Mayor Announces $1.8 Billion Capital Plan
The mayor last week announced a plan to invest $ 1.8 billion over the next five years in capital projects across the city, including $ 1.6 million for a new park near Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in the Charlestown Navy Yard. At a press conference held Friday, May 17 outside the recently opened hospital, Mayor Thomas Menino discussed some of the 341 projects included in the city’s five-year capital plan for fiscal years 2014-2018—projects that will improve and maintain the city’s roads, buildings, technology and play spaces. The five-year capital plan will “create 460 construction jobs in FY2014” and will “transform city neighborhoods, learning, recreation and streets,” according to a press release from the mayor’s office. “Our city draws its strength from its neighborhoods, and this year’s capital plan will make our neighborhoods better for all of the families that live in our city,” Menino said. “The park here at Spaulding reflects my commitment to build a city that works for all of our people, not just some of our people.” The new Charlestown park will accommodate children and adults of all abilities. The plan includes $ 196 million in new project authorizations in 2014, including $ 100 million for city parks. Some of the projects highlighted in the five-year plan include: • A $ 6.5 million overhaul of the playing fields at West Roxbury High School Complex; • The reopening of Flaherty Pool in Roslindale this summer ($ 5.6 million) and soon-to-begin construction on Draper Pool in West Roxbury ($ 3.75 million); • A $ 15 million investment over three years to support Boston Public Schools’ new student assignment plan; • ($ 20.5 million for the construction of a new school at 585 Commercial St. in the North End to serve downtown area families and children, starting in the fall of 2016; • A $ 18.6 million expansion of the Eliot School in the North End; • $ 16 million for design and initial construction on a transformed Central Library in Copley Square, with new children’s and teen spaces and opening up of the Johnson Building to the street by replacing granite with glass; • Repairs to nearly 500,000 sq. ft. of sidewalk across the city, improvements to more than 1,500 pedestrian ramps to bring them up to ADA compliance and resurfacing of more than 20 miles of roadway; • Improvements to Upham’s Corner ($ 4.2 million) and Central Square ($ 6 million), with construction to begin in FY2014; • And $ 1 million for Boston’s first-ever “youth budget,” created by and for the city’s youth. The mayor’s full five-year capital plan and other budget documents can be viewed online […]