Beacon Hill Report:
Legislators on Beacon Hill have introduced bills in the House and Senate to legalize the use of traffic enforcement cameras in Massachusetts. Currently the House version of the bill has 15 sponsors and the Senate version has four.
This is not the first time this type of legislation has been introduced in the state house, but this cycle has seen a much larger number of sponsors than in previous years.
The two bills would allow local and state agencies to begin use of cameras for red light and speed limit enforcement. Currently these types of cameras are illegal in Massachusetts.
The MBTA was the first agency in the state granted the ability to use automated traffic enforcement cameras on their fleet of buses. Those cameras will issue fines to drivers who have illegally parked their car, truck or moped in a bus lane or stop. The fines in those cases will run up to $125.
Safe Streets advocates filled a hearing room to testify to the benefits of allowing the use of traffic enforcement cameras across the state.
Similar to other Automated License Plate Reader, like those of Flock Safety, there are many with privacy concerns when it comes to these types of automated systems. Privacy and security experts have warned of abuse by police and security concerns with the cameras themselves.
Cambridge terminated their contract with Flock Safety last fall over allegations of misuse of the data it collected.
From the Big City:
The controversial White Stadium rebuild in Boston has had yet another public blow this week. The project’s estimated taxpayer cost has expanded to $135 million, which is almost three times more than the city initially said two years ago.
The project’s costs are being split between the city and the Boston Legacy Football Club who are paying $190 million of the $325 million cost. Previous estimates for the project were just around $200 million with the city footing $91 million of the total bill.
Residents of Roxbury have been concerned about the project from its inception. The stadium is located in Franklin Park, near the Franklin Park Zoo and Green Street on the Orange Line. Residents have raised issues over parking and the lack of reliable public transit in the area.
When asked, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu told WBUR that the extra cost for the project would come from the city’s capital budget. The new capital budget, which will include the project, will be voted on by councilors this June.
Chair of the ways and means committee, councilor Ben Weber, told WBUR that he has already filed for a hearing on the new costs. Weber also said that he was concerned with the city’s ability to afford the project and that it needs to be determined if the benefits can justify the costs of the project.
Read All About It:
- The MBTA’s new South Station Commuter Rail fare gates were deactivated following a recent winter storm. The gates have received some criticism since being installed only a few months ago, but the comparable system at North Station has seen success since being installed in 2022.
“The gates were turned off due to the unprecedented accumulation of wind-driven snow in the concourse and platform areas of South Station during peak of the storm last week,” said Keolis spokesperson Jake O’Neill in a statement to StreetsblogMASS.
- On Feb. 6, Campbell’s announced that the Cape Cod Chips factory in Hyannis, Mass. would be closing this April. The company acquired the local chip brand in 2018.
Campbell’s said the closure was part of an ongoing effort to update its supply chain. The factory has been open since 1985 and currently employs 49 people, all of who will lose their jobs. The statement went on to say that the Hyannis factory only makes 4% of the brand’s chips and it makes little sense to keep the facility open.
- An MBTA trolley derailed on Sunday at Park Street while headed to Government Center. The Type 8 trolley bought from then AnsaldoBreda in 1998 have been the main culprits of derailing incidents on the Green Line since their introduction in 1999.
