miniard Culpepper used the rally before the meeting to advance his call for a study to extend the Orange Line from Ruggles Station to Mattapan Square. Seth Daniel photo
Nancy Copeland said she felt the Blue Hill Avenue project will be much like the Cummins Highway project that was “shoved down our throats.”
Khalil Cooper, a member of the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, said he cannot wait for better bus service and cleaner air. He is in full support of the project.
Dr. Brandy Brooks, executive director of the Higher Ground Boston located on the corridor, said years of disasterous construction on upper Blue Hill Avenue beyond the project scope are a preview of what is to come for businesses and residents on the corridor. Seth Daniel photo
