Blue Hill Ave: Hear Us Before You Build It!

By James “Jimmy” Hills

WATCH THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILOR WORRELL HERE

After several talks, a city briefing, community meetings, and interviews with elected officials, I keep coming back to the same thing: this is bigger than whether you support or oppose a center-running bus lane on Blue Hill Avenue.

This is about the people, the process, and the policy. It is about whether people are really being heard. It is about fair transportation for Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan. Most of all, it is about whether the people who will live with this project are helping shape what happens next.

My conversation with District 4 City Councilor Brian Worrell brought a lot of this together.

People Were Still Left Unheard

Worrell was at the latest community meeting at Morning Star Baptist Church. His one word to describe it was “passionate.” But the meeting ended with people still waiting for their chance to speak.

“There was still a long list of community members that was left unheard.”

Worrell believes people who live on Blue Hill Avenue, business owners, and people who actually ride these buses should come first in this conversation.

That brings me back to a question I keep asking: Is community engagement just giving people a microphone, or should people be able to see how what they said changed the plan?

This Is Not Simply Bus Versus Rail

Worrell is not saying there is only one answer. He wants all real options studied before we make a choice that could shape Blue Hill Avenue for decades. That includes the center-running bus lane, side-running bus options, light rail, and heavy rail.

“We need to have all the options so that then the community can decide on what type of trade offs they want for their neighborhood.”

We need to know what each choice would cost, how long it would take, how it would affect homes and businesses, and if it can actually be built here. That is why the feasibility study matters.

Worrell also talked about the history of rail on Blue Hill Avenue and the old elevated Orange Line that once served Dudley.

“What we do not want to do is to be locked into a bus only future.”

At the same time, we should not have to wait years to make Blue Hill Avenue better. Worrell says we can improve bus service, traffic signals, bus shelters, and street safety now while we decide what should happen in the future.

Then There Is Fairness

This is still one of my biggest questions. Other parts of Massachusetts have received big rail projects, new rail service and studies. Why shouldn't Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan get a full study of what could work here too?

Worrell put it plainly:

“Why did you only choose this design for our neighborhood?”

That does not mean the center bus lane is wrong or rail is right. But if we are talking about fairness, we have to answer that question.

Worrell also made another important point. Transportation should not only help people travel through our neighborhoods. It should bring people to our neighborhoods and help our local businesses.

“We need people riding to Franklin Park Zoo. We need people riding to Harambee Park and Sportsmen's Tennis Center. We need people riding to Codman Square and Mattapan Square to patronize our businesses.”

That has to be part of this conversation too.

And Yes, I Made Him Give a Grade

I asked Worrell what grade he thought people might give this process when it is over. Did they feel heard? And did what they said help change what happens?

Before answering, he said:

“The best solutions come from the people who are living with the policies or the investments that we are making.”

Then, after trying his best to get around my question, he finally gave me a grade:

D.

And THAT says a lot. We cannot call this process a success if government thinks the project deserves an A while the people who have to live with it give the process a D.

Where Do We Go From Here?

This project is happening under Mayor Michelle Wu and the MBTA, so they own the choices being made right now. But problems between government plans and community voice did not start with this administration. We have seen this before.

We have a chance to do it differently. Put the facts, history, money, and choices on the table. Study what can really be done and show people what comes with each choice.

Because this is bigger than a bus lane, it is about what Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan deserve and whether fairness means giving our community a project or giving our community a real voice in choosing its future.