The Transcript is to be commended for its recent editorial, "Centre
St. Needs to Broaden" (June 24). That editorial effectively responded to
an earlier endorsement by the Boston Globe of the ill-conceived proposal
to reduce the number of lanes on Centre Street. Unlike the Globe, the Transcript
based its editorial on an understanding of the current conditions on Centre
Street and a recognition of the real problems that could result from the
lane-reduction proposal. Possibly this is because the Transcript has covered
this story from the beginning rather than jumping in at the last moment
as the Globe has done.
Unfortunately, the Globe chose to repeat many
of the inaccurate and deceptive accusations made by a handful of neighborhood
residents who have labeled themselves "Walkable West Roxbury." However,
these accusations - that the Boston Transportation Department made a precipitous
and ill-considered decision on lane reduction that thwarted the "neighborhood's
hopes" - were simply not supported by the facts.
Over the last year, the Boston Transportation
Department conducted 16 public hearings on the proposed reconstruction
of Centre Street. During those hearings, Walkable West Roxbury and its
paid consultant (Cranston Rogers) repeatedly presented their plans and
arguments in favor of lane reductions. In fact, all but one of the hearings
were dominated by this issue - often delaying discussions of other important
issues until late in the night or preventing them altogether.
At the same time, the Boston Transportation
Department conducted a series of traffic studies both to support the development
of its plans and to assess the impact of the lane reduction proposal. In
the end, these studies demonstrated that the level of daily traffic on
Centre Street would create unacceptable delays at each intersection if
the lane-reduction plan was adopted. The lane reductions would not slow
traffic on Centre Street, but rather create frustrating gridlocks at its
numerous intersections. Even Cranston Rogers admitted during a public meeting
that the level of traffic on Centre Street would require at least four
lanes at each intersection - not the three lanes envisioned by the lane-reduction
plan. Ultimately, the decision by the Boston Transportation Department
on the lane-reduction proposal was not driven by politics as suggested
by the Globe, but rather by the impracticality of the proposal.
Rather than condemning the Boston Transportation
Department, this agency should be commended. As the Globe itself admitted
in its editorial, the agency created a plan which balanced the diverse
interests of business owners and the vast majority of residents who want
to be able to drive and walk on Centre Street. It chose not to knuckle
under to the shrill and impractical demands of the small handful of neighborhood
residents who continued to press for the lane-reduction proposal regardless
of its impact on businesses and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Globe's criticism of West Roxbury Main
Streets was equally unfounded. Its actions regarding the lane-reduction
proposal were not motivated by political fear, but by a realistic understanding
of its core mission. Instead of being distracted by the simplistic solutions
proposed by Walkable West Roxbury, the organization has invested its energy
into the "nuts and bolts" work required to promote real, long-term economic
development on Centre Street. In doing so, they have advanced the true
interests of the businesses and residents of West Roxbury.
It is truly disappointing that the Globe chose
to align itself with an organization like Walkable West Roxbury, which
has shown a willingness to distort facts, make wild and inaccurate accusations
against city agencies and shout down residents who question their views.
It is fortunate for the residents of West Roxbury that the Transcript was
willing to accurately present the facts of the situation rather than just
parroting the propaganda of this organization.
Noe J. Medina
Meredith Street
West Roxbury
Ann Donaldson
Mount Vernon St.
West Roxbury