Today& #39;s letter from @BostonPlans explains that @Massport
is holding up the Summer St. transportation improvements b/c of concerns about freight, despite being involved in and agreeing with each step of the design and the benefits it will have for freight traffic.

The short-term improvements involve dedicated bus/bike lanes and bigger bus stops. They would lead to slower car speeds by taking some of the existing space for cars and giving it to buses and bikes/scooters/whatever other new mode (lots of rollerbladers these Covid days).

Freight trucks would be able to use the bus lanes, so there wouldn& #39;t be any loss of space for them and they& #39;d almost certainly experience less delay since they& #39;d travel in a lane that cars can& #39;t use.

This back and forth about the design of SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS has gone on way too long. Southie residents and anyone who uses Summer St. need change NOW. Please reach out to @Massport
ask them to stop holding up the process. Please also reach out to Jim Fitzgerald,

Asst. Dir. for Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, @BostonPlans, to show your support for quick implementation. Think of how much better it will be if people can move safely between Southie and the rest of the city. #HealthyStreetsBOS @SouthieBikes @maureencaught

@bostonbikeunion @marty_walsh @BostonBTD @EdforBoston @StreetsBoston @WalkBoston @MassBike @BostonGlobe @wutrain @david_biele @nickcollinsma @mfflaherty @RepStephenLynch @EdMarkey @joekennedy @ewarren