Imagine Boston, Imagine Charlestown

Every spring, the City of Boston releases our Imagine Boston Capital Plan for the next five years. It outlines where our city’s budget will be focused, our longer-term plans, and our priorities. Essentially, the capital plan details what initiatives and projects in your neighborhood and across the City that we’ll be investing in to make Boston’s future brighter. Essentially, we determine what initiatives and projects across the city and in your neighborhood that we’ll be investing in to make Boston’s future brighter.

From the North Washington Street Bridge to Sullivan Square, it’s my priority to create growth and opportunity for every Bostonian in every neighborhood. Boston will be at its best when all its residents have the support and opportunity they need to thrive. Investing in initiatives and projects that bring shared growth, success, and greater equity is critical for our city to reach its full potential. Our Capital Plan invests in Boston’s strongest asset: our people. Boston is a city that’s world class because it works for the middle class, and our budget’s priority is to keep supporting the working families that make Boston great.

Here in Charlestown, we’re investing in some exciting initiatives and projects that we hope you and your neighbors will enjoy for many years to come.

We know that for a neighborhood like Charlestown, good streetscapes and transportation infrastructure is critical. Construction is starting soon for a new $218 million North Washington Street Bridge thanks to a local, state, and federal partnership. We’re also spending $2.75 million to rehabilitate the Cambridge Street Bridge and $81.7 million to replace the Alford Street Bridge, so that our infrastructure stays safe and reliable. Finally, we’re funding a $4.46 investment over multiple years to support the engineering and design process for major improvements to Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square.

Public safety is high priority when determining our budget and capital plan each year. That’s why we’re providing a complete renovation to the Engine 50 Firehouse, so that our first responders get both new, modernized systems and a safe place to call their home away from home.

Lastly, we know how open space and parks improve the quality of life for Boston’s families. I look forward to renovating Edwards Playground with new pathways, benches, and safety surfaces. The City hopes Charlestown continues to enjoy the playground and spend quality time with their families and friends outdoors.

Our longer-term investments are intended to lift up our neighborhoods in ways that take into account the needs and wants of the community. With this Capital Plan, we’re preparing our city for the next year, and the years forward.

What’s the next step for the Capital Plan? I have submitted the City of Boston’s budget to the Boston City Council, where your City Councilor will review the proposed budget. Once the budget is approved, it will go into effect. This is the budget for fiscal year 2019, meaning the budget will take effect in July 2018, and run throughout the next 12 months.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to look through the budget proposal, online at budget.boston.gov. Together, I look forward to investing in our neighborhoods, and our people.

Martin Walsh is Mayor of Boston.

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