The state of Boston’s infrastructure is coming under increasing scrutiny as ongoing sidewalk complaints clash with the city’s investments in bike lanes and other projects.
City Councilor Erin Murphy voiced concerns in a recent interview, questioning the city’s priorities amid a persistent backlog of sidewalk complaints from residents.
“Every neighborhood should have nice smooth streets and sidewalks. Why are we so far behind?” Murphy asked, highlighting complaints from constituents about hazardous sidewalks.
Despite a hearing on the sidewalk issue scheduled for July 22, the response from the city has been slow, generating frustration among residents.
Kristen Sweeney Berry from Roslindale raised a critical point regarding accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
“Boston’s sidewalks aren’t just inconvenient — they’re often impassable and frequently violate the Americans with Disabilities Act,” she noted, reflecting the sentiments of many residents.
Ruthie Burton also expressed frustration, stating that several 311 requests regarding sidewalk conditions in the Tommy’s Rock area of Roxbury have gone unanswered.
According to city records, of the 5,700 reports of sidewalk defects made in 2024, more than two-thirds remained unresolved as of June, raising questions about the efficiency of the city’s response system.
In 2018, a lawsuit was filed by disability advocates alleging that fewer than half of the city’s 23,000 curb ramps met federal disability access standards.
Although the city committed in 2021 to install or upgrade 1,630 curb ramps each year, it only managed to come close in 2022 with 1,586 repairs made. In subsequent years, the average has dropped to 1,310 repairs annually.
Navigating the city proves challenging even for pedestrians who manage to conquer cracked sidewalks and inadequate curb ramps, as potholes add to the difficulties.
Murphy herself has firsthand experience, recounting a painful encounter with a pothole in the Blackstone Block Historic District near City Hall.
These issues — sidewalks, curb ramps, and potholes — are expected to be hot topics in the upcoming mayoral election, intertwined with the ongoing debate regarding bike lanes.
Josh Kraft, Mayor Michelle Wu’s chief opponent, has already voiced his intention to impose a moratorium on bike lanes pending further study.
Kraft plans to introduce a ‘back to basics’ transportation plan, proposing the establishment of a dedicated pothole response team that would operate independently from the existing 311 system.
His initiative aims to prioritize sidewalk repairs and curb ramp upgrades, focusing particularly on high-need areas while making the progress transparent through a publicly accessible dashboard.
Currently, Boston operates a Case Relationship Management system that categorizes sidewalk defects according to urgency, determining whether immediate repair or full reconstruction is necessary.
This year alone, the city has signed six contracts totaling $18 million for sidewalk repairs, which includes concrete fixes and brick sidewalk restorations in the South End.
Additionally, a five-year Capital Plan has allocated roughly $55 million towards sidewalk and ramp reconstruction efforts aimed at improving walkability and compliance with ADA standards.
Despite the evident need for both bike lanes and safe sidewalks, fulfilling commitments towards the latter would bolster the city’s case for maintaining bike lane initiatives.
Boston has long been celebrated as one of the nation’s most walkable cities, known for its convenient proximity to amenities.
However, when sidewalks become hazardous, it undermines the very notion of ‘walkability’ that the city prides itself on.
While Boston’s harsh winters can hinder infrastructure maintenance, the urgent need for improved sidewalks, curbs, and pothole repairs remains an issue faced across neighborhoods.
According to data from the Globe, Dorchester and the South End lead in the number of sidewalk complaints, but no area of the city is exempt from quality concerns.
Business owners, like a salon owner on Newbury Street, share personal anecdotes of how hazardous sidewalks have led to customer injuries, emphasizing the widespread nature of the problem.
With an estimated backlog of $800 million for sidewalk repairs, the city’s failure to effectively address 311 complaints exacerbates frustrations among residents.
As the hearing approaches and mayoral candidates prepare their platforms, the spotlight will be squarely on the city’s infrastructure challenges and its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Bostonians.
image source from：bostonglobe
